Fact Sheets

Sociology @ MSUM 

The Study of Sociology

Students majoring in sociology participate in a broad liberal arts-based program with a goal of understanding human society. The focus of the discipline includes such topics as social inequality, social organization, social problems, social institutions and social interaction. Students most suited for a major in sociology are creative and curious, interested in understanding their own society and others.

Sociology majors examine basic concepts such as societies,classes, organizations, institutions, social structures andcultures.  Courses examine major problems of society such as racism, sexism, poverty, overpopulation, pollution and crime. Sophomores and juniors take more advanced classes in social psychology, social theory, population, social research methods and minority groups.  Junior and senior sociology majors explore many specialty areas of sociology including urban, family, criminology, gerontology, class, education, organization and religion. In their senior year, students are required to takea class in complex organizations and a seminar capstone class.

The Bachelor of Arts in sociology is designed to provide a solid basic understanding of the field. For students seeking preparation toward a specific career, concentrations are available in areas such as family, deviance-criminology, health/medicine, social research and gender. Students may also consider a related second major such as gerontology, criminal justice or business, any of which may enhance employment opportunities. Students also sometimes complete a minor and occasionally students will develop individualized majors using sociology as their core.

Career Opportunities
Sociology is the study of people in social settings. Sociology graduates enter a wide range of careers. Some enter the criminal justice field, following careers in police departments or government agencies that work in the criminal justice system. Others find careers in community service organizations or in hospital settings. Sociology majors find careers in any private business that is interested in someone who has knowledge of organizations, people and social issues. Sociology majors are especially well prepared to do social research and to understand the social research of others. There is a strong emphasis in the department on critical thinking and writing skills. Almost every class beyond the introductory level requires some writing.

Careers for professional sociologists usually require graduate school. Those with graduate degrees may teach or do research at universities, be employed by public or private agencies or the government, or as private consultants dealing with public concerns such as crime, poverty, population growth, racial and ethnic relations, or to work as demographers in state, national or international agencies.

Alumni in Graduate and Professional Schools
Many graduates in sociology pursue graduate school in sociology.  Recent graduates have entered programs at the University of Connecticut, University of Maryland, University of Illinois, University of Arizona and North Dakota State University.  Some go on to law school and some go on to graduate school in criminal justice or other fields.

Department Benefits

  • The sociology major is located in a department that houses three different majors: Sociology, Criminal Justice and Gerontology.  Students interested in sociology have ample opportunities to explore any or all of these majors.
  • All sociology majors have access to a social science computer lab and a student lounge near the department.
  • Sociology students have a statistics tutor available for their research methods classes and have MSUM’s Write Site nearby if help is needed with writing.
  • There are nine sociologists in the department, three of whom are responsible for teaching the classes in criminal justice. The faculty is diverse in its training and interests and exposes students to a wide variety of topics and perspectives within the field of sociology.
  • Professors in the department are part of networks throughout the Fargo-Moorhead community and are able to advise students how to become active in the community.
  • Students are involved in state and regional professional organizations, attending conferences, presenting papers and even becoming members of boards of directors.
  • The sociology major has an exchange program with the University of Portsmouth in England. Students from Portsmouth attend MSUM every year; sociology majors have an opportunity to attendPortsmouth in their junior year, paying MSUM tuition.