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Moffett Center, Room 2120
(607) 753-2726
E-mail: william.skipper@cortland.edu
www.cortland.edu/sociology/

School

Arts and Sciences

Faculty

William Skipper (Chair), Jamie Dangler, Herbert Haines, Stephen Halebsky, Richard Kendrick, Kassim Kone, Craig Little, Ellis McDowell-Loudan, John R. Sosa, Sharon Steadman, Stuart Traub, Anne Vittoria, Mark Worrell, Tiantian Zheng

Adjunct Faculty

For a listing of adjunct faculty see the Faculty and Administration  section.

Programs Offered

Bachelor of Arts in Criminology
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Bachelor of Arts in Adolescence Education: Social Studies and Sociology (7-12)

Majors Offered

Criminology
Sociology
Adolescence Education: Social Studies and Sociology (7-12)

Concentrations Offered

Criminology
Social Gerontology

Minors Offered

Sociology
Social Gerontology

Description

Sociology is a way of understanding human behavior. The discipline's central premise is that the behavior of individuals is a function of social context: We live our lives as we do because we live among particular others in a particular place at a particular time. Proceeding scientifically and holistically, Sociology attempts to understand how, broadly speaking, culture and social structure (the economy, politics, family, religion, etc.) shape the lives of those who participate in them; the ultimate goal of that understanding being to improve the quality of those lives.

The sociology program offers a curriculum designed to help students develop their analytical skills and ability to understand conceptual and theoretical material. Courses encourage students to think creatively and flexibly and to broaden their perspectives on the world around them. Sociology majors acquire an educational background that is useful in careers relating to counseling, gerontology, human services, law, law enforcement, probation work, public administration, management and international relations, among others.

The major also prepares students for a variety of careers in the private and public sectors that require an understanding of race and ethnic relations, cross-cultural settings, contemporary social problems, and demographic and social transformations in contemporary society.

Students are encouraged to take pre-career internships and research experiences for academic credit. Students who are interested in teaching may combine study in the sociology major with professional courses leading to a qualification for initial certification in adolescence social studies (grades 7-12).

Special Features

• Internships
• Study abroad opportunities
• Exchange program with Griffith University, Australia
• National honor society in sociology (Alpha Kappa Delta)
• National honor society in criminology (Alpha Phi sigma)
• National honor society in gerontology (Sigma Phi Omega)
• Sociology/Anthropology Club
• Teaching certification for adolescence social studies

Requirements

1. Degree requirements listed here  apply to all sociology majors.
2. Liberal Arts Requirements – 90 credit hours

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