Sociology Major and Minor
Examine the impact of social institutions and structures on individuals. Translate critical thought into action with the goal of anticipating, solving, and preventing social problems to improve the human and global condition.
Why Study Sociology at Albion?
We’re deeply committed to broadening your perspectives and preparing you for life after Albion College. As a sociology major, you’ll explore how social patterns shape our experiences and lives and the experiences and lives of others.
You’ll hone keen analytical, critical thinking, and communications skills and develop a deep understanding of the social systems and institutions that impact daily life. You’ll graduate equipped with a skill set that translates to many careers and fields, including law, government, human services, public administration, social work, public health, and management.
What Will You Learn as a Sociology Major?
You'll develop the most essential skills required to live and thrive in society by understanding your own life and experiences and the lives and experiences of others.
You’ll develop an understanding of how concepts like race, ethnicity, social class, gender and sexuality are socially constructed, and often transformed into patterns of inequality.
You'll learn to employ qualitative and quantitative social research methods, and carry out independent research projects of your own design.
You’ll become comfortable with sociological theory and study social change movements throughout history before exploring your passions through upper-level courses.
Highlights
Research
Apply everything you learn to an original research project. You’ll work closely with faculty mentors to define a scope of research and carry it through to completion. Doing independent research allows students to pursue their intellectual passions and to make connections among diverse fields of knowledge.
Study Away
Gain experience in another culture by spending a semester studying off campus, whether abroad through Albion’s Center for International Education or through programs at the Chicago Center or the Philadelphia Center. As a sociology major, you’ll have the opportunity to broaden your study in a location like New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, India or Peru.
Honors Thesis
Consider taking on a challenge and exploring a topic you’re passionate about by writing an honors or departmental thesis during your senior year. Sociology majors are encouraged to write a senior honors thesis where they will combine their learning with practical experience in an original research project.
Internships
Gain real experience and explore potential careers by spending a semester or summer in an off-campus internship. Sociology students frequently intern in museums with state, local, national, and tribal entities, and with medical and social service providers.
Careers & Outcomes
As a sociology major, the knowledge and skills you build are valuable in everyday life and in a wide variety of careers. You’ll build transferable research, analysis and communications skills that you’ll put into practice through internships, research and experiential learning opportunities. Many of our students go on to pursue graduate study, while others find work in diverse fields, from international diplomacy to hospital administration.
Below are examples of some of the professions our students choose, as well as graduate programs our students have recently attended.
Job Titles
- Human Resources Manager
- Biostatistician
- Congressional Staff Worker
- College Professor
- Lawyer
- Urban Planner
- Personnel Manager
- Museum Curator
- Market Researcher
- Cultural Resource Specialist
- Guidance Counselor
- Archivist
- Public Health Professional
Graduate Schools
- American University
- University of Kentucky
- Georgetown University
- IUPUI
- Purdue University
- Tulane University
- Pratt Institute
- North Carolina State University
- Stony Brook University
- Michigan State University
- University of Michigan
- Penn State University