- Home
- Undergraduate
- Academics
- Sociology
Sociology
As a sociologist, you'll investigate society from a grounded and critical perspective.
Do you want to change the world? First you have to understand it
You'll study everything from crime to religion, developing a unique understanding of what motivates human behavior. Our Students are encouraged to study abroad and apply your substantial training to the real world. The culture at Simmons is focused on community service and activism, giving you ample opportunities to connect and grow within our community.
Our faculty encourages diverse learning styles, offering many options for personalized courses of study and independent learning. You'll benefit from a well rounded liberal arts education with classes in specialties like women's and gender studies, Africana studies and international relations.
With their technical and intellectual experience, our students find successful careers in community organizing, law, public policy, teaching, higher education and social work.
Required Courses
SOCI101 | Principles of Sociology | 4 |
SOCI239 | Introduction to Social Research I | 4 |
SOCI249 | Inequalities | 4 |
SOCI325 | Applications of Sociological Theory | 4 |
SOCI330 | Transnational Studies | 4 |
Generally, SOCI 101 should be completed no later than the sophomore year, SOCI 239 and 268 in the sophomore or junior year, and SOCI 325 and SOCI 330 in the junior or senior year.
Students choose any three electives from the list below:
SOCI210 | Body Politics | 4 |
SOCI216 | I Sing the Body Electric: Social Justice and the Expressive Arts | 3 |
SOCI220 | Working for Social Justice | 4 |
SOCI222 | Organizing for Social Change | 4 |
SOCI223 | Mass Media and Popular Culture | 4 |
SOCI225 | Social Movements | 4 |
SOCI232 | Race, Gender & Health | 4 |
SOCI241 | Health, Illness & Society | 4 |
SOCI245 | Global Health | 4 |
SOCI262 | Criminology | 4 |
SOCI267 | Globalization | 4 |
SOCI270 | South Asia, People & Power | 4 |
SOCI275 | Birth and Death | 4 |
SOCI280 | Sociology of the Law | 4 |
SOCI285 | Drugs and Society | 4 |
SOCI301 | Disability and Society | 4 |
SOCI321 | Sociology of Food | 4 |
SOCI338M | Cross Cultural Alliance Building | 4 |
SOCI339 | Community Research | 4 |
SOCI344 | Sociology of Poetry & Prose | 4 |
SOCI346 | Gender and Islam | 4 |
SOCI347 | Antiracism and Social Justice | 4 |
SOCI349 | Directed Study | 4 |
SOCI350 | Independent Study | 4 |
SOCI365 | Intimate Family Violence | 4 |
Capstone
Students may take one of the two following options:
Internship
Students may choose to complete an internship to fulfill the capstone requirement. Internships are completed in the spring semester of the student’s senior year. In the fall semester before the internship, each student works with the internship supervisor to design an 8-credit internship plan for the following semester. As part of this requirement, students also take the Internship seminar (SOCI 370). Students completing double majors who wish to do an internship will complete their internship through one of their departments.
Thesis
Students may choose to do an independent research and writing project that culminates in a 40–50 page thesis written under the supervision of a faculty member in the department.
Students submit a proposal by the second semester of their junior year and take SOCI 350 (Independent Study) in the first semester of their senior year and SOCI 355 (Thesis) in the second semester of their senior year. An honors designation is granted to meritorious theses. All theses are presented at an event organized by the department.
The minor in sociology consists of five courses.
One required course:
SOCI101 | Principles of Sociology | 4 |
One of the following core courses:
SOCI239 | Introduction to Social Research I | 4 |
SOCI249 | Inequalities | 4 |
SOCI325 | Applications of Sociological Theory | 4 |
SOCI330 | Transnational Studies | 4 |
Three elective courses, selected from the lists of required and elective courses, after consulting with a faculty advisor in the department.
Our Faculty
Dawna Thomas
Professor and Department Chair
Valerie Leiter
Professor and Chair of the Public Health Department and Director of the Bachelor's Program in Public Health
Becky Thompson
Professor
Saher Selod
Associate Professor
Elise Brenner
Adjunct Faculty
Spotlight on Sociology Students and Alums
A Multidisciplinary Education: Irish Immersion, State House Internship, and Reproductive Health Research
Sociology major Gracyn Delaune ’24 reflects on her time abroad, impactful internships and research opportunities, her favorite professors and what it is like to attend school in Boston.
Capitol Police Assistant Director Julie Farnam ’00 Publishes Insider Account of January 6 Attack
Julie Farnam ’00 was Assistant Director of the Intelligence and Interagency Coordination Division of the United States Capitol Police when a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump attacked the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. Farnam has since written a book about the experience and resultant backlash.
Children’s Literature Editor Karen Boss ’95 ’13 Champions Diverse Authors in Successful Career Change
Karen Boss ’95 ’13MA earned a double Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Sociology and returned to Simmons twenty years later for her Master’s in Children’s Literature. She is a senior editor at Charlesbridge, where she works on fiction and nonfiction picture books, and middle-grade and young adult works.
Michele Forzley ’73 Combines Law and Public Health
Michele Forzley '73 shares how she combined her law degree and expertise in international business to the field of public health.
Adunni Slackman Anderson '73 on the Influence of Strong Leaders
Dr. Adunni Slackman Anderson '73 has spent her career as a leader in education. For over 20 years, she served as Principal for the Montclair Public Schools, and for 10 years as the Lower School Head/Primary School Director for Kent Place School, a private, independent school for girls. We spoke to Slackman Anderson about how Simmons shaped her career, and her advice for future leaders.
Tozoe Marton ’18 Researches Equity in Healthcare for Women
Tozoe Marton, MS, is a Ph.D. student at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management. She has done research with the Women's Global Health Imperative Group at Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International as a public health analyst. While...
Teaching Social Workers to Work with the Marginalized with Associate Professor Eugenia Knight ’97
Eugenia Knight ’97 is Associate professor of practice and director of practicum education for Master of Social Work. In March 2022, Knight was named the 2022-23 Center for Faculty Excellence Faculty Fellow for Teaching and Learning. For her year-long appointment...
Meet Your Orientation Leaders: Emily Marder '23, Katelyn Fox '25, Kiki Regan '23, Sophie Bredensteiner '23, and Tess Federico-Maietta '23
Emily Marder '23 is a Nursing major from Lynnfield, Massachusetts. Emily explains why she became an Orientation Leader: "I had fond memories of my orientation and liked how the Orientation Leaders were able to foster a community feeling and connect...
Related Programs
Undergraduate
-
Africana StudiesBA, Minor
- BA
- Minor
-
HistoryBA, Minor
- BA
- Minor
-
PhilosophyMinor
- Minor
-
Political ScienceBA, Minor
- BA
- Minor
-
PsychologyBA, Minor
- BA
- Minor
-
Public HealthBS, Minor
- BS
- Minor
-
Public Policy StudiesMinor
- Minor
-
Women’s, Gender and Sexuality StudiesBA, Minor
- BA
- Minor