Group of Students

A degree in Sociology.

Students studying sociology will discover it is an exciting, demanding and diversified academic discipline. At its foundation, sociology is the scientific study of society and human social behavior. It is concerned with the social causes and consequences of human behavior. This basic understanding will help graduates begin careers in fields, such as business, law, health care, human services, government, politics and public administration. Students who hold this degree are well prepared for graduate study. The concentration in social justice examines the causes and consequences of inequalities based on class, gender, race/ethnicity, disability, age and sexual orientation. Social processes that contribute to or reduce inequalities are also studied.  

See the Summer 2024 special issue of Footnotes, published by the American Sociological Association (ASA), for stories and testimonials from student and professional sociologists on the value of sociology. 

Courses

The sociology program includes a wide range of courses suitable for majors or minors in sociology, and for students who would benefit from an understanding of human social behavior. The core of the major emphasizes both theory and methodology, particularly as they may be applied to the study of human interaction, social institutions or analysis of contemporary social problems. 

Major

The sociology program offers a major with the option of a general sociology concentration or social justice concentration.

  • Sociology Major: This option includes courses in the methodology of sociology.  It is the best choice for students who plan on a career in sociology or an applied field that calls for conducting research, doing surveys or evaluating programs.  Students develop and practice their skills in conducting social science research.

Minor

The sociology minor complements many majors well.  Almost any career that requires understanding society, human diversity or the methods by which we study society could benefit from coursework in sociology. The wide array of sociology course offerings also makes excellent general electives, regardless of your major.

Sociology - Undergraduate Courses

See the current course catalog for updated information on these courses: CATALOG.

  • SO 101 Introductory Sociology
  • SO 113 Social Problems
  • SO 120 Introduction to Food Studies
  • SO 208 Methods of Social Research I
  • SO 232 Sociology of Family and Intimate Relationships
  • SO 263 Criminology
  • SO 283 Tribal-Centered Victim Services
  • SO 287 Culture, Society, and Happiness
  • SO 292 Sociology of Sport
  • SO 295 Special Topics in Sociology
  • SO 308 Methods of Social Research II
  • SO 312 Religion and Society
  • SO 322 Social Class, Power and Mobility
  • SO 343 Sociology of Monsters and Deviants
  • SO 351 Social Change
  • SO 353 Globalization and Asian Societies
  • SO 355 Introduction to Social Psychology
  • SO 362 Gender and Society
  • SO 372 Race and Racism
  • SO 382 Health, Society and Culture
  • SO 407 Sociological Theory
  • SO 408 Survey Research, Design and Analysis
  • SO 423 Death, Dying, and Grieving
  • SO 433 Environmental Sociology
  • SO 491 Internship in Sociology
  • SO 495 Special Topics in Sociology
  • SO 498 Directed Study in Sociology

All Northern Michigan University students are encouraged to meet regularly with their advisers. Freshmen are required to meet with advisers before registering for the next semester's courses. Along with providing guidance on course selection, advisers are an invaluable resource to students in that they usually know who to contact to get questions answered and problems solved.

Advising and registration

Make an appointment with your adviser well in advance of registration. Also, take care of any holds (adviser, financial, medical, etc.) as soon as you can. You will not be allowed to register until the holds are lifted. If you don't know who your adviser is, you can access that information at MyNMU.edu under the Students Information – Academic Information menu.

Things to do to get the greatest benefit from advising:

  • Pay attention to information coming via e-mail from the Registrar, Academic and Career Advisement Center and your adviser.
  • Prepare to meet your adviser. You should do so early and often every semester.
  • Go online to look at courses being offered. Remember to write down course registration numbers (CRN) in case you need to refer to them later without the benefit of being on-line.
  • Go to your adviser with a tentative course schedule. Be aware that he or she may advise you to take different courses.
  • Talk to your adviser about some alternative courses in case the courses you chose are closed when you are registering.
  • Ask for help if you need it. Your adviser wants you to succeed.

The links below provide useful information that will allow you to learn more about the sociology field and assist you with research.