Sociology Department - Interest Tracks

City and Community track

A Sociology Major provides an excellent foundation for urban careers working for government like urban planning departments or public administration and for non profit organizations such as affordable housing developers or as community organizers. It also provides a great background for working in real-estate development or an architecture degree.

If you're interested in an urban career, talk with Nancy Fischer, Lars Christiansen or Garry Hesser about graduate school options in Urban Planning, Architecture or Community Development.

If an urban career might be in your future, check out the following classes as you complete your Sociology Major:

Essential Courses:

• Community and Metropolis (COM 111)
• Race, Class and Gender (SOC 265)
• The City and Metro-Urban Planning (SOC 381)
• Internship in Urban-Related Organizations (SOC 399)

Relevant Courses:

Inside Sociology:
• Sociology of Organizations (SOC 349)
• Sustainable Cities in North America (study abroad) (SOC 295)

Outside Sociology:
• Metropolitan Complex (POL 122)
• History of Architecture after 1750 (ART 244)
• U.S. Environmental History (HIS 316)
• Designed Environment (ART 249/349)

Off-Campus:
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) classes (Macalester, St. Thomas)
• HECUA study abroad and study-in-the-city programs such as:
• Metro-Urban Studies Term
• Scandinavia Urban Studies Term
• City Arts Program
• Environmental Sustainability

Questions? Contact Nancy Fischer (fischern@augsburg.edu), Lars Christiansen (christil@augsburg.edu), or Garry Hesser (hesser@augsburg.edu).

Crime and Deviance Track

Criminology and criminal justice are fields that have long been served by sociology as the core discipline. Whether you are interested in government research or becoming a police officer, probation officer, corrections official, or federal law enforcement agent, the sociology major effectively prepares undergraduates for these important career paths. Through advising, tailored course selection and an internship in criminology or criminal justice, you will be prepared to enter a professional career built on a strong and flexible major. (Additional requirements must be met to be certified for law enforcement in Minnesota.)

Essential Courses:

• Criminology (SOC 277)
• Race, Class and Gender (SOC 265)
• Juvenile Delinquency (SOC 331) OR Organizational Deviance (SOC 377)
• Internship (SOC 399)

Relevant Courses:

Inside Sociology:
• Cultures of Violence (SOC 290)
• Social Problems Analysis (SOC 390)
• Sociology of Law (SOC 320)
• ACTC courses in Introduction to Criminal Justice, Policing, Corrections; Forensics

Outside Sociology:
• Law in the United States (POL170)
• Constitutional Law (POL370)
• Psychology and Law (PSY235)

Questions? Contact Diane Pike (pike@augsburg.edu).

Law Track

A Sociology Major will give you excellent preparation for going to law school. Successful law school students have strong critical thinking skills and are able to think with a variety of analytical lens to see multiple ways of making a case. Successful lawyers work on argumentation and public speaking skills.

Most lawyers in the United States work in the private sector rather than in criminal courts. Whether you're interested in private & corporate practice or criminal law, the courses listed below will give you a strong foundation to take to law school. If you're interested in pursuing a law degree and majoring in Sociology, contact Nancy Fischer (fischern@augsburg.edu).

Essential Courses:

• Sociology of Law (SOC 320)
• Public Speaking (COM 111)
• Argumentation (COM351)

Relevant Courses:

Inside Sociology:
• Protest and Social Change (SOC240)
• Intro to Criminology (SOC277)
• Cultures of Violence (SOC290)
• Sociology of Organizations (SOC349)
• Organizational Deviance (SOC377)
• Juvenile Delinquency (SOC387)

Outside Sociology:
• Law in the United States (POL170)
• Constitutional Law (POL370)
• Topics in Constitutional Law (POL371)
• Psychology and Law (PSY235)

Questions? Contact Nancy Fischer (fischern@augsburg.edu).

Organization Studies Track

Going into business when you graduate? Do you have aspirations to work in management or to start your own business? Or, are you planning to work in the non-profit sector, perhaps in human service, or the arts? Does working for the public good (local, state, or federal government) interest you? Are you seeking to cultivate analytical and communication skills to achieve your career and professional goals? If you answered "yes" to any of these, then you have the desire to become more organizationally competent.

One of the specialties of Sociology is the study of organizations. From small and simple organizations, to large and complex organizations, this field of study explores and explains the historical development of our organizationally-based society, how organizations are structured, how and why people work (or don't) together in organizations, and what social purposes organizations ultimately serve. Understanding the social structure and dynamics of organizations is relevant for everyone, as we all encounter – indeed we are completely imbedded within – organizations throughout our lives. Questions? Contact Lars Christiansen (christil@augsburg.edu) or Diane Pike (fischern@augsburg.edu).

Essential Courses:

• Office Space: The Sociology of Work (SOC 222)
• The Sociology of Organizations (SOC 349)
• Organizational Crime and Deviance (SOC 377)

Relevant Courses:

• Sociology Internship (SOC 399)
• Principles of Microeconomics (SOC 113)
• Building Working Relationships (INS 325)

Social Psychology Track

Do questions of identity make you think twice? Who am I … really? What does it mean to be human? How did I get to be who I am? Are you interested in the point where the individual and society cross paths with one another? In the territory where sociology and psychology meet?

If so, consider exploring the field of social psychology and take a new look at the connections between self and society. You can start with taking Social Psychology (SOC 375), but it doesn't have to stop there. There's room to explore your personal interests and tailor other the classes you take. Depending on how you'd like to apply your knowledge of social psychology, there are particular courses in several disciplines—such as psychology, theater, communications, and marketing—that might be especially appealing to you. And even when taking courses that aren't specifically social psychological, you can tailor your papers and research projects to further your knowledge in this area. Of course, you will also want to discuss what you can do professionally with your interest in social psychology, but some of the possibilities include public relations, law, organizational management & consulting, advertising, research, social policy, and more.

Essential Courses:

• Social Psychology (SOC 375)
• Social Behavior (PSY 325)

Relevant Courses:

Inside Sociology:
• Race, Class, and Gender (SOC 265, especially the section taught by Vela-McConnell)
• Cultures of Violence (SOC 290)
• Social Problems Analysis (SOC 390)
• Independent Research: Ethnographic Research (SOC 499)

Outside Sociology (students should take SOC 375 prior to enrolling in the upper-division courses listed below in order to have a solid background in social psychology):
• Principles of Psychology (PSY 105)
• Interpersonal Communication (COM 354)
• Small Group Communication (COM 355)
• Communicating a Self in the Modern Organization (COM 410)
• Public Relations/Promotional Communication (COM 480)
• Creative Drama: Acting and Improvisation (THR 116)
• Introduction to Stagecraft (THR 228)
• Acting (THR 232)
• Advanced Acting (THR 365)
• Consumer Behavior (MKT 350)
• Marketing Communications (MKT 355)
• Advertising (MKT 357)

Questions? Contact James Vela-McConnell (velamcco@augsburg.edu).