The School of Education and Human Services offers a major in General Sociology. The field is concerned with the social location of people–their culture, social class, gender, age, and education; the relationships between groups; and external influences that are internalized, becoming part of an individual’s identity and behavior.
An undergraduate major in General Sociology provides a strong liberal arts preparation for entry-level positions in business, social service, and governmental sectors. Increasingly, employers are looking for people with the analytical skills that a Sociology major provides. The investigative skills emphasized in the major, along with the focus on working with diverse groups prove valuable to students pursuing careers in journalism, public relations, business, and public administration. Sociology also provides a strong base for later professional training in law, education, and social work.
Students in Sociology interested in focusing their coursework may elect a special emphasis in Social Justice. This rigorous program analyzes those groups most in need of justice. By analyzing the consequences of inequality, these Sociology students examine ways of empowering the marginalized and voiceless to work effectively on their own behalf by developing community strategies that enable change.
The Social Justice emphasis in Sociology provides a strong liberal arts preparation for entry-level positions as lobbyists, legislative advocates, fund-raisers, and nonprofit directors and for work in government agencies. This program encourages students to develop their own framework for addressing social justice issues that interest them. The Social Justice emphasis also provides a strong base for later professional training in law, education, and social work.
Students in Sociology interested in focusing their coursework also may select a special emphasis in Early Childhood Education. This concentration may be selected by students interested in becoming teachers in the primary grades. Students will be prepared to apply theoretical and practical knowledge to early educational settings. Completion of the required emphasis and Liberal Arts Core courses lead to licensure eligibility at the PK-3 level. This program is approved by the Virginia Department of Education. NOTE: If a student in this emphasis is not admitted to the PK-3 licensure program before the beginning of the senior year, the student would switch to General Sociology and complete requirements for this major.
Liberal Arts Core requirements: All Liberal Arts Core requirements must be fulfilled. It is recommended that students work with an advisor to ensure compliance.
Major requirements: IS 200 Approaches to Gender and Society, SOC 201 Cultural Anthropology, SOC 202 Social Problems, SOC 303 Development of Social Thought, SOC 304 Applied Research Methods, SOC 306 Social Class in American Society, SOC 322 Race and Ethnic Relations, SOC 400 Internship, and SOC 495 Current Issues in Crime and Social Justice. Students must also complete 6 of the following courses, no more than 3 of which may be in Psychology: SOC 250 Deviant Behavior, SOC 302 Marriage and Family, SOC 305 Criminology, SOC 307 Sociology of Juvenile Justice, SOC 350 Social Justice, SOC 351 Addressing Injustice, SOC 360 Britain Today, CJ 209 Criminal Justice System, CJ 310 Policing in American Society, CJ 311 Correctional Institutions, PSY 210 Human Growth and Development, PSY 220 Social Psychology, PSY 230 Abnormal Psychology, PSY 311 Early Childhood Development, PSY 312 Adolescent Psychology, PSY 313 Adulthood and Aging, PSY 321 Psychology of Gender, PSY 331 Human Service Agencies, PSY 332 Psychology of Addictions, and PSY 341 Psychology of Individuals with Disabilities.
When all other requirements are successfully completed, in the senior year the student is placed for 280 hours (6 credits) in an internship (SOC 400) which complements his/her selected focus. Prerequisites for the internship are a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher, a grade of C- or higher in all required courses for the major, a minimum of 12 credits earned at Marymount, and permission of the internship coordinator.
Liberal Arts Core requirements: All Liberal Arts Core requirements must be fulfilled. It is recommended that students work with an advisor to ensure compliance.
Major requirements: IS 200 Approaches to Gender and Society, SOC 201 Cultural Anthropology, SOC 202 Social Problems, SOC 303 Development of Social Thought, SOC 304 Applied Research Methods, SOC 306 Social Class in American Society, SOC 322 Race and Ethnic Relations, SOC 350 Social Justice, SOC 351 Addressing Injustice, and SOC 495 Current Issues in Crime and Social Justice.
Students choose 6 electives to focus their work on a particular aspect of social justice and must complete independent work on a social justice issue of personal interest by taking one or both of the following courses: SOC 421 Project and/or SOC 433 Research.
When all other requirements are successfully completed, in the senior year the student is placed for 280 hours (6 credits) in an internship (SOC 400) which complements his/her selected focus within the area of social justice. Prerequisites for the internship are a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher, a grade of C- or higher in all required courses for the major, a minimum of 12 credits earned at Marymount, and permission of the internship coordinator.
Liberal Arts Core requirements: All Liberal Arts Core requirements must be fulfilled. It is recommended that students work with an advisor to ensure compliance.
Major requirements: SOC 131 Principles of Sociology, SOC 201 Cultural Anthropology, SOC 303 Development of Social Thought, SOC 304 Applied Research Methods, SOC 306 Social Class in American Society, and SOC 322 Race and Ethnic Relations.
Students may choose 3 electives from the following: SOC 202 Social Problems, SOC 250 Deviant Behavior, SOC 307 Sociology of Juvenile Justice, SOC 302 Marriage and Family, SOC 350 Social Justice, SOC 351 Addressing Injustice, SOC 360 Britain Today, and SOC 495 Current Issues in Crime and Social Justice.
When all other requirements are successfully completed, in the senior year the student is placed in a student-teaching internship (ED 460E). Prerequisites for the internship are a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher, a grade of C- or higher in all required courses for the major, a minimum of 12 credits earned at Marymount, and permission of the Undergraduate Teacher Licensure Committee. Students in this program must meet with an Education advisor to ensure that all licensure requirements in Liberal Arts Core and professional studies are met. Students are required to pass appropriate Praxis I and Praxis II tests.
Minor requirements (21 credits): Seven of the following courses: SOC 131 Principles of Sociology, SOC 201 Cultural Anthropology, SOC 202 Social Problems or SOC 250 Deviant Behavior, SOC 303 Development of Social Thought, SOC 304 Applied Research Methods, SOC 306 Social Class in American Society, SOC 322 Race and Ethnic Relations, SOC 350 Social Justice: Ethical Dilemmas in Social Context, SOC 351 Addressing Injustice: Activism and Advocacy, SOC 495 Current Issues in Crime and Social Justice.