Sociology Major (38 credits)
Note: A minimum grade of C- is required for courses to count toward the Sociology major (all concentrations).
Required courses......................................20 credits
SOC100 Introduction to Sociology (3)
SOC220 Social Inequality (3)
SOC303 Sociological Theory (3)
SOC306 Research Methods (4)
SOC307 Social Statistics (4)
SOC490 Senior Seminar in Sociology (3)*
* Before enrolling in SOC490 Senior Seminar, students must complete 21 credits of Sociology, including the required Sociological Theory (SOC303) and Research Methods (SOC306) courses.
Electives.................................................18 credits
Students are required to complete, by advisement, six (6) Sociology (SOC) electives. A student also may apply to the major a total of six (6) independent study credits.
Sociology Major with a Concentration in Human Services (60 credits)
The Concentration in Human Services (CHS) is a comprehensive educational program that prepares students to work in human services. Graduates work with children, youth and adults who are disadvantaged or have special needs. They work in, for example, children’s homes, criminal justice agencies, runaway and domestic violence shelters, nursing homes, day treatment centers, and community-based residences. Graduates also work in social justice and preventative settings and have gone on to graduate programs in fields such as social work, school and mental health counseling, law, special education, criminal justice, and international human rights. Some of the main features of the Concentration in Human Services are three supervised field education internships, staying together as a group throughout the educational process, and an emphasis on arts and recreation.
Applications for admission to the CHS are available in the Department of Sociology and on the Sociology website under the Concentration in Human Services. Applicants must be current or accepted SUNY New Paltz students and have completed 30 credits of college-level courses with a minimum GPA of 3.0. CHS applications must be submitted by March 15 (for fall enrollment) or October 15 (for spring enrollment).
The Concentration in Human Services consists of courses offered consecutively during the student's junior and senior years. Students must take SOC350 Introduction to Human Services prior to or as a co-requisite with SOC443 Human Services Theory & Practice I and SOC480 Fieldwork in Human Services I. SOC350 Introduction to Human Services is offered fall, spring, and summer while SOC443 Human Services Theory & Practice I and SOC480 Fieldwork in Human Services I are offered in the spring semester only.
Required Sociology courses......................................16 credits
SOC100 Introduction to Sociology (3)
SOC220 Social Inequality (3)
SOC303 Sociological Theory (3)
SOC306 Research Methods (4)
SOC350 Introduction to Human Services (3)
Sociology electives..................................................12 credits
Each student must complete, by advisement, four (4) Sociology (SOC) electives.
Human Services Concentration Core...........................9 credits
SOC443 Human Services Theory & Practice I (3)
SOC444 Human Services Theory & Practice II (3)
SOC445 Human Services Theory & Practice III (3) - This is the Writing Intensive CHS capstone course in which students write a senior thesis.
Field Education courses............................................12 credits
SOC480 Fieldwork in Human Services I (4)
SOC481 Fieldwork in Human Services II (4)
SOC482 Fieldwork in Human Services III (4)
Arts & Recreation courses.........................................5 credits
Each student must complete, by advisement, two (2) approved courses in Arts & Recreation. These are hands-on courses that will provide students with a variety of modalities.
Cognate courses....................................................6 credits
Each student must complete, by advisement, two (2) courses in departments that offer courses related to human services. These courses complement the Sociology human services courses.
Sociology Major with a Concentration in Criminology (50 credits)
The concentration in criminology is designed for students with a special interest in crime-related issues or who plan to pursue a career within the criminal justice system.
Required Sociology courses......................................29 credits
SOC100 Introduction to Sociology (3)
SOC220 Social Inequality (3)
SOC250 Crime and Society (3)
SOC303 Sociological Theory (3)
SOC306 Research Methods (4)
SOC307 Social Statistics (4)
SOC332 Criminology (3)
SOC494 Fieldwork in Sociology (3)
SOC490 Senior Seminar in Sociology (3)*
* Before enrolling in SOC490 Senior Seminar, students must complete 21 credits of Sociology, including the required Sociological Theory (SOC303) and Research Methods (SOC306) courses.
Criminology electives..............................................6 credits
Each student must complete, by advisement, two of the following:
SOC276 Social Problems in a Global Context (3)
SOC305 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
SOC312 Sociology of Violence (3)
SOC333 Deviant Behavior (3)
SOC409 Law & Social Issues (3)
SOC425 Drugs in American Society (3)
SOC435 Public Health & Social Policy (3)
SOC452 Seminar in Criminal Behavior (3
SOC494 Fieldwork in Sociology (3)
Sociology electives (non-criminology).........................9 credits
Each student must complete, by advisement, nine (9) credits of Sociology (SOC) electives not included among the Criminology electives.
Cognate courses.......................................................6 credits
Students are required to take six (6) credits in disciplines other than sociology that relate to crime or the criminal justice system. A list of acceptable cognates is available in the Department of Sociology.
