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Introduction
Why Sociology?
How and Where to Begin
See an Adviser
Temporary Advisers
Permanent Advisers
Filing a Concentration Form
Pre-Registration
Requirements for Majors
Course Numbering
Sequence of Courses
Electives
You cannot graduate from Queens College without a major. It is an organizational requirement, a have-to-do, but it's more. Selecting a major is also a decision to pursue the study of one area of knowledge intensively and constructively. By majoring in a department, you also have a chance to get to know, and perhaps like, some members of the faculty as human beings, and give them a chance to know and like you. This also ought to count in your decision.
You must major in something. Why major in sociology? One good reason for majoring in sociology is that you want to do some sort of work after you graduate which is clearly a "sociological" job. For someone interested in interview and survey work, sociology would be a natural major. For social work, majoring in sociology (or psychology) would be a good choice. But if your reason for majoring in sociology is that it will prepare you for a specific kind of job, you should make sure that it is really sociology which is the appropriate major.
Another sensible reason for majoring in sociology is that the subject matter interests you. Sociology as the study of people in groups, and social systems is an intriguing subject apart from any occupational interests. But remember, you do not have to major in sociology to take sociology courses.
If you are thinking about becoming a sociology major, talk to someone who is already majoring in the department. Most likely you will take the introductory course before the idea of majoring in the department enters your mind. Also, spend a few hours during the semester sitting in one or two other courses before you make a decision. You do not have to commit yourself in order to sample the field. Get some idea of the range of people and topics that are "sociology at Queens." It is not uncommon to be drawn to a field because an instructor arouses your interest, only to find that it was the instructor, not the material, that interested you and that she/he happens to be the only one in the whole department who appeals to you. You can obtain additional information about the department, faculty members, the undergraduate sociology program, and other sociology-related resources by accessing the Sociology Department's "home page" at www.soc.qc.edu. Also remember to consult the section on sociology in the Queens College Undergraduate Bulletin. This is especially important because the Bulletin is updated biennially and may contain revised information not included in this handbook.
If you still have doubts about a major in sociology, you ought
to consult the section "Sociologists" in the current
Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department
of Labor. On-line information is available through World Wide
Web site: stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm.
For example, the 1998-99 edition contains information on sociologists
including working conditions, employment, training, qualifications,
advancement, job outlook, and earnings. Additional information
on careers, employment opportunities, and graduate departments
may be obtained from the American Sociological Association, 1722
N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. (Call 202-833-3410, email
executive.office@asanet.org,
or visit the Association's World Wide Web site at www.asanet.org)
See an Adviser
You should think about choosing a major in your sophomore year.
But before you decide to major in the department, SPEAK TO A FACULTY
ADVISER. The sociology faculty members can talk to you about sociology.
Ask the professor about what kind of work she/he is doing, about
the kinds of things other sociologists are involved in. You should
try to see the adviser before your sophomore year is over. The
Sociology Honor Society at Queens College (Alpha Gamma of New
York) also has members who are able and willing to speak to you
honestly and objectively. Information about faculty or student
peer advisement can be obtained from the Sociology Department
office in Kissena 259. As a sociology major, you have two ways
to select a faculty adviser:
Temporary Advisers
This is the old method which the Department has used for years. When you come to the Sociology Department looking for an adviser, you may consult any permanent faculty member who happens to be around. If you are a new major, you must file a concentration form and have a faculty advisor sign and approve it. The next time you wish to see a faculty adviser, come to the Department and again see whoever is available. If you do not mind seeing someone different every time you come to the Department, this system may work perfectly well for you.
Because Queens College is a large, impersonal college where it is often difficult for students and faculty to get to know each other very well, we want to give you the opportunity to choose a faculty member who will stay with you all through your years at Queens and serve as your permanent academic adviser. You may choose any of the faculty members listed in the Faculty Directory to be your permanent adviser.
