B.A. in Sociology

Sociology addresses the most challenging matters facing society today. If you desire to better understand the complex social forces that affect people’s lives, as well as to become engaged in the study of and solutions to these issues, sociology is the place for you. The sociological perspective is both intellectually rewarding and practically useful for future career paths.

If you want both an involved understanding and a set of practical skills to address these issues, then Sociology is the subject for you!

Are you looking for a socially relevant liberal arts discipline that opens your career options in the field of: Non-Profit, Education, Public Policy, Law, Law Enforcement, Social Work, Government, Business, and Administration?

Are you looking for analytical skills to develop socially relevant knowledge from the vast amount of information available around you?

Then Sociology is the subject for you!

Program Highlights

• Franciscan perspectives on social justice, human rights and civic engagement.
• Civic-oriented travel courses to places such as Mississippi, Maine, Canada, Brazil, Thailand, Bolivia and Scotland.
• Diverse faculty expertise, including: the Civil Rights Movement, health and aging, criminology, immigration, labor migration, civic engagement, media studies and subcultures.
• Applied media studies courses where students learn new technology, including photography, documentary film and visual sociology tools.
• Ability to participate in annual sociology student symposium.
• Students and faculty attend sociology conferences together.
• Project and team-based learning.
• Senior capstone course.
• Service learning programs, volunteer work and internships.
• Preparation for careers in community and social services, administrative support/management, program coordinators/human resources, criminal justice and law enforcement, education, government, research, marketing and the nonprofit sector.

Requirements for the Major (36 credits)

• SOCI101 - The Sociological Perspective 3 credits

OR

• SOCI120 - Global Social Problems 3 credits

OR

• SOCI130 - The Family 3 credits

AND

• SOCI304 - Research Methods I 3 credits
• SOCI306 - Research Methods II 3 credits
• SOCI390 - Social Theory Seminar 3 credits
• SOCI490 - Seminar in Sociology 3 credits
• SOCI495 - Senior Capstone Thesis 3 credits

Four courses with a SGLB attribute (12 credits) Sociology Electives (6 credits)

Auxiliary courses (6 credits)

• ECON102 - Principles of Economics, Macro 3 credits

AND

• ATDV110 - Statistics for Social Science 3 credits

OR

• QBUS200 - Business Statistics I 4 credits

Skills Developed

• Critical thinking
• Communication and writing
• Research and statistical analysis
• Understanding of cultural diversity
• Civic and social responsibility
• Leadership skills
• Computer literacy
• Public speaking
• Networking

Employers of our Graduates

• Unity House
• Girls, Inc.
• City Year
• Veteran Affairs
• Colonie Police Department
• NYC Commission on Human Rights

Internship Sites

• Commercial Investigations, Troy, NY
• Best Buddies New York
• Siena Research Institute
• Homeless and Travelers Aid Society, Albany
• Cancer Services Program, American Cancer Society
• St. Pius X School
• Siena College Athletics Department
• Unity House
• USCRI (Columbia University)
• South End Improvement Corporation
• Media Alliance

A Siena education is an education with soul. Located in Loudonville, New York—just 10 minutes from the state capital of Albany—the Siena experience is built for a new generation of leaders eager to create a more just, peaceful, and humane world. It empowers them through a transformative journey of intellectual, spiritual, and personal discovery.

At Siena education isn’t something you get, it’s something you get to do. With 40 majors, 80-plus minors and certificates, and prestigious joint-degree programs in liberal arts, science, and business, Saints have over 1,200 unique ways to reach their personal and professional goals. But that’s just the beginning. Our 3,000 Saints engage personally with top scholars in a dynamic, customized learning environment. From internships to research to service, they get real-world experience now, not later. The result: sought-after graduates prepared to succeed in an ever-changing global society.