Contents
Welcome
People, people who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world.
--Bob Merrill People(1963)
Sociology studies human behavior in social settings. It is sometimes called the "group science" because of its focus on human interaction, which occurs between two or more individuals. Any type of human interaction can be studied by sociologists. Groups, institutions, communities, and entire societies are investigated by sociologists, sometimes for description, other times for comparison and contrast.
Among areas covered in sociology courses are conformity and deviance; crime, delinquency, racial, ethnic, and gender relations; the implications of social class, marriage and family life; education, religion, the health care system; economic, political, and social change
Why Study Sociology?
There are many reasons for taking courses in this field. Aside from seeking knowledge for its own sake, they include achieving a better understanding of yourself and of the impact of social forces upon your life; developing awareness of diversity and appreciation of that diversity, in neighborhood, community, society, and the world; learning critical thinking and analytic ability and being able to apply these to social situations and becoming familiar with research techniques employed by social scientists. In personal relationships, the students may develop skills that will enable them to get along better with the people they interact with at home, at work, and in everyday life.
Sociology Course Descriptions
Columbus State offers these courses in Sociology.
Sociology Faculty
Mary Lia Reiter, Lead Instructor
Career Opportunities in Sociology
Career opportunities in sociology for the most part require graduate degrees and involve research positions. Some of the major areas for Sociologists are listed below:
Teaching and/or Research in Schools or Universities
Research in Business
This might involve market or public opinion research.
Research in Governmental Agencies
Sociologists are also employed in social and corrective agencies such as prisons, halfway houses, and parole agencies.Sociology may also be viewed as a stepping stone to other careers: political office (running for or being appointed to), public service, law, school teaching, police work, mental health, ministry, social work, and health care. Notice the common thread - they are all helping professions. While sociology is distinct as a science, it contains many elements that may be applied to social conditions and lead to other career choices that involve applying sociology to various conditions. Also note that those related careers may well require additional education in other fields of study.
Sociology-Related Sites
The American Sociological Association
The Ohio State University-Department of Sociology
Johns Hopkins University-Department of Sociology
Harvard University-Department of Sociology
Social and Behavioral Sciences Department
309 Center for Technology and Learning
550 East Spring Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614)287-5005