If you already know a faculty member or have had a class from someone you would like to be your adviser, see him or her during office hours and ask that faculty to be your adviser. If you do not yet know any faculty in the Department, look through the staff directory listing individual faculty and their research specialties, and pick someone whose interests seem similar to your own. Check that person's office hours with the Department secretaries. When you see the faculty member, ask if he or she will be your permanent adviser. If you are a new major, your permanent adviser will help you choose the courses you need for your major and sign your concentration form. Subsequently, whenever you wish to see your adviser about your progress as a sociology major, your other course work at Queens, graduate school or career information, or whatever, your permanent adviser will be your faculty anchor until you graduate. However, if you wish to question or appeal a final grade, you should first discuss the matter with the course instructor. If still unresolved, you should then see the Executive Officer of the Undergraduate Scholastic Standards Committee. (Obviously, if your adviser does not work out satisfactorily, you may choose someone else any time you wish.) We hope this new system of permanent advisers will help create a genuine faculty-student community in the Department.
A concentration form should be filled out in your lower junior
year, and no later than the upper junior year. One of the functions
of filing a concentration is to help you select courses and plan
a sequence of study. It makes no sense to fill it out after you
have taken everything you are going to take. The whole idea is
to make that plan as well suited to your needs and interests as
it can be. You are not irrevocably bound to the courses you select
at the time of filing the concentration. It just gives you a chance
to get some advice about your course of study from a faculty member.
The concentration forms are available in the Sociology Department
office in Kissena 259. The concentration form lets the Sociology
Department know you intend to become a Sociology major and specifies
department requirements. You must, however, officially
declare your major by filing a form with the Office of the Registrar
in Jefferson 100.
Pre-Registration
The Sociology Department holds pre-registration for all courses each semester. All students are invited to participate in this process which helps you secure a place in the courses and sections you prefer. Pre-registration for the next semester is usually held in the last third of the current semester. Details concerning the exact procedure are announced each semester in sociology courses and on Sociology Department bulletin boards.
The following courses are required:
Sociology 101 -- General Introduction to Sociology
Sociology 205 -- Social Statistics I
Sociology 212 -- Sociological Analysis
Sociology 331 -- Foundations of Sociological Theory
Sociology 334 -- Methods of Social Research
In addition to the core courses, five elective Sociology courses are required for the major. At least one must be a 381 Seminar or another 300-level course approved by the Department Chair. Note that the major requires a minimum of 30 credits. You may, of course, take additional courses.
All courses offered by the Sociology Department are numbered according to the following system:
The first digit of course numbers indicates its level. The middle and third digits of course numbers are used to denote the level of effort and amount of work required. For example, compared to 200-level courses, courses at the 300-level are generally more demanding and challenging.
101 & 103: Introductory level courses open to all students in all disciplines, credible to the major and minor in sociology.
205-289: Intermediate level courses having a Sociology 101 prerequisite. It is recommended that students take 200-level sociology courses before taking sociology courses at the 300-level.
306-392: Advanced level courses having a Sociology 101 prerequisite.
The Department has some suggestions about the order in which you should take these courses. Assuming two sociology courses a semester, the following sequence is recommended:
Start with Sociology 101 and 212. Then Sociology
205 and 334 should be taken as early as possible.
While they may be taken simultaneously, we recommend that students
register for Sociology 205 followed immediately
by Sociology 334 in the next semester. Sociology 331
can be taken anytime after taking Sociology 205 and 212.
If you are planning to do graduate work in sociology, we suggest a variety of courses in many different areas be taken. Each semester, the Sociology Department offers a number of special topic courses (Sociology 240). Juniors and seniors should consider taking Social Statistics II (Sociology 306), Social Science Research Using Computers (Sociology 333), or senior seminars (Sociology 381, 382), to meet the 300-level elective requirement. Since the topics of senior seminars are not listed in Undergraduate Bulletin, for a current list of offerings, please consult the Sociology Department class schedule during the pre-registration period. Also bear in mind that certain areas of sociology lean increasingly on computers and mathematics. You might be wise to take offerings by the Computer Science Department. Also useful are courses offered by the Mathematics Department including the calculus sequence, linear algebra, probability, graph theory, and other mathematical courses with application to the social sciences.