2023-2024

Sociology (Minor)

Criminology Department

Pamela O'Brien, Dean, School of Arts, Sciences and Business
Alyssa Brumis, Ph.D., Interim Chair

Degrees offered

Minor

Campuses

Main Campus

The Criminology Department of Study in the School of Arts, Sciences, and Business, offers a Minor in Sociology to traditional undergraduate students. The scientific study of society, sociology examines the inner workings of different social institutions, the order of social interaction in groups, and the politics of social reality. Many sociologists address social problems such as crime, education, poverty, immigration, institutional discrimination and prejudice. The Sociology Minor provides students with a perspective on the world described as the sociological imagination or, put simply, a way to see things socially resulting in awareness of the interconnections between and influences on each other. It gives students the opportunity to investigate society and better understand their respective roles in it.

Traditional Undergradutae

Offered as a Minor and as a foundation for the Criminology Major, the Sociology curriculum provides both a micro- and macro- perspective on society. Its courses expose students to peer-reviewed research based on surveys, field work, comparative/historical reviews and experimentation.

A Sociology Minor is an excellent way to round out the student’s experience at Notre Dame. Sociology courses that satisfy the General Education Requirement in social science: SOC-101. Sociology courses that fulfill the requirement for cross-cultural and gender studies: SOC-209. Sociology courses that fulfill the requirement for gender: SOC-215.

All courses credited toward the Minor must be completed with a C grade or higher.

Program of Study

The Minor in Sociology consists of seven courses as indicated below.

Minor in Sociology

       Required courses:

       SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
       SOC-209 Race, Class and Gender (3)
       PSY-210 Research Methods I (4)
       SOC-350 Social Theory (3)

       Two electives chosen from:

       CRM-101 Introduction to Criminology (3)
       SOC-202 Sociology of the Family (3)
       SOC-215 Gender Roles or SOC-271 Honors: Sociology of Gender Roles (3)
       SOC-220 Self and Society (3)
       SOC-222 Social Problems or SOC-371 Honors: Social Problems (3)
       SOC-231 Medicine and Society (3)
       SOC-315 Sociology of Law (3)
       SOC-340 Sociology of Deviance (3)
       PSY-340 Quantitative Methods (4)

Note: Those who wish to Major in Criminology and Minor in Sociology must take three elective Sociology courses instead of two due to the overlapping requirements of SOC-101, SOC-209, and PSY-210. The electives cannot have a dual purpose of also fulfilling the electives used for the Criminology Major. A separate Senior Experience course also should be chosen to fulfill the requirement for a Minor in Sociology. For example, if SOC-411 serves to fulfill the senior elective for the Criminology Major, it cannot also be used to fulfill the elective for the Sociology Minor. Please contact the faculty advisor to tailor an appropriate course schedule.