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 global social problems impact our societies. 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. Our department gives course credits, in the form of Sociology electives, for any internship that includes an educational component. For more information about internship opportunities, visit CUA Career Service.
The Department of Sociology curriculum is organized along three tracks or principal fields: (1) Crime and Justice Studies; (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.
The sociology major prepares students for a variety of professional opportunities. Several of our students go on to attend graduate school. 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 organizations 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, race and ethnic relations, delinquency, and inequality.
A major in sociology provides good background for some business careers, such as management, personnel work, marketing, and customer relations, business-oriented students would elect such courses as formal organizations, the sociology of the human condition, public policy 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, seven of them specifically required. See the curriculum page 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.
For more information about Admissions please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission at 202-319-5305 or 1.800.673.2772.
For information about graduate programs in Sociology nationwide, consult the online Graduate School Guide.
