Sociology (AB)

Program Code: U-SOC-AB
Degree Designation: Bachelor of Arts
Department: Sociology Department
Website: sociology.duke.edu/undergraduate/major

Program Summary

Sociology is an exciting field of scientific study that explores how societies are organized, change, and affect individuals and groups. Sociologists use diverse empirical methods to answer questions about social life, such as: What impact does racial segregation have on students' educational outcomes? Who gets sick and why? How do social networks affect business profits? What are the social causes of criminal behavior? And how can we harness big data to understand political divides?

Duke Sociology prides itself on creating an engaging curriculum that develops students’ analytic and communication skills, provides in-depth knowledge of multiple research practices and substantive areas, and hones tools needed for a wide variety of professions. Sociology majors and minors apply their understanding of social problems and institutions in careers in medicine, education, business, law, non-profit, research, the arts, and government.

The department fosters active involvement in the learning process through seminars, fieldwork, independent study, service learning, collaborative projects, and its Honors Program. Duke Sociology’s signature strengths include race and inequality, medical sociology, sociology of work and organizations, computational social science, and sociology of law, crime and justice.

Go to Programs by Department to view all related programs.

Program Learning Outcomes

Undergraduates in the program should be able to: 

• Explain how social networks, institutions, and culture shape individual lives

• Evaluate systems of structured inequalities

• Apply sociological theories to novel contexts

• Answer social science questions using qualitative and quantitative data analyses

• Communicate ideas clearly and persuasively in written, visual, and oral format

Academic Requirements

At least 10 units total to complete the major. At least 34 units total to earn a degree.

• Required Courses (4 units)

  • SOCIOL 110

  • SOCIOL 332

  • SOCIOL 333, or any STA course 100-level and above

  • SOCIOL 338

• Senior Research Experience (1 unit)

  • SOCIOL 393

  • SOCIOL 495S, and SOCIOL 496S

  • SOCIOL 490S

  • SOCIOL 495S, and SOCIOL 496S

• Electives (5 units)

  • Any 5 SOCIOL courses 200-level and above

Concentrations

Students who major in sociology have the option of declaring a concentration in one of the following three areas:

• Medical Sociology: study of social and structural determinants of health and healthcare

• Sociology of Crime, Law, and Justice: study of legal processes and systems of punishment 

• Sociology of Work and Organizations: study of jobs, labor markets, and careers

To complete an optional concentration, majors must take four or more courses in the sub-discipline. The department's website provides an updated list of available courses for each concentration. Additionally, capstone courses (SOCIOL 393, 490, 495S, 496S) that complete research in the concentration can count as one of the four required concentration courses for that area.

Departmental Graduation with Distinction

The department offers work leading to Graduation with Distinction through the Honors Thesis Program. This is a two-semester course sequence (SOCIOL 495S and 496S) that is available to seniors with at least a 3.5 GPA and an endorsement of a sociology faculty member. Prior to enrolling in the Honors Program, students must complete SOCIOL 332 (Methods); completion of SOCIOL 333 (Statistics) is strongly encouraged.

Honors students conduct original research that results in substantive papers in the format of academic journal articles. In a supportive community of faculty advisors and peer researchers, students navigate the nonlinear research process. Weekly workshops guide students in translating abstract ideas into answerable sociological questions, situating topics among existing literature, using appropriate methods to analyze data, and communicating empirical results. In April, students share their work through posters and oral presentations at the annual Sociology Honors Symposium.