Why Choose Nazareth for Sociology?

How are apps like Tindr and Bumble changing how people find romantic partners? What explains why some groups of people refuse vaccines and others embrace them? Is changing individual behaviors an effective solution to environmental problems? Sociology isn't just the study of people in groups, it's the science that can help us understand the opportunities and obstacles in our own day-to-day lives while at the same time lending insight into many of the biggest problems facing society: political unrest, income inequality, racism, sexism, and environmental problems.

The sociology major at Nazareth University is a flexible, supportive, close-knit program with three full-time faculty members who are committed to inclusive teaching practices, pedagogical excellence, and focusing on contemporary topics that are meaningful to the lives of undergraduates. The requirements and scheduling of courses for the sociology major are designed to fit easily with a second major or a minor and many education students find the pairing with sociology particularly useful.

Our program offers unique classes not generally found in other sociology departments including Screen Time: Technology in TV & Film and Water, Gender & Society; and The Sociology of Work. Our majors also take two research methods courses to first learn the basic principles of sociological research and then have the opportunity to conduct your own small qualitative study that you can present on campus during Nazareth's annual Creative Activity and Research Showcase (CARS) celebration. Service-learning projects, off-campus trips, and internships complement classroom learning.

Changemakers

We prepare you to be a changemaker by helping you see how larger social forces are at play "behind the scenes" in the obstacles and opportunities we each encounter every day. We also emphasize how collective action is the key to resolving many of our most vexing social problems. The sociology major builds the skill of seeing the world from the point of view of others; graduates often say that the program has helped them be more open-minded, objective, and understanding of social and cultural differences and the challenges faced by those who are different from themselves.

Program Highlights

• Unique classes on contemporary topics that are revised each year to incorporate current events.
• Flexibility in requirements and scheduling to make double majoring or adding a minor straightforward and easily doable within four years.

• The opportunity to carry out an independent research project and present your work at Nazareth's all-day showcase of student research, scholarship, and creative activity.
• Small classes and individual attention from faculty who are committed to engaging, inclusive, and effective teaching practices.
• Qualified juniors and seniors are eligible to apply for the endowed Urlaub Internship.
• Sociology majors learn skills applicable to a wide range of occupations in fields such as teaching, counseling, journalism, marketing, human resources, communications, politics, non-profit work, and international relations.