Sociology is the study of human interaction in social groups, organizations, societies, and other social systems. Sociologists investigate social and cultural factors that flow from, and influence, human interaction.
At Illinois State University, our diverse faculty exposes students to an invaluable breadth of sociological inquiries, including stratification, population, environment, family, social problems, globalization, minority relations, sex roles, deviant behavior, institutions, criminology, and many others. Sociology--invaluable to well-educated people--is important in social, familial, economic, and political areas of everyday life, and has relevance for almost any occupation or profession.
As American sociologist Lester Frank Ward pointed out, sociological knowledge gives one “the means of self-orientation.” It enables us to be aware of social and cultural forces that influence our choices and behavior, allows us to evaluate changes in those forces, and helps us to deal with the issues of our time and place.
The Department of Sociology & Anthropology has many outstanding characteristics that have distinguished it as a unique and distinctive academic department. First is its commitment to quality academic programs.
The department’s programs exemplify a commitment to individualized attention through
The department also remains committed to preparation of its students for the workplace. The faculty focuses on helping students to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for successful careers post-graduation. The Department of Sociology and Anthropology was one of the first departments on campus to develop a required “careers” course (sociology undergraduate major program) that orients students to career planning well before they complete their degrees.
The Department of Sociology & Anthropology offers two baccalaureate degree programs, three minor programs, and two master’s degree programs.
The sociology undergraduate program requires completing a minimum of 37 credit hours in the major, as well as 6 cognate hours in anthropology. Both B.A. and B.S. degrees are offered. Of the total sociology credit hours, 19 are required courses,
The core courses above are highly sequenced, while the other 18 credit hours in the major are electives, a wide range of which are offered every semester. In addition, one General Education sociology course may count both toward General Education and the major.
The sociology minor is an 18 credit hour program that includes one required course, Introduction to Sociology (SOC 106, 3hrs.). The additional 15 credit hours may be completed from other sociology courses, most typically electives at the 100, 200, or 300-levels.
