Main Content
Sociology Department
Students of sociology learn to evaluate and explain the complex interactions among people and societies; thus, sociology is an integral part of a liberal arts education. At Emory, the study of sociology covers a wide range of topics, including the study of small group interaction; the study of institutions (education, media industries, the criminal justice system, health care systems); the study of social inequality; the relationship between culture and society; and the comparative study of different societies. Students also are trained in the social research process (different methods of data gathering and analysis) to further their examination of social problems. Emory sociology majors have the opportunity to learn by doing as well as by studying, and several courses offer the opportunity for hands on research.
Faculty
Core Faculty
- Robert Agnew
- Delores P. Aldridge
- John Boli
- Irene Browne
- Sam Cherribi
- Timothy Dowd
- Tyrone Forman
- Roberto Franzosi
- Karen Hegtvedt
- Alexander Hicks
- Ellen Idler
- Cathryn Johnson
- Corey Keyes
- Frank Lechner
- Amanda Lewis
- Jeffery Mullis
- Richard Rubinson
- Tracy Scott
- Regina Werum
- Kathryn Yount
Associated Faculty
- Edmund Becker
- Vincent Carter
- Regine Jackson
- Nancy Kutner
- Kay Levine
- Richard Levinson
- Michael McQuaide
- Michael Sacks
- Claire Sterk
- Steven Tipton
- Paul Wolpe
Adjunct Faculty
- Shailendra Banerjee
- Amy Fasula
- Frank Howell
- David Hurst
- Karin Mack
- James Mercy
- Kim Miller
- Graham Scambler
- Saswati Sunderam
Emeriti Faculty
Courses
Sociology 200-Level Courses
- SOC 201: Organizations And Society
- SOC 205: Urban Communities & Regions
- SOC 213: Sociology Of The Family
- SOC 214: Class/Status/Power
- SOC 215: Soc Problems Of Modern Society
- SOC 215N: Social Problems
- SOC 220: Juvenile Delinquency
- SOC 221: Culture And Society
- SOC 225: Sociology Of Sex And Gender
- SOC 230: Sociolog Aspect Health/Illness
- SOC 245: Individual & Society
- SOC 247: Racial & Ethnic Relations
- SOC 249: Criminology
- SOC 266: Global Change
Sociology 300-Level Courses
- SOC 307: Sociology Of Education
- SOC 311: Political Sociology
- SOC 324: Literature And Society
- SOC 325: Sociology Of Film
- SOC 327: Language & Symbols of Media
- SOC 330: Mental Health And Well-Being
- SOC 333: Sociology Of Religion
- SOC 337: Social Movements
- SOC 343: Mass Media & Social Influences
- SOC 347: Gender and Global Health
- SOC 348: Aging In Society
- SOC 349: Gender and Crime
- SOC 350: Sociology Of Law
- SOC 352: Happiness: The Sociology of
- SOC 355: Social Research I
- SOC 356: Social Research II
- SOC 360: Ethnic Minority Families
- SOC 366: World Inequality&Underdevelopm
- SOC 370A: Community Bldg & Soc Change I
- SOC 370B: Planning Community Initiatives
- SOC 370L: Planning Comm. Initiatives-Lab
- SOC 377: Public Policy
- SOC 378: Compar State & Stratification
- SOC 389: Spec Tops In Sociology
- SOC 390: Sty Abr: Hlth Care/Society Sem
Sociology 400-Level Courses
- SOC 443: Senior Sem: Sociology of Music
- SOC 445: Miscarriages of Justice
- SOC 457: Devlpmnt Of Sociol Theory
- SOC 465: Social Interaction Processes
- SOC 466: Women, Culture and Development
- SOC 467: Economic Sociology
- SOC 468: Economic Development in Africa
- SOC 492R: Practicum:Comm Bldg & Soc Chng
- SOC 494R: Internship In Sociology
- SOC 495A: Honors
- SOC 495B: Honors
- SOC 497R: Directed Research
- SOC 498R: Supervised Reading
- SOC 499R: Independent Research
Programs
Honors Program
To be eligible to apply for the honors program the following qualifications need to be met:
-
An overall GPA of at least 3.5 after fall semester of junior year.
