Sociology

Chair: Jason Houle

Professors M. D. Dixon, B. Harrington, J. N. Houle, K. J. Lively; Associate Professors J. M. McCabe, K. B. Rogers, G. Sharp, M. Tine, E. C. Walton; Assistant Professors S. Allen, S. Kim,  C. Stockstill, S. Upadhyay; Visiting Professor H. Clark, L. Grinberg, A. Pasieka, K. Smith.

To view Sociology courses, click here. 

Requirements for the Standard Major

The standard major in Sociology consists of eleven courses to be selected as follows:

1. One introductory level course, either SOCY 1 or SOCY 2.
2. Two methods courses: SOCY 10 and SOCY 11. With approval of the Chair, a major may substitute one of the statistical analysis courses offered by the other social science departments or programs.
3. One theory course: SOCY 15, or SOCY 16.
4. Students must take four Lower Division courses (numbered 20-49), two Upper Division courses (numbered 50-80), and one culminating experience course (see 5. below). Students may substitute an Upper Division course for one of the Lower Division courses.
5. Standard majors must satisfy the culminating experience requirement by successfully completing any one of the following three options: Senior Independent Study Project (SOCY 90), The Sociological Imagination (SOCY 91) or Honors Thesis (SOCY 98 & SOCY 99). Brief descriptions of each option may be found under the course listings. Please consult the Department regarding specific procedures for each option. The culminating experience may be counted as one of the seven additional courses in Sociology numbered 20 or higher that are required for completion of the major. Note: Senior fellows who elect to complete a sociology major may fulfill this requirement through the successful completion of the senior fellow project.

Standard majors must be approved by a department faculty member.

Requirements for the Modified Major

The modified major in Sociology consists of thirteen courses to be selected as follows:

1. One introductory level course, either SOCY 1 or SOCY 2.
2. Two methods courses: SOCY 10 and SOCY 11. With approval of the Chair, a major may substitute one of the statistical analysis courses offered by the other social science departments or programs.
3. One theory course: SOCY 15, or SOCY 16.
4. Students must take three Lower Division courses (numbered 20-49), one Upper Division course (numbered 50-80), and one culminating experience course (see 5. below). Students may substitute an Upper Division course for one of the Lower Division courses.
5. Modified majors, must satisfy the culminating experience requirement by successfully completing any one of the following three options: Senior Independent Study Project, The Sociological Imagination or an Honors Thesis. Please consult the Department regarding specific procedures for each option.
6. Four related courses taken in one or more departments or programs.

Students establishing a modified major must submit a written statement of the proposed field or topic, plus a list of all courses to be taken for credit toward the modified major. Please see the form on the department website. The proposal should address the intellectual coherence of the proposed course of study. All modified majors must be approved by the Chair of the Sociology Department; and, when modified by a single department or program, by the chair of that department or program. Proposals for modified majors must be submitted to the department no later than the beginning of the third term prior to the student’s graduation (for example, the beginning of fall term senior year in most cases). Extensions may be granted on rare occasions with permission of the Sociology Department chair.

Requirements for the Basic Minor

The basic minor in Sociology consists of six courses, to be selected as follows:

1. One introductory level course, either SOCY 1 or SOCY 2.
2. One theory course, either SOCY 15 or SOCY 16
3. Students must take three Lower Division courses (numbered 10 or 11, 20-49), one Upper Division course (numbered 50-80). Students may substitute an Upper Division course for one of the Lower Division courses.

Requirements for the Minor in Markets, Management and the Economy

The Minor in Markets, Management and the Economy consists of six courses, to be selected as follows:

1. One introductory level course, either SOCY 1 or SOCY 2.
2. One theory course, either SOCY 15 or SOCY 16
3. One of the following: SOCY 26, SOCY 66 or SOCY 69
4. Two of the following courses from the Lower Division

   SOCY 21 Political Sociology

   SOCY 22 The Sociology of International Development

   SOCY 26 Capitalism, Prosperity and Crisis*

   SOCY 27 Organizations in Society

   SOCY 28 Health Care and Health Care Policy

   SOCY 29 Sociology of Work

5. One of the following courses from the Upper Division

   SOCY 50 Sociology of Law

   SOCY 53 Power, Politics and the State

   SOCY 66 Markets and Management*

   SOCY 67 The Political Power of Ideas

   SOCY 69 The Sociology of Globalization*

   SOCY 70 American Labor Relations

   SOCY 80 Independent Study (in Markets, Management and the Economy)

One Upper Division course may be substituted for a Lower Division Course.

* For the MME Minor, taking SOCY 26, SOCY 66 or SOCY 69 can be used towards either fulfilling requirement #3, OR requirement #4 or #5, but not both.

