Sociology is the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society; and sociology majors examine how societies function by looking into individual experiences and connecting them to larger social issues. Sociology allows us to enter into the worlds of others and understand their values, beliefs, and traditions.
Common career trajectories for a sociology major include working in the fields of public policy, journalism, marketing, diplomacy, public health, business, social work, urban planning, and non-profit and humanitarian work.
Below you’ll find some of our favorite sociology programs at small liberal arts schools:
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Wesleyan’s sociology department offers perhaps the widest range of specific subject matter within the field of sociology at small liberal arts colleges. There are no concentrations or tracks, but are taught in the following areas: critical media studies, sexualities, work, leisure, healthcare, urban sociology, political sociology, social theory, family, and more. This means that after you’ve completed the core requirements of the major, you can tailor your course load to focus in any of the areas listed above. Fields of specialization and teaching interests are broken out by professor , where you’ll find even more niche subsets.
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The sociology major at Colgate is fulfilled by nine courses, four of which are electives classes that include offerings such as “Sociology of Sports” and “Business and Society.” But what stands out about the program are the research-intensive courses, which must be completed by junior year. There are four sociology research-intensive offerings: Community-Based Research, Sociology of Education, Sociology of the Life Course, and Media and Politics. Aside from the interesting subject matter, the classes are designed to teach students how to research and then require projects (inside and outside of the classroom) that require the use of those skills.
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Middlebury’s sociology program puts an emphasis on the importance of comparative analysis, the need for critical evaluation of information, and the essential practice of questioning received wisdom or things that we believe are common sense. Similar to most liberal arts schools, you will be taught how to think critically and question not just the unknown, but the known as well. And while the department does not have its own budget to support student research, they do provide a list of other potential sources . There is also a , which is a group of students that advise the department on the curriculum, faculty appointments, and any other areas of concern or praise.
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At Swarthmore, there is one department for both sociology and anthropology. You can exclusively major in sociology, but there is a singular department because of the overlap between the two fields. Swarthmore offers classes that are strictly related to anthropology, classes that are exclusively about sociology, and a unique that straddle both disciplines. There are a number of introductory courses that allow students to delve into both topics, and then they write a sophomore plan of study – which is inclusive of their primary academic interests and the goals for the rest of their education. Funding is available for summer research projects, and seniors vie for the which is a stipend for high performing sociology or anthropology major.
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Hamilton describes their sociology program as “creative” and prides itself on conducting and assessing all different types of social research. Students are trained in research methods and theoretical debate. Reading, writing, and oral communication skills are another benchmark of the program; whether that’s tailoring your message to a scientific audience or writing research papers according to specific formats. The course catalog offers everything from introductory courses to more nuanced classes that study sociology through the lenses of power, ethics, mathematics, and politics. The major ends with the Senior Program, during which seniors team up with a faculty member to work on and eventually present a senior thesis. You can read more about recent program topics .
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The sociology major at Bowdoin consists of ten courses: four core courses and six additional upper-level classes. Students work with an advisor to find courses that closely align with their post-graduate plans, whether that’s attending graduate school or job hunting. Bowdoin is hugely into research, and the school has the resources to match that claim. In addition to institutional grants and Riley Research awards, Sociology majors can also apply for to conduct sociological research during the school year or to partake in programs or conferences related to the field.
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Williams is another school that groups anthropology and sociology together into one program, and the for both an anthropology major and a sociology major are similar. But what makes Williams stand out is the programs focus on fieldwork. Students learn about (and employ) the most commonly used methods in sociology including discourse and visual analysis, archival research, oral history, participant observation, interviewing, and ethnography. Williams believes that using these methods is the best way to teach students how to address intellectual problems that sit at the core of the study. A few sociology that stuck out of the catalog are “Understanding Social Media” and “The Public and the Private.”
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Pomona values the importance of studying the history and development of sociological theories, and students are taught to examine past advancements in the field with a keen eye. Students delve into race and ethnicity, social class, family relations, and urban life; and those topics are examined through research and studying social theory. Pomona’s is packed with guest speakers, receptions, and student lunches. It’s mandatory to take core classes at Pomona, but it is also possible to take elective courses at other Claremont Colleges.
If you need help narrowing down your school list, contact us here.