Welcome to the Undergraduate Program!

Welcome to the Department of Sociology Undergraduate Program at the Catholic University of America. 

The university's program in sociology provides opportunities for students to investigate critical questions about the workings of their social world - from the environments of the individual and the family, through the organization of schools, work places and churches, to the ways in which nations of the world wage or avoid waging war. Students major in this study of social institutions and social processes for a variety of reasons and anticipate diverse career possibilities, especially those which require computer assisted data analysis. The undergraduate program in sociology is designed to allow maximum flexibility in selecting an integrated program of 12 courses that serves the student's needs and interests. Students are encouraged to plan their programs with an adviser.

As examples of individual academic programs leading to possible careers for a sociology major, the Department of Sociology curriculum is organized along three tracks or principal fields: (1) Crime, Justice and Pre-law; (2) Global and Comparative Processes; and (3) Public Policy Analysis.  Students not interested in any of these three concentrations can major in General Sociology by passing the core requirements and taking courses from any of the tracks to fulfill the necessary number of credits for the major. Students who plan a career in law or politics might major in sociology; taking, in addition to the core courses, courses in political sociology, the sociology of work and occupations or crime and delinquency. Courses in economics and politics could also be integrated into this program. Students anticipating work in community services, such as teaching, social service or probation and parole, would choose courses such as those in marriage and the family, childhood and adolescent socialization, minority relations and social psychology.

A major in sociology provides good background for some business careers, such as management, personnel work or customer relations; business-oriented students would elect courses such as those in formal organization, the sociology of work and occupations and inter-group relations. For the sociology major, there are also occupational possibilities in public and private agencies, organizations or industries that do social research; students interested in research and analysis would augment their program with courses in statistics, computers and advanced research methods. Internships for credit are also available to students. For more information on possible careers with a sociology degree click career options.  You may also click on alumni at the left of the page to see what some of our alumni are doing. Check these links for additional information:

http://www.asanet.org/galleries/default-file/BeyondIvoryTowerFirstResults.pdf and http://asanet.org/galleries/Research/ASAResearchBrief_revised.pdf. 

A major in sociology must take 12 SOC courses, eight of them specifically required. See Suggested Sequence of courses at the left of this page.

To be accepted as a major, a student must have a 2.0 GPA overall and a 3.0 GPA in sociology courses. Special exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

We would be happy to respond to your questions about the program via e-mail or by telephone on 202-319-5445.

History of the Sociology Department

The Sociology Department was founded in 1895 and was intended to strengthen the fields of moral theology and Christian social teachings.  It was one of the founding departments in the School of Social Sciences.  It was the first department of sociology in any Catholic university in the United States.  At first the department only offered graduate courses and most of the courses were philosophical in content.

The department gradually expanded and in 1921 the National Catholic School of Social Services split off as a separate school and later became part of Catholic University.  In 1934 the Department of Anthropology split off from the Sociology Department.

From the very beginning faculty members have been important figures in regional, national and international social science.  Two early members of the department were Father William Joseph Kerby (department member 1895-1936) and Monsignor Paul Hanly Furfey (department member 1935-1966).  Other distinguished members have been Father John O'Grady, Father Thomas Harte, Dr. C.J. Nuesse, Father Raymond Potvin, Dr. Che-Fu Lee and Dr. Dean R. Hoge.

We are a relatively small department so students still receive an abundance of attention.  Catholic University's location in the nation's capital provides students with access to a multitude of opportunities for studies and research.  Strong community ties provide students with numerous and wide ranging internships and job opportunities with corporations and government agencies.  The American Sociological Association, Eastern Sociological Association and District of Columbia Sociological Society all have offices in the area and conduct meetings that students are invited to attend.  Catholic University is also a member of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, which is made up of 11 local universities.  Students are encouraged to use the Library of Congress, vist the many museums such as the Holocaust Museum and the Smithsonian Institution, to attend local lectures, and to visit and volunteer at homeless shelters and soup kitchens.  Students are also invited to attend the Life Cycle Institute's "Brown Bag" lecture series.  The sociology program also provides a foundation for graduate studies.

Sociology is the study of groups and societies. Sociologists study such issues as the causes and consequences of social inequality, the impact of groups on individuals, the causes of social and political change, the sources of values and beliefs, and the organization of major institutions.

Our undergraduate sociology program program is designed to enable students to think systematically and critically about their society, and to help students develop analytical, research and writing skills relevant to a variety of careers. We encourage qualified advanced students to enroll in graduate courses. Our courses cover topics such as, crime and law, sex and gender, culture and religion, social change and economic development.

B.A./M.A. Program - eligible students (3.5 GPA) may complete a B.A. and an M.A. degree program in five years.

Department Honors

Apart from the regular Honors Program and the B.A./M.A. program, the department offers several honors and awards, including:

• Membership in Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society - open to majors with at least an overall 3.2 GPA. Contact Dr. Pumar for information.
• Membership in Pi Gamma Mu, the International Honor Society for Social Sciences - open to majorswho have completed seven major courses and have an overall 3.0 GPA.  See Rev. Sullins for information.    
• The William Joseph Kerby Award, given to a graduating senior for outstanding achievement in undergraduate sociology. 

For information about Admissions please click Admisson on the left of the page