As a sociology major, you will gain a rigorous understanding of the social forces and institutions that affect human behavior.

What courses will you take?

Two students seated in front of a computer

Our B.A. in Sociology聽curriculum is designed to help you understand society's effect on people and people's effect on society, based on a social justice perspective.聽

You will take courses that explore our social world and examine聽issues surrounding class, gender, sexuality, race, and physical ability, with a focus on inequalities. Across your聽coursework, you will develop career-ready skills in writing, research and quantitative literacy.

As a sociology major, you can choose between three degree concentrations, which lead to a wide range of career opportunities.聽

  • General Concentration 鈥 Gain a critical perspective based in social justice. Course topics include the dynamics of social problems and policy, gender and race inequalities, immigrant communities, the social inclusion of people with disabilities, families and youth, and homelessness and food insecurity. You will graduate prepared to enter careers in policy, government, human services, social work, law and teaching. Courses for General Concentration
  • Policy and Social Problems Concentration鈥 Learn how to apply the analytical tools of sociological thinking to social problems and their solutions. Courses combine practice in analysis of specific social problems with examining the responses to these problems by both government and community actors. You will gain experience working with community organizations and local leaders across a range of fields, including immigrant services, environmental policy, youth services, gender-based organizations, education, and more. Courses for Policy and Social Problems Concentration
  • Racial Equity and Inclusion Concentration 鈥 Deepen your understanding of racial oppression and intersectionality and acquire the tools to facilitate racial equity and inclusion. Courses cover how racial oppression functions at the institutional level and how people of color and allies have mobilized to identify, alleviate and eradicate structural racism. You鈥檒l graduate equipped to analyze how race, class, gender, ability, sexual orientation, citizenship and other inequalities intersect in distinct ways that shape one鈥檚 racialized experiences and access to valuable resources in American society. Courses for Racial Equity and Inclusion Concentration

Throughout your courses, you can choose聽service-learning and internship opportunities聽to explore careers and practice professional skills while serving the local community.聽In your senior year, you may also choose the thesis option that involves advanced reading, research and analysis in selected topics in sociology.聽

Visit the Academic Catalog for a complete course listing and to learn about the sociology minor.

Visit the Academic Catalog for all degree pathways, including those from prior enrollment years.

Sociology majors upon completing the program of studies will be able to:

  1. Use a sociological perspective to understand the world around them and locate the interplay between structure, culture and human agency.
  2. Explain and critically evaluate the relevance of important sociological concepts to social phenomenon such as poverty and inequalities of class, race, ethnicity and gender.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of major theoretical traditions in the field and their impact on empirical聽inquiry.
  4. Develop competency in the use of methods and tools in sociological research.
  5. Conduct independent sociological inquiry using sociological perspective.
  6. Demonstrate critical thinking, communication (verbal and written) and聽analytical skills.
  7. Critically assess information about the social world we live in for formulating constructive programs of social change.

Why study sociology at 51视频?

Students in front of a banner that says "Their Stories: Lowell's Youth and the Refugee Experience"

Real-World Learning

Apply sociological principles and concepts through field work and research within community organizations, especially in the Lowell community.

51视频 sociology professor and student talk while seated at a table

Expert Faculty

Engage with our faculty through small class sizes and highly personalized advising.

What can you do with a degree in sociology?

Graduates of 51视频's sociology program are prepared for careers in diverse fields, including social work, education, human resources, government, business, law, criminal justice, research, community activism聽and elder and youth services.聽

Sociology- student Rosmery Medrano headshot

Alumni of our program have worked聽in a variety of job roles, including:

  • Adoption worker
  • Behavior therapist
  • Case worker
  • English teacher
  • Human resources manager
  • Intensive care coordinator
  • Program director
  • Research assistant
  • Residential counselor
  • Special education teacher

Meet Our Students and Alumni

51视频 student Rafaela Gonzalez poses with some of her GloryScent products
Rafaela Gonzalez '18
Sociology

Rafaela Gonzalez wants to care for people as individuals and in communities, so she's majoring in sociology and minoring in psychology. She's also started her own business.

I like to encourage people and give them hope - especially teenagers when they have problems and people aren't actually listening.
Read More 51视频 Rafaela Gonzalez 
Michelle Garcia reads aloud in front of a class
Michelle Garcia '21
English, Sociology

Michelle Garcia, a rising spoken word poet, is also learning how to write poetry for the page.

Writing keeps me sane. It keeps me grounded.
Read More 51视频 Michelle Garcia 
Franchesca Arias takes a selfie in Spain during her study abroad program with a group of students and Assoc. Teaching Prof. Thomas Piñeros-Shields
Franchesca Arias '20
Sociology & Spanish

Honors student Franchesca Arias is passionate about studying abroad after completing a summer program in Valencia, Spain.

Study abroad is one of those life-changing experiences. When you鈥檙e immersed in the culture, you realize you have the ability to learn every single aspect of that culture and what they鈥檙e going through socially and politically.
Read More 51视频 Franchesca Arias 
Ben Jeter and others stand around a table a meeting
Ben Jeter '21
Sociology

Ben Jeter鈥檚 experiences at 51视频, including participating in the professional co-op program and his job as a resident advisor, turned him into a student leader.

My roles as an RA and within the Black Student Union really changed my life and informed who I am today.
Read More 51视频 Ben Jeter 
51视频 student Rosmery Medrano sits at a table with an open book
Rosmery Medrano '22
Sociology

Rosmery Medrano analyzed her culture and hometown in a field research class.

It was really interesting to analyze my city from a sociological perspective.
Read More 51视频 Rosmery Medrano