Sociology, Minor - COLA, UNH

Undergraduate

Sociology

Explore critical issues like social inequality, family dynamics and environmental challenges while developing skills in research and cultural analysis.
Degree
Minor
Location
Durham, NH
Courses
5
Credit
20 hrs.
Full-time
- -
Part-time
- -
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Female student taking notes in class with a coffee cup sitting in front of her

Sociology

The Sociology minor at UNH offers valuable insights into how individuals and groups shape our social world and influence human behavior. Here you'll be able to explore critical issues like social inequality, family dynamics and environmental challenges while developing skills in research and cultural analysis. 

This minor complements majors across liberal arts, business, and health services, while enhancing your understanding of human interaction and social structures. Through opportunities for hands-on research, independent study and international experiences like the UNH Budapest program, you'll gain perspectives that strengthen your preparation for careers in fields ranging from counseling and education to business and law.

Department of Sociology

What is sociology?

Sociology is the study of society, or the way groups of people in a community, large or small, interact. This includes the ways in which a group or organization can affect individual decisions and behaviors, as well as the ways in which an individual can influence the group. In the sociology minor, you’ll study topics such as racism and gender inequality, communities and the environment, families, religion, drug addiction and mental health. Combine the minor with a major in the liberal arts, health and human services, or business to enhance your future career opportunities or graduate studies.

Why study sociology at UNH?

The sociology program at UNH will prepare you to succeed in an increasingly diverse, global and technologically driven world. The program promotes scientific inquiry, digital literacy and cultural awareness. It will help you hone your creative thinking and written and verbal communication skills. You’ll also have opportunities to work closely with faculty on their own research projects and through independent study. Perspectives, the student-run digital journal on sociology, publishes student work each spring. We’ll encourage you to expand your horizons through study abroad in one of the many UNH-approved programs, including the UNH Budapest program, which is run by UNH faculty and focuses on justice studies.

Potential career areas

  • Business or data analyst
  • Criminology
  • Criminal investigator
  • Family counselor
  • Guidance counselor
  • Law
  • Market or survey researcher
  • Policy analyst
  • Public relations specialist
  • Social work
  • Teaching

Curriculum & Requirements

01
Program Description
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Minoring in sociology provides a foundation in analytical thinking and writing, and skills in collecting and analyzing data. Students learn diverse theoretical approaches to the social world and acquire tools for conducting and understanding social science research. Course topics include family and work; environmental sociology; social policy; inequalities of race, class and gender; criminology, social control and deviant behavior; medical sociology and mental health; and religion.

Undergraduate training in sociology is an excellent background for a variety of careers, including the business world, working in marketing and sales or human resources; government and nonprofit services, working in education, health services, social welfare or criminal justice; and research.  A minor in sociology is also excellent preparation for graduate work in law, social work, criminal justice, counseling, public administration, public health, business administration, urban planning and other fields.

02
Requirements for the Program
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Academic policies related to Minors.

A minor consists of completing five courses in sociology (20 credits) with a minimum grade of C- or better in each course and a grade-point average of 2.0 or better in these courses.

Requirements
Select five courses from the following:20
SOC 400Introductory Sociology4
SOC 402Statistics4
SOC 444AHonors/Society in the Arctic4
SOC 450Contemporary Social Problems4
SOC 515Introductory Criminology4
SOC 520Family4
SOC 525Juvenile Crime and Delinquency4
SOC 530Sociology of Race and Ethnicity4
SOC 535Homicide4
SOC 555Death and Dying in America4
SOC 565Environment and Society4
SOC 570Sexual Behavior4
SOC 595Independent Reading and Research2-8
SOC 598Sociological Theory4
SOC 599Sociological Analysis4
SOC 601Methods of Social Research4
SOC 620Drugs and Society4
SOC 625Mental Health and Society4
SOC 627Sociology of Fashion4
SOC 635WMedical Sociology4
SOC 636Sociology of Justice4
SOC 645Class, Status and Power4
SOC 647Sociology of Work and Well-Being4
SOC 665Environmental Sociology4
SOC 693Global Change and Social Sustainability4
SOC 697Special Topics4
SOC 720Sociology of Drug Use4
SOC 725Social Demography4
SOC 730Communities and the Environment4
SOC 740Sociology of Mental Health4
SOC 7884
SOC 792Internship Independent Study2-8
SOC 799Senior Thesis4 or 8
SOC 799HSenior Honors Thesis4 or 8

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