-
A sociology major GPA of at least 3.7 after fall semester of junior year.
-
Maintain these GPA minimums spring semester of junior year; any acceptance to the program will be contingent on spring grades.
At the beginning of the spring semester of the junior year, eligible students (i.e., those with sufficiently high GPAs overall and within the major) are contacted and informed about the application process for the honors program.
The application process includes:
-
Prior to submitting an application, students must meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (Dr. Tracy Scott). Please set up an appointment early spring semester if you are interested in applying.
-
The application materials must be submitted by February 15 of the junior year.
-
The Application materials include:
1. Statement of Research Interest (1-2 pages): Students should describe their potential topic area for the honors thesis. Students should discuss potential research questions, ideas about methods, and the empirical data they might use for their research.
2. Proof of at least one class taken in the thesis topic area of interest (e.g., gender; race/ethnicity; culture; globalization).
3. The names of 2 or 3 potential faculty honors advisors who know the student’s work, and/or who teach/conduct research in the student’s area of interest. The student SHOULD NOT submit letters of recommendation.
The Sociology Department faculty will review the applications and select the participants for the Honors Program. Only students who submit these application materials will be eligible for consideration.
See “Honors Program” under the curriculum section of the catalog and consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Sociology (Dr. Tracy Scott) for further details. General Honors Program information.
General Honors Program information.
Study Abroad
SOC 390: Health Care/Society Seminar. The Department of Sociology offers a six-week program in London focusing on issues and problems in health care delivery in Great Britain and the United States. Emphasis is on the comparative social organization of the two systems, contrasting the evolution and current state of the two health care systems. The program includes seminars with British professors; a short internship experience in a healthcare setting; and a survey research project.
General Study Abroad information.
Advising
To declare a major or minor in sociology, please see Katharine Wilson in the Sociology Department Office, 225 Tarbutton Hall, to complete paperwork.
Katharine Wilson will review the sociology requirements, sociology opportunities, and assign students to a regular faculty adviser. Faculty advisers will be your main source of information about the program, course planning, and career options.
All minors are advised by Dr. Tracy Scott, the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Sociology.
Internship
An internship in sociology consists of supervised work in a social service agency or other type of organization. Students are responsible for locating and securing their own internship (please email the Sociology Internship Coordinator for a list of past sites if you are having trouble locating an appropriate internship). Your internship must be unpaid. Interns take part in a special seminar and receive academic credit (four to twelve hours for SOC 494R).
Awards and Honors
Sociology majors can become members of Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honors society. Eligible students are invited at the beginning of the spring term and are inducted in April. The eligibility requirements are:
-
junior (or 3rd year) student majoring in sociology
-
completion of at least 5 courses (20 hours) in sociology
-
at least a 3.4 GPA overall
-
at least a 3.6 GPA in sociology
In addition, the Department of Sociology annually recognizes an outstanding senior for distinguished undergraduate scholarship in sociology. This award is made possible by a gift from the Sara Smith Sutker and Solomon Sutker Fund.
Independent Research and Study
Students may have opportunities to assist faculty members on their research projects. These opportunities are dependent on the current research needs of the faculty. The best way to pursue research is to get to know the faculty with whom you take classes, and then talk with them about research opportunities. Remember that doing well in a class is the best way to show you would be a good research assistant. Students who do find a research assistant opportunity will be enrolled in SOC 497R: Directed Research. In the recent past, students have assisted on projects focused on the experimental analysis of interaction in small groups, the causes of delinquency, and the trends in transnational corporations.
Please see Dr. Tracy Scott if you would like to talk more about how to pursue research opportunities in the Department of Sociology.