Major in Sociology
As a sociology major, you will study human society and the patterns and consequences of social interaction.
Our courses focus on the ways that people’s lives are shaped by broader social, cultural, political, economic and historical forces. We emphasize the nature and effects of social inequality. Our primary goal is to develop your sociological imagination as a type of critical thinking and informed analysis.
Why Sociology?
Since sociology is a scientific discipline, you will learn the scientific method. You will practice methods of data collection, sampling, variable measurement and analysis - valuable skills you can apply in a variety of fields.
Sociology also provides you with the tools to better understand our rapidly changing world and the role of social inequality in our lives. We discuss social inequality in all of our courses to emphasize how inequality affects the life chances of all members of society.
Hands-On Learning
We provide our students with experiential learning opportunities in various community, human services, criminal justice and health-related agencies. You’ll apply your sociological research and thinking in supervised field work experiences.
Explore potential career interests through our internship course, SOC 4000. Learn from those in the field and establish a network of contacts for your future job search. Employers who have participated in the internship program include:
- Cervizzi & Associates, Attorneys at Law
- Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley
- Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc.
- Haverhill District Court
- Landmark Senior Living Community at Oceanview
- Lawrence Public Schools
- Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
- Point After Club
Video: Sociology Students Travel to Germany
After Merrimack
Upon successful completion of the program, you’ll be well-equipped to pursue graduate study or a career in social work, public health, education, law, public administration, social services, human resources, business or criminal justice.
Our graduates have gone on to positions such as:
- Advisor Relations Manager, The Boston Foundation
- Alumni Relations Officer, Tufts University
- Communications Coordinator, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services
- Court Assistant, New Hampshire Judicial System
- Human Resources Coordinator, Straumann
- Patrol Officer, University of New Hampshire
- Resident Assistant, EF Education First
- Senior Account Executive, Regan Communications
Sociology Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the sociology major, students will…
- Acquire a SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION that allows them to understand how society shapes individual biographies and behaviors.
- Understand sociology as a scientific discipline, its history, foundational theories and concepts, areas of research focus, utility for addressing social problems, and what distinguishes it from other social sciences.
- Understand how inequality between social categories can shape attitudes, behaviors, and outcomes.
- Develop an awareness and appreciation for diversity and how different racial, ethnic, religious, gender, and social class backgrounds lead people to experience and interpret the world in unique ways.
- Gain the ability to locate, understand, evaluate, synthesize, utilize, and communicate information from the SOCIOLOGICAL research literature.
- Gain the skills to answer sociological questions through SOCIOLOGICAL research methods and the development of empirical research projects