B.A. in Sociology

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Program Highlights

• 38 major credit hours of coursework in which you will examine social structures and processes, institutions, current issues, and established theory and concepts. For detailed course descriptions and a comprehensive list of required courses to earn this bachelor of arts degree, refer to the College Catalog.
  • Sociology core requirements include Foundations of Sociology, Social Problems, Social Research Methods, Sociological Theory, and a Senior Research Colloquium.
  • Sociology electives include options such as Sociology of Deviant Behavior, Gerontology, Medical Anthropology, Courtship and Marriage, Criminology, Sociology of Religion, Law and Society, White Collar Crime, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Global Society, Juvenile Delinquency, the Family As a Social Institution, and Social Change, as well as Poverty and Stratification — a popular course which lends economic insight to the sociological study of poverty’s impact on various people groups, as well as the development of viable solutions to help people overcome poverty.
  • Major-related requirements include Principles of Microeconomics, Statistical Methods, and Social Psychology.
  • In every course, you will be guided to view society through a biblical lens and avoid oversimplifying complex social problems. Unlike most sociology programs (which often tilt ideologically Left and favor relativism, identity politics, and government intrusion), our program values the constitutional principles of ordered liberty, private enterprise and free markets, a social order rooted in strong marriages and families, and the application of Christian moral precepts to solve social problems.
• Optional concentration in criminal justice. If you are looking for an undergraduate degree in criminology, our program provides excellent options to pursue a related career. This concentration gives students practical exposure to the field through lectures by visiting law enforcement professionals.
• Optional minors in criminal justice studies, family studies, and social entrepreneurship, among others.
• Freedom to double major in complementary disciplines like Spanish, social work, psychology, political science, biblical and religious studies, and Christian ministries. You could also benefit from minors such as social entrepreneurship to build your sense of innovation when addressing social problems.
• Research woven into every course.
  • From freshman through senior year, you will practice sociological application in applied research settings, developing your ability to test hypotheses, conduct surveys, and statistically analyze your results. You will also gain practical experience with SPSS software and numerous nationally recognized data sources, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the General Social Survey, the U.S. Census, the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance Survey, and the National Survey of Family Growth.
  • Additionally, you will hone the qualitative techniques of observation and field work, interviewing, facilitating a focus group, and incorporating visual sociology and digital content into your research.
  • As part of the senior colloquium project, you will develop, conduct, and present original research based on individual student interests. This project often leads to great self-discovery and can serve as a launching pad for graduate study and professional research.
• Study abroad program providing opportunities to explore another culture and broaden your perspective — something many of our sociology majors decide to do.
• Opportunities to attend conferences like the Northeast Ohio Undergraduate Sociology Conference and the Sociology Symposium — where our students consistently win top awards for their outstanding research papers and posters.
• Personal access to accomplished faculty mentors with a unique blend of expertise in sociology, marriage and family, religion, social work, social psychology, crime, and economics, among other areas.
  • Thanks to small class sizes (especially in upper-level courses), you will be able to engage personally with faculty and classmates.
• Internship opportunities to develop your skills in a professional context with organizations such as the Family Research Council, Department of Education, The Heritage Foundation, FBI, crisis pregnancy centers, and other companies and nonprofits.
• Student-led organizations in which you can participate and grow in servant leadership, such as the Sociology, Social Work, and Psychology Association, S.E.A.D. (Students for Ethnic Awareness and Diversity), debate team, and law society.
• Vocation-enriching humanities core classes woven into your academic schedule that will cultivate greater empathy, critical thinking, writing and other communication skills, and a well-rounded understanding of the world and your place in it.

Career Outcomes

• If you are like 96% of Grove City College graduates, you will be prepared to thrive professionally in a variety of fields such as public policy, criminal justice, nonprofit work, professional research, and more with companies and organizations like the Department of Labor, Family Research Council, U.S. Military, University of Maryland psychology lab, and state and federal law enforcement agencies.
• If you decide to continue your education, you will be prepared to compete for seats in top graduate, medical, and law schools such as Penn State, American University, Case Western, and The George Washington University.
• Wherever your passions take you, you will be ready to help improve your local community or society at large as a thoughtful observer with the critical thinking, communication, problem solving, and analytical skills needed to make a lasting difference.

Student & Alumni Stories

Brooke Kennedy '23
B.A. in Sociology

“After the first day in class, I knew I chose the right major, and I’ve never had a doubt about it. Between the fascinating subject material and outstanding professors, sociology continues to capture my interests and passions. It helps me to understand people and make better sense of the world.”— Emma Thomas ’18, B.A. in Sociology, Minor in Philosophy

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