U-SOC-AB - Sociology (AB)

Sociology is a field that uses scientific methods to answer questions about human behavior and society, 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? How can we harness big data to understand political divides? The department prides itself on creating an engaging curriculum that develops students’ analytic and communication skills, provides in-depth knowledge of multiple research methods and substantive areas, and hones tools needed for a wide variety of professions. The department fosters active involvement in the learning process through seminars, fieldwork, independent study, and its Honors Program. Duke Sociology’s signature strengths include race and inequality, medical sociology, organizational sociology, sociology of law, crime and justice, and computational social science.

Program Learning Outcomes

Undergraduate majors in the program should be able to: 

• Explain how individuals are shaped by social networks, institutions, and culture 

• Evaluate systems of social inequality

• Apply sociological theories to novel contexts

• Answer social science questions using qualitative and quantitative analyses

• Communicate ideas clearly and persuasively in writing and public speaking

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

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

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, 490S, 495, 496) that complete research in Medical Sociology, Sociology of Work and Organizations, or Sociology of Crime, Law, and Justice 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 juniors with at least a 3.3 GPA and an endorsement of a faculty member. Completion of SOCIOL 332 (Methods of Social Research) is required and SOCIOL 333 (Quantitative Analysis of Sociological Data or equivalent) is strongly encouraged prior to enrolling in the Honors Program. Students in this program conduct original research that results in substantive papers in the format of academic journal articles. The program captures the often-nonlinear process of research: translating an abstract idea into an answerable sociological question, situating a topic among existing literature, using appropriate methods to analyze data, and communicating empirical results. Students produce and share findings from their theses in a supportive community of faculty advisors and peer researchers.

Website: sociology.duke.edu/undergraduate/major