Requirements for the Minor in Social Inequalities

The Minor in Social Inequalities consists of six courses, to be selected as follows:

1. One introductory course, either SOCY 1 or SOCY 2.
2. One theory course, either SOCY 15 or SOCY 16
3. Three of the following courses from the Lower Division

   SOCY 23 Social Movements

   SOCY 25 Democracy and Democratization in Developing Countries

   SOCY 26 Capitalism, Prosperity and Crisis

   SOCY 31 Youth and Society

   SOCY 32 The Social Meanings of Home

   SOCY 34 Health Disparities

   SOCY 38 Status and Power in Social Interaction

   SOCY 42 Racism in Asian America

   SOCY 45 Inequality and Social Justice

   SOCY 46 Constructing Black Womanhood

   SOCY 47 Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.

   SOCY 48 Immigration, Race and Ethnicity

4. One of the following courses from the Upper Division

   SOCY 50 Sociology of Law

   SOCY 55 Poverty and Public Policy in the US

   SOCY 56 Sociology of Gender (Cross-listed with WGSS 34.04)

   SOCY 58 Education and Inequality

   SOCY 60 Dangerous Intersections: Race, Class and Gender

   SOCY 61 Gender (In)Equality (Cross-listed with WGSS 33.05)

   SOCY 65 Social Psychology of Inequality

   SOCY 70 American Labor Relations

   SOCY 71 Race Matters (Cross-listed with AAAS 63)

   SOCY 80 Independent Study (in Social Inequalities)

One Upper Division course may be substituted for a Lower Division Course.

All minors must be approved by a departmental faculty member.

Off-Campus Study

Off-Campus Program in Copenhagen

Students in any social science major may apply to participate in the Sociology Department’s off-campus student exchange program, which is held during the Fall term at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. The University of Copenhagen offers a variety of social science courses taught in English by Copenhagen faculty. Students may choose courses in sociology, anthropology, government, psychology, and economics, and take the normal course load of a full-time student. Applications are received in early February and selections are made during that term. Students who apply are required to have an overall grade point average of at least 3.0. For further information, see Professor Harrington.

Sociology Honors

The Honors Program in Sociology consists of advanced independent study under the direction of a faculty supervisor, culminating in the completion and presentation to the department of an honors thesis. A major who successfully completes an honors thesis in Sociology will also satisfy the culminating experience in the major. The program is open to any major who satisfies the minimum college honors requirements, including a 3.0 GPA overall, has a 3.3 GPA in the major, and has completed all theory and methods requirements for the major prior to submission of the thesis proposal.

Toward the end of the junior year a prospective honors major should identify a faculty member in the department who is willing to serve as a thesis advisor in order to discuss the proposed thesis. Advisors must confirm that they will be on campus during the two terms in which the student takes SOCY 98 and SOCY 99 (sociology honors credits) unless other arrangements are made. A written thesis proposal must be submitted to the advisor no later than the end of the third week of the third term prior to graduation (typically fall term, senior year), and preferably earlier. After the proposal has been approved by the advisor and a copy filed with the department the student is accepted into the honors program.

All honors majors must take SOCY 98 and SOCY 99 for thesis credit during the senior year, although exceptions may be permitted. SOCY 98 counts as one of the seven additional courses numbered 10 or higher that are required for completion of the major, taking SOCY 99 means that Honors students will typically take at least 12 course credits in Sociology. At the end of the SOCY 98 the student’s progress toward the completion of the thesis is evaluated by the advisor in consultation with the department. If satisfactory progress is not being made, then the thesis project may be terminated and a grade given for the first term of thesis credit.

A preliminary draft of the thesis must be turned into the thesis advisor no later than the end of the fifth week of SOCY 99, and preferably earlier. Once revisions have been made, two (2) copies of the completed thesis draft must be turned into the thesis advisor no later than the end of the eighth week of SOCY 99. Upon completion of the final revised thesis, the student must provide 3 bound copies to the department: one for the Advisor, one for the Department and one for the Rauner Library. The thesis will be graded by the thesis advisor and a second reader appointed by the department. Students receiving a B+ (3.33) or higher on the thesis will receive honors recognition in the major. High honors may be awarded by faculty vote for truly exceptional work.

Students interested in participating in the program should obtain the handout “The Sociology Honors Program” from the Department Office. Students can also consult the website: http://sociology.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/honors-program.

Transfer Credits

Upon approval by the Chair, a maximum of two course credits for work taken elsewhere may be counted toward the major and a maximum of one course credit for work taken elsewhere may be counted toward the minor. Modified majors must complete at least five sociology courses at Dartmouth, beyond the prerequisite. Also, certain courses, such as SOCY 1, SOCY 2, SOCY 10, SOCY 11, SOCY 15 and SOCY 16 are almost always required to be taken at Dartmouth. Typically, transfer credit will only be approved for sociology courses not regularly offered by the Department. Students contemplating taking major, modified major and minor courses elsewhere should thus consult the Chair well in advance, to assure that appropriate transfer credits will be accepted.