Sociology

SOCIOLOGY Overview

At our Sociology Department, we are dedicated to exploring the rich tapestry of human society through the lens of scientific inquiry. Sociology is a broad and dynamic discipline that allows us to delve deeply into the intricacies of human group behavior and the profound implications of human social patterns.

Success Resources

The sociological perspective in conjunction with the perspectives offered through anthropology, criminal justice, geography, and political science rounds out the interdisciplinary approach taken for various majors. At transfer institutions, areas of concentration in social science include anthropology, geography, gerontology, leadership, and general social science. As you continue your education, remember that Sociology majors and minors and Social Science majors and minors traverse through a curriculum that conveys the interconnectedness of social, political, and economic spheres at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels.

Department Contacts

  • Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts Division
  • 408-288-3785

Sociology Student Learning Outcomes

  • Appraise sociology as an empirical discipline and illustrate the sociological perspectives.
  • Compare the major tools and methods sociologists use to gather data and assess the ethical considerations involved in sociological research and the guidelines  sociologists follow.
  • Define culture and identify its major elements.
  • Define socialization and evaluate the consequences of global stratification.
  • Evaluate the influence of agents of socialization, such as the mass media and family, according to how each influences public attitudes and behaviors towards women, racial and ethnic minorities, gays and lesbians, and the process of aging.