Sociology Curriculum

The mission of the Department of Sociology is to provoke and challenge our students, to foster civic engagement and Changemaking towards goals of peace and social justice, to inspire in students the sociological imagination, and to develop their capacities for sociological investigation of the world around them.

Sociology at USD teaches students to master the historically situated knowledge of major racial and ethnic groups in the United States in a comparative fashion. This opens critical thinking and critical knowledge about the building blocks of contemporary society. All students are exposed to classical and contemporary sociological theories and learn to apply both quantitative and qualitative approaches to sociological research.

Strong community engagement components including field experience provide an opportunity for students to link abstract sociological concepts to concrete social issues in the search for solutions to pressing societal problems.

Major

The sociology major provides students with the analytical tools to help them understand the links between individual experiences and the larger society. Within the Sociology Department, there are two concentrations of study:

• Social Justice
• Law, Crime and Justice

Review the major tab below for more information about area concentrations.

Declare A Sociology Major!

Minor

The sociology minor provides foundational offerings in sociological concepts and a range of elective courses.

Explore Sociology Courses

Read descriptions of our current Sociology classes on our Courses page! Not all courses offered below will be available every semester. Make sure to check course offerings on the registration portal for each upcoming semester.