How and why people act the way they do represents a fascinating puzzle, with pieces of class, gender, race, religion and others joining together to play significant roles.

Societies change over time as power and resources are unequally distributed. Sociology seeks to identify, understand, and resolve social problems. The study of sociology prepares you to critically analyze the key institutions that comprise society and the dominant social issues that confront the world in the 21st century. As an Emmanuel student, you will study in a vibrant and diverse urban setting, and graduate equipped for a career in an interconnected global society, with a commitment to social justice.

A First-Class Experience

Get to know the people and programs that will define your academic journey.

Bueker Awarded Grant for Research on the Impact of Immigration on Established Communities

Meet the Faculty

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The Curriculum

View the 2023-2024 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements for B.A. in Sociology

Six sociology core courses

  • SOC1101 Introduction to Sociology: Analysis of Society in Global Perspective (SA) (SS)
  • SOC2103 Qualitative Methods
  • SOC2104 Quantitative Methods (SS)
  • SOC3101 Theories of Society
  • SOC4194 Internship in Sociology
  • SOC4999 Seminar in Sociology OR SOC4988 Community Action Research (SJ) 

Electives

  • Five additional sociology courses, at least one of which is a 3000-level.

Recommended Course 

  • IDS1201 Introduction to Global and Public Health 

View the 2023-2024 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements Minor in Sociology:

  • SOC1101 Introduction to Sociology: Analysis of Society in Global Perspective (SA) (SS)
  • SOC2103 Qualitative Methods OR SOC2104 Quantitative Methods*
  • SOC3101 Theories of Society
  • Three additional sociology courses with two at the 2000-level or above

*SOC2104 has a prerequisite of either MATH1117 Introduction to Statistics, MATH1118 Introduction to Statistics with R, MATH2113 Statistics with R or PSYCH2802 Methods and Statistics II

At the completion of the Sociology major, the student will:

  • Demonstrate an appreciation of the sociological perspective and the sociological imagination in our understanding of social reality.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of sociological theories, paradigms and concepts.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of sociological research methods.
  • Acquire intellectual and professional skills. 
  • Apply sociological concepts to micro and macro issues of inequality, diversity and globalization.
  • Develop an appreciation of social justice concerns.
Where Essential Values and Skills Meet the Real World

Where Essential Values and Skills Meet the Real World

Along with areas of knowledge and major requirements, you will cultivate essential values in the classroom and complete two courses in each area:

  • Social Justice (SJ): Develop knowledge, skills, values and motivation to participate beneficially in activities of personal and public concern.
  • Diversity & Multiculturalism (DM): Understand the complexity of identity the historical truths of different cultural perspectives to address bias and examine contemporary social issues. 

One hundred percent of Emmanuel students complete an internship as part of the core curriculum. In a city as dynamic as Boston, your options are bound only by the limits of your curiosity.

Boston is home to many organizations that deal with housing and food insecurity, health and social services, poverty alleviation, government and policy, legal assistance and more. Emmanuel's Sociology and CCJ majors can be found at internships throughout the city making an impact on the wider Boston community.

In all majors, the Capstone Experience involves completing a significant piece of work that requires the integration and application of learning from multiple courses.

In the sociology department, you have two options for capstone experiences. Through SOC4998 Community Action Research, you will apply your accumulated sociological knowledge to work with a local community group or organization within the city of Boston to tackle a real-world problem. Or, through SOC4999 Seminar in Sociology, you can explore a sociological topic of your choice, complete either an empirical study or an in-depth literature review of the topic, and write a paper tying the topic to issues of inequality, diversity or globalization.