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Sociology

​Sociology is the scientific study of human social behavior. It examines social interactions, social organizations, and the influence that social groups, institutions and social structure have upon human behavior.​

Why Sociology? 

Sociology is at the core of the social sciences, and bridges many disciplines. Sociology majors pursue careers in law, social work, medicine and public health, consulting, finance, nonprofit and public administration, community activism, social network research, policy analysis, social and market research, human resources, culture, and the arts. 

The Perspective

The Department of Sociology emphasizes social theory and social science analytics. Students who pursue a liberal arts degree in sociology are rigorously trained in how to examine how social groups, institutions, and social structure may influence human behavior.​ Our students graduate as leaders ready to tackle local and global social challenges from social justice and service perspectives.

The Concentrations

The sociology program offers three optional career-focused concentrations. Each is designed to build careers in the following areas:

  • Geography

    We recommend the geography concentration for students with career interests in:

    • Planning
    • Conservation
    • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

    Geography students learn concepts about gender, class, race, and other axes of difference, while building technological skills. 

    Classes include:

    • Political ecology
    • Sustainable Development
    • Telling Stories with Maps
    • The Geography of New York
  • Social Services

    Taught by certified practitioners, the Social Services concentration is ideal for students who wish to pursue careers in:

    • Social Work

    The concentration offers courses such as:

    • Introduction to Social Services
    • Social Service Practice
    • Codes of Gender
    • Race and Resistance
    • Urban Sociology

The Minors

Minors in cultural anthropology , geography and sociology are ideal for students interested in studying human societies, cultures, and their development.

  • Cultural Anthropology

    Professor engages students in discussion in a small classroom setting.

    The cultural anthropology minor at Manhattan College provides students with powerful tools for making sense of culture and society. Students develop an appreciation of different cultures, power structures and inequality in the world.

  • Geography

    World Map

    Environmental science focuses on the relationship between human activities and the environment. It helps us understand nature from a scientific point of view, and allows us to serve society in a positive way.

  • Sociology

    male student in plaid shirt reads book alongside female student in library

    Students can choose to either major or minor in sociology. Please visit the course catalog for more information, as degree requirements vary slightly depending on whether a student chooses sociology as a major or minor. 

    See Degree Requirements

What Will You Learn?

​Sociology’s core curriculum includes social problems, structural inequalities, methods and advanced methods, theories, and seminar. Senior year culminates with a research seminar. As a sociology major, you will:

  • Analyze the U.S. class structure and how class status affects one’s life
  • Learn the logic and skills of social scientific research
  • Gain first-hand experience collecting and analyzing data
  • Survey major sociological theories, tracing contemporary approaches to classical sociologists
  • Complete a capstone project based on original research

See degree requirements

What Will You Do?

​The sociology program will prepare you for graduate school or careers in research, teaching, human resource management, civil service, law, social work, medicine and public health, consulting, finance, nonprofit and public administration and beyond. 

​The faculty and staff, who were always ready to answer my questions, or guide me if I needed direction, constantly created in me a desire to learn. Their enthusiasm made me interested in topics I had never considered before, topics like urban anthropology, colonial literature, and nutrition. Every single one of my professors at Manhattan College has shown me why they love what they do, and it has made me love it too.

Kelly Cousins ’15, Sociology graduate, English Teacher in Changzhou, China