Program Contact: Xi Chen 203-582-6408

Through a minor in sociology, you’ll explore the diverse communities and social groups that make up our society, and also examine the many factors influencing their behaviors—from work opportunities and educational attainment to healthcare availability, law enforcement policies and pop-culture trends. You’ll understand how factors such as these determine social relationships and organization and learn how various economic and political forces affect the creation of social legislation and the availability of resources.

You will choose from a variety of elective courses that enable you to focus the minor on topics that not only align with your academic interests and career goals but also broaden your perspective in your chosen field. Courses in family dynamics, gender, race, immigration and deviance complement many majors. The ability to examine broader social trends and apply observations in everyday interactions is a crucial skill for social workers, healthcare providers, members of law enforcement and educators at all levels. 

For the sociology minor, students are welcome to work with the program director to select 18 credits of coursework that align with the student’s interests in the field. A student majoring in gerontology can minor in sociology. Courses taken for a minor may not count toward a GT major. Courses for a GT major may not count toward an SO minor.

Sociology Minor Curriculum

Take six courses (18 credits) from the following:
SO 101Introduction to Sociology3
SO 201Sociological Theory3
SO 225Social Problems3
SO 232Women in the Criminal Justice System (CJ/WGS 232)3
SO 235American Culture and Society3
SO 241Sociology of Race and Ethnicity3
SO 244Social Inequalities3
SO 250Youth Crime (CJ 250)3
SO 255Sociology of Families (WGS 255)3
SO 260Social Control and Deviance3
SO 263Aging in Society of Aging (GT 263)3
SO 266Population and Society3
SO 270Community Program Development (GT 270)3
SO 271Public Order Crimes (CJ 271)3
SO 272Education and Society3
SO 280Sociology of Health and Illness3
SO 284LGBTQ Identities and Communities (PS/WGS 284)3
SO 304Sociology of Gender (WGS 304)3
SO 305Sociology of Death and Dying (GT 305)3
SO 307Sociology of Sport (SPS 307)3
SO 308The Immigrant Experience3
SO 310Sociology of Childhood3
SO 211Introduction to Social Work (GT 211)3
SO 315Case Management (GT 315)3
SO 317Religion and Society3
SO 320Sociology of Hip-Hop Culture3
SO 330Perspectives on Violence (CJ 330)3
SO 333Drugs, Alcohol and Society (CJ 333)3
SO 355Crime and Media (CJ 355)3
SO 360Sociology of Mental Health3
SO 365Aging and Social Problems (GT 365)3
SO 370Adoption and Society3
SO 375Sociology of the Everyday3