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Thinking
about Sociology
Most adults have a number of different
careers during their life. No wonder choosing a major is difficult!
It can feel like reducing your options and limiting your possibilities.
If this is a concern of yours, sociology may be just the major for
you.
Sociology is not just a body of knowledge; it is a perspective and
a set of tools that can provide you with great understanding and
the ability to excel in whatever specific area you choose to direct
your attentions.
Its focus is the groups and social arrangements people create. From
pairs of lovers and families to cliques, gangs, corporations, communities,
and nations, most of what humans do together has become the focus
of sociological study. Whether groups/social organizations/aggregates
are large or small, formed unconsciously or intentionally, there
are certain patterns they share and a powerful array of tools for
understanding them.
When you study these processes and groups from a sociological perspective
you learn how they are formed, what holds them together or tears
them apart, and how they function or are transformed. The understanding
you gain often extends far beyond the specific cases. When you study
sociology here at CSUEB you may choose from two options, sociology
or social services. Both include basic courses in theory and research
methods. The sociology option requires you to choose from three
of five courses that focus directly on social diversity. Then you
may take any upper division sociology courses to complete the additional
28 units in your major. The social services option is somewhat more
structured and focuses on courses designed to prepare you for beginning
practice in a social service agency. If you choose the social services
option you will have an opportunity to actually work in this field
as an intern for two quarters. Both options have electives to allow
you to study special topics such as Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Marriage
and Sex, Death and Dying, Gender, Medical Sociology, Popular Culture,
etc.
Whichever option you choose, you will find the knowledge, perspective,
and understanding gained through studying sociology is directly
applicable to a number of specific careers. There are careers that
involve leadership in various kinds of groups. Public service, human
resources, social work, business and research are among the most
common occupational paths of sociology majors. Among the many research
opportunities are market research, policy research, and political
survey research. Many businesses, governmental agencies, and private
service organizations welcome sociology graduates because of their
ability to think well about group processes. They find that sociology
graduates are particularly likely to function effectively as leaders
in social settings because they are attentive to the human as well
as the technical aspects of the functioning of the organization.
Employers especially like the ability sociology graduates acquire
to analyze complex processes and to solve organizational problems.
We are proud of the excellent preparation sociology provides, not
only for careers, but also for civic leadership and participation
in family and community life. It provides you with a solid foundation
to move in a variety of directions over the course of a lifetime.
Whatever specific interests you develop at any point in life, your
sociological perspective will enable you to have a better understanding
of all forms of social interaction.
If you are interested in a major or minor in sociology, or if you
would like to discuss the possibility, please come by the department
office. We will be happy to explore how your interests might fit
with our major or minor programs.
Diane Beeson, Ph.D
Department Chair
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