The Culture and Society concentration in the B.S. major allows students to explore the principles of sociological inquiry and scientific investigation while preparing students for graduate school or a career in a government, non-profit, or private agency. In some cases, those who complete the culture and society concentration find employment in businesses that value independent employees with strong critical thinking skills (e.g., management). Shepherd graduates who have completed the culture and society concentration have found employment in a variety of careers in the areas of counseling, journalism, public relations, marketing, managing and directing, communications, non-profit organizations, and government (state and federal). Graduates have also gone on to pursue graduate studies in sociology or a related discipline before beginning their careers.
While pursuing the concentration, students learn about the interaction between social forces and human social behavior, the transition from traditional to modern society, the social construction of reality, social identity, stratification, and the causes and consequences of social inequality. The concentration also provides students with an excellent introduction to social science methods (qualitative and quantitative), aids in the development of a global perspective, and teaches students how to engage in objective and critical assessments of society.
Students completing the Traditional Concentration must take the following courses: Social Problems (SOCI 205), Social Theory (SOCI 322), Social Research Methods (SOCI 323), Social Stratification (SOCI 321), Quantitative Analysis and Data Management (SOCI 324), or Statistics for the Social Sciences (PSYC 250), Internship in Sociology/Criminal Justice (SOCI 419), and Senior Thesis (SOCI 420).