Welcome

Sociology Mission Statement 

The sociology program at Westfield State University (WSU) is organized around a broad range of courses that offer majors and non-majors an opportunity to learn how the discipline illuminates both the social world and individual biography within a context that stimulates critical thinking and logical analysis.  Sociology at WSU reflects the University mission of providing students with the intellectual breath of a liberal arts education, combined with an orientation towards service to the wider community achieved through the application of sociological knowledge and analytical tools in internships and/and individual research projects.

Sociology faculty are committed to accomplishing these broad goals within an environment that promotes the fair and equitable treatment of all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin.  We share a commitment to educational practices that value diversity within the United States as well as globally.  Where inconsistencies are uncovered, we encourage students to think about, and devise ways of engaging in praxis or action in order to bring about positive social change.

The faculty is also dedicated to improving students’ abilities to express themselves orally and in writing by emphasizing these skills in class assignments and performance evaluations.  In addition, requiring all majors to complete at least one course of research methods signals our intent to improve students’ grasp and use of qualitative and quantitative techniques of data collection and analysis.

Finally, sociology faculty respond to the needs of both the University and the larger community by developing interdisciplinary courses and programs, participating in committees, and engaging in service activities

Sociology Major

View Course Catalog

     A major in Sociology gives students the knowledge and skills that provide an excellent foundation for careers in community organizations, business, and government agencies, as well as the grounding for graduate work in sociology or a related field. Students learn how individuals behave in organizations, families, and communities, and develop a sense of the contexts in which social policy decisions are made and carried out. Students also acquire a sense of history and different ways of life. 

Degree Requirements

     Students seeking a B.A. in Sociology must complete twelve Sociology courses, including Principles of Sociology, Introduction to Research Methods, Sociological Theory, and Senior Thesis/Internship. The remaining eight electives are chosen from a list of courses that cover many topics, including:

The "Senior Thesis/Internship," which concludes work in this major, gives students an opportunity to write an original research paper or to gain hands-on experience in one of a variety of government, business, and service settings. In either case, students apply the knowledge and skills learned in earlier course work.

Sociology Minor

     Many students choose to minor in Sociology, combining it with such majors as Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, or Education. To satisfy the requirements for a minor in Sociology, students must take Principles of Sociology and five upper-level Sociology courses, no more than two of which may be "200-level" courses.

Congratulations to our 2011 Kate Bagley Award Recipient

Kristen M. Ross

Congratulations to our 2011 ALPHA KAPPA DELTA Honorees

Timothy Leo Sullivan

Justin C. Connolly

Anthony J. Picariello

Tiffany Marie Reardon

Jill O'Brien McGann

Kristen M. Ross

 

Congratulations to our 2011 Academic Achievement Awards Recipients

Thomas Bruso

Benjamin Campbell (Internship Award)

Nancy Gonzalez (not pictured)

Devlin Martin

 

Congratulations to Sandra Kwawu for her Poster Presentation at the Eastern Sociological Society 81st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA.
Depression awareness in colleges.