Dedman College Majors

Sociology offers a range of research techniques that can be applied to virtually any aspect of social life: street crime and delinquency, corporate downsizing and outsourcing, how people express emotions, education and health reform, how families differ and flourish, and problems of peace, war, and terrorism. It is a rapidly expanding field whose practitioners are increasingly called upon by those who craft policies, create programs, and develop marketing strategies.

Degree Highlights

B.A. in Sociology
Minimum 30 term hours (10 classes)

B.S. in Sociology
Minimum 36 term hours (12 classes)

Minor in Sociology
Minimum 15 term hours (5 classes)

Related Majors and Minors

Sociology combines well with such disciplines as economics, history, journalism, marketing, management, political science, and psychology. It is also an appropriate double major or minor with environmental science, international studies, markets and culture, public policy, and religious studies.

Careers

The sociology curriculum includes courses on research design, statistics, data analysis, and conceptualization of organizational and social problems. In today’s information society, these skills give sociology majors a competitive advantage.

Sociology majors entering the business world often work in marketing research, human resources, management, industrial relations, public relations, or sales. Sociology majors entering human services often work with youths at risk, the elderly, or people experiencing problems related to poverty or substance abuse. Sociology majors entering the government sector often work in policy analysis, program evaluation, and urban planning.

A degree in sociology also is excellent preparation for future graduate work in order to become a sociology professor, researcher, or applied sociologist. While in academia, sociologists can instruct students, conduct research, and publish their work. Sociology courses are offered in more than 3,000 colleges.

A sociology major also provides a useful background for those planning to enter graduate work in law, business, medicine, community planning, architecture, and politics. In many professional schools, sociology courses are part of the requirements.

Faculty

Faculty place a high priority on teaching excellence and working closely with students. Faculty are actively involved in publishing books and articles in a variety of fields, including immigration, globalization, wealth and consumption, gender and politics, media analysis, moral reasoning, criminology, deviant behavior, economic sociology, and social movements. These scholars are eager to share their research, knowledge, and time with students.

Internships & Study Abroad

Dedman College students get paid internships through the Hegi Family Career Development Center. Students majoring in sociology may be eligible to earn up to three (3) graded credits toward their degrees by enrolling for unpaid, faculty-directed internships through the Dedman College Internship Program.

Sociology majors can learn more about the social interaction, groups, institutions, and structures in other nations through SMU Study Abroad Program opportunities. Choose from yearlong, semester, or summer programs at locations around the globe. These programs are the most beneficial to sociology majors: SMU-in-Australia, SMU-in-Copenhagen, SMU-in-Japan, and SMU-in-Oxford.