APPLIED SOCIOLOGY
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Mercyhurst University's bachelor of arts degree in applied sociology provides a core of knowledge, fist hand experience with conducting research, and the necessary social values to prepare students for careers or advanced degrees in the field of sociology. The program maintains an educational philosophy characterized by the sharing of learning between professor and student. Students with sociological research and theoretical skills will find themselves with a critical vantage point to prepare for the emergent occupational roles within our rapidly changing society. The department offers senior students options for a thesis, local internship, paid cooperative education placement or a Washington, D.C. internship. Topics of study include Sociology, Families in a Changing Society, Human Needs and Global Problems, Contemporary Social Problems, Sociological Research Methods, Contemporary Sociological Theory, and Statistics in Social Science.
Mercyhurst offers a criminology concentration to sociology majors interested in the study of crime and criminals. In addition to the six core requirements, the requirements for the concentration include:
- SOC 230 Criminology
- SOC 337 Sociology of Law
- SOC 204 Diversity in Society
- SOC 350 Antecedents of Aggression
- SOC 352 Seminar: Political Crime and Terrorism
- Two Criminology Electives
A 21-credit gerontology minor is offered for students wishing to enhance their chosen degree program. Students in this program must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in minor courses. The course requirements for the gerontology minor include:
- SOC 107 Introduction to Gerontology
- SOC 214 Grief and Loss
- SOC 275 Counseling the Older Adult
- SOC 312 Services and Resources for the Aged
- SOC 475 Sociology Internship OR SOC 477 Social Work Internship at an approved site serving the aged
- Two electives, must be approved by adviser
The program in Sociology maintains an educational philosophy characterized by the sharing of learning between professor and student. Students with sociological research and theoretical skills will send themselves with a critical vantage point to prepare for the emergent occupational roles our rapidly changing society is bringing forth. The department offers senior students options for a thesis, local internship, paid cooperative education placement, or Washington, DC internships.
A 21-credit social welfare minor is offered for students wishing to enhance their chosen degree program. Students in this program must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in minor courses.
Topics of Study, include, but are not limited to:
- Introduction to Sociology
- Contemporary Social Problems
- World Cultures
- Diversity in Society
- Contemporary Sociological Theory
A 24-credit social welfare minor is offered for students wishing to enhance their chosen degree program. Students in this program must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in minor courses. The course requirements for the social welfare minor include:
- SOC 101 Contemporary Social Problems
- SOC 204 Diversity in Society
- SOCW 220 Human Behavior and The Social Environment I
- SOCW 304 Social Welfare Analysis
- Two Social Work/Sociology electives
- Two pre-approved cognate courses
Contact Us
Laura Lewis
Chair, Department of Applied Sociology
Office: Preston 108
Phone: 814-824-2359
Email: llewis@mercyhurst.edu
