Sociology
Introduction to the Major
Faculty members talk about what you can learn and what makes this major special.
Mission Statement
Sociology aims to provide students with the intellectual tools needed to analyze social phenomena theoretically and empirically. To that end, the curriculum provides a wide range of courses. During the first and second years of study students are trained in the basics of sociology, followed by more specialized courses within the major. Possible areas of specialization include family, migration, science/technology, globalization, nationalism, social movements, political sociology, environmental sociology, development, work, gender, and more. Students are encouraged to learn qualitative and/or quantitative research methods and conduct their own independent research projects in association with methodology courses and/or with their senior theses. The major's overarching goal is to help students realize that they can analyze social phenomena theoretically and empirically, and that sociological perspectives and analyses contribute ultimately to the betterment of societies.
Learning Goals
Students are expected to develop competence in the following areas:
- Sociological Theories: students learn classical and contemporary social theory and the main debates and foci of research in sociology.
- Critical Thinking: through critical reading, writing, and debate, students will develop the ability to ask compelling questions, evaluate contents, and draw theoretically based arguments.
- Methodologies: students will learn methodologies to collect and analyze data and acquire the ability to use qualitative and/or quantitative research methods.
- Research Design and Its Implementation: students will develop the ability to design and implement a sociological research project. This involves working with scholarly literature, formulating research questions, and employing appropriate methods to generate relevant data.
- Analysis: students will develop the ability to analyze data and draw theoretically sound conclusions from data analysis.
- Communication: students will develop the ability to present their ideas both verbally and in writing.
- Ethics: students will develop an awareness of the ethics of social science research promoting ICU's mission of creating responsible global citizens.