For New Majors

Important Information for Sociology Majors

1. New sociology majors should take Soc 200: Foundations of Sociology as soon as possible. 

2. Sociology uses a portfolio model of student professional development. Students should save all sociology course materials, assignments, examinations, projects, and papers and other professional development experiences in a folder. The original copies with professor's comments and grades are especially valuable. You will use these materials in Soc 495: Senior Seminar.

• Start your portfolio now. Include your grade reports and periodic Degree Audit Reports as well as course materials, exams and papers. See the Portfolio Check List.
• Students may pick up a free folder in the Department of Sociology and Corrections to use as a portfolio. The Department can no longer store the portfolios for students in the department. Students will keep their portfolios at their own homes. 
• It is a student’s responsibility to retrieve their graded papers and exams from professors. Pick them up in class or at the professor’s office or provide a stamped self-addressed envelope to have it mailed to you.

3. Sociology majors have two options (and a third is being devoloped):

•  General Sociology, for students interested in a traditional, liberal arts education or in pursuing graduate degrees and academic careers.
• Applied Sociology for students interested in a variety of applied careers with a Bachelor’s Degree. See our “Careers in Sociology” webpage.
• A third track, Sociology of Globalization, is being proposed in 2009-2010. We hope to make it available to students in 2010-2011.

4. Sociology majors should take Soc 201: Social Research I and Soc 202: Introductory Social Statistics as soon as feasible. The knowledge and skills developed in these classes will be very helpful in the upper-level sociology courses. Soc 201 and Soc 202 serve as prerequisites for some upper-level classes.

5. Sociology majors should take Soc 495: Senior Seminar in their last semester when they have completed (or are concurrently enrolled in) all other required classes. Soc 200, 201 and 458 are prerequisites to be completed before starting Soc 495.

6. The Department has adopted the American Sociological Association Style Guide for papers written in our classes. You may purchase the manual at the bookstore or online at www.asanet.org. Copies are also available in the Ready Reference section (HM569 .A54) and on reserve at the MSU library (listed under “Sociology and Corrections” Department).

7. Don’t be shy! See your sociology advisor at least once a semester before you register for courses for the following term. Attend Sociology Day each year.

8. Get involved with the Sociology Club. Attend professional conferences. The Sociology Club organizes student groups to attend the Sociologists of Minnesota conference in October and the Midwest Sociological Society conference in April.