Director: PETER BLUM
Visiting Assistant Professor: CHRISTOPHER ROBERTSON
The interdisciplinary program in sociology and social thought brings together contemporary perspectives from the social sciences with religious and philosophical perspectives in particular, and with Hillsdale’s liberal arts emphasis in general. The goal of the program is to provide a broad, cross-disciplinary understanding of contemporary society and culture, organized around a core of studies in the theoretical and methodological traditions specific to sociology. It approaches sociological perspectives sympathetically, while also addressing critical questions regarding tradition, authority, and commitment from the standpoint embodied in the mission statement of Hillsdale College. Its theoretical and methodological focus is historical and interpretive, while core courses are geared toward familiarizing students with the range of contemporary approaches in the discipline. Majors in sociology and social thought will mix core courses in sociology with approved courses in philosophy and religion, and in other appropriate disciplines, in consultation with the program director.
Required Courses
The major in sociology and social thought requires a minimum of 27 semester hours (not including SOC 101), including:
Electives
Choose 15 hours from:
Non-sociology courses which are approved as in-major electives will be specified in the course listings each semester. At least one of these electives must be at the 400 level. Seniors are required to submit a senior paper (normally one written for a major course), give a senior presentation, and take a comprehensive examination. Details on how to meet these requirements are available from the program director.
Students who meet the following additional criteria will graduate with honors in sociology and social thought:
- A minimum 3.70 GPA in major courses
- Performance at currently defined minimum level on the comprehensive exam (consult director)
- A senior paper at least 20 pages in length, not including notes or references
- A-level grades on the senior paper and the senior presentation
A course in statistics (e.g., PSY 209) is also strongly recommended as background for graduate study, but such a course may be counted for the major only if the student is not pursuing a second major or a minor which includes a statistics course.