Sociology

Why major in Sociology?

Many neighborhoods and communities are struggling to be safe, productive, pleasant places to live and work. Mount Mary’s sociology program provides students with the knowledge and skills to critically analyze the social structures, institutions and cultural attributes that make a community successful. We want our students to be effective leaders of organizations that are characterized by diversity. The sociology program helps students understand how social systems work and affect lives of individuals and families locally and around the world. Students learn to understand social issues and how to work toward social justice.

Scholarships for Sociology Majors

As a sociology major, you may be eligible for these scholarships at Mount Mary:

  • Olive Trumm Estates Scholarship, Beatrice Haggerty Scholarship or Catherine Brophy Swinnell Scholarship—Criteria for these scholarships include a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and upper division status (60 credits or more), service to the behavioral science program, service to Mount Mary or other community groups.
  • Dorothy Daganhardt Scholarship—This scholarship is for single mothers with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and upper division status (60 credits or more), service to the behavioral science program, service to Mount Mary or other community groups.

The scholarship amounts vary from year to year. Contact the sociology chairperson for more information on applying for these scholarships. Learn more about scholarships at Mount Mary.

Sociology

Learn more about Mount Mary's Sociology Degree

The sociology curriculum helps you understand culture and society, experience social science research methods and develop skills and knowledge to live in a global society. The broad curriculum provides you with a strong foundation for employment or graduate school.

Courses focus on connecting research and sociological concepts to community action. The courses cover topics such as social problems, research methods, conflict transformation and peacebuilding, families in social context, elders and the community, death and dying, healthcare systems, environmental sustainability, profiles of cultures, and race, class and gender. Courses are offered in day and evening times for your convenience.

Admission & Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

A Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree requires 40 credits. You also must complete the university’s core curriculum requirements and maintain a 2.5 grade point average. Sociology majors typically become interns for organizations who work with children, elders, women, persons with disabilities, those in poverty, have a mental illness, or work to improve the food options and environment of neighborhoods. 

Complete degree requirements and a listing of courses are available in the Undergraduate Bulletin. 

Some academic programs require a GPA higher than is required for general admission to Mount Mary University. Contact your admission counselor for more information.

Anthropology/Sociology Minor Requirements

Being able to understand diverse people is an essential skill in the global workplace. Through the anthropology/sociology minor, you’ll learn to analyze how humans organize social structures and what it means for the development of new cultural characteristics. The anthropology/sociology minor requires a minimum of 21 credits. It is especially helpful for those who work in helping professions, such as social work, art therapy, or occupational therapy.

Peacebuilding Certificate Requirements

The peacebuilding pre-baccalaureate certificate offers students a unique specialization in handling conflict situations, developing appropriate strategies to respond to conflict and understanding the influence values, beliefs and goals have on conflict and peacebuilding. See more details on peacebuilding certificate requirements.

Faculty

The School of Arts and Sciences at Mount Mary is rich with talented faculty who care about their students.

 

Sociology/behavioral science majors are encouraged to participate in service learning activities, as well as honor societies and student clubs and organizations.

Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society

Alpha Kappa Delta is the international honor society in sociology. The Epsilon Chapter of Wisconsin was established at Mount Mary in 1965. The guiding principle of the society is “to investigate humanity for the purpose of service.”

You are eligible to join the society if you have completed at least four sociology courses, have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA in sociology courses, have at least a 3.3 overall GPA and have at least a junior or senior status. New members are inducted each semester.

Service Learning in Sociology

You can enhance your education through service learning opportunities in the Milwaukee area. Some sociology classes have a service learning component, but you also can gain valuable experience and work for social justice by engaging in service learning on your own or with other classmates.

Sociology majors have performed service learning in the following areas and with the following organizations.

Service to Children

  • Community Advocates/Milwaukee Women’s Center
  • Milwaukee College Prep
  • Milwaukee Rescue Mission-Cross Trainers Academy
  • Notre Dame Middle School
  • Sojourner Family Peace Center

 Addressing Homelessness/Poverty

  • Hope House
  • Milwaukee Rescue Mission’s Joy House
  • Repairers of the Breach

 Service to Adults

  • 9 to 5 Milwaukee
  • Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin
  • House of Peace
  • Lutheran Social Services
  • Milwaukee Achiever Literacy Service
  • Voces de la Frontera
  • Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod – Model English Language Outreach Program

 Service to Older Adults

  • Interfaith Older Adult Programs
  • Lutheran Home & Hardwood Place – Early Bird Club

 Addressing Neighborhoods/Environmental Issues

  • Agape Community Center
  • Growing Power
  • New Moon Productions – Guns, Grief and Grace in America
  • Urban Ecology Center
  • Walnut Way Conservation Corp

A sociology degree from Mount Mary University prepares you for graduate study and for entry-level sociology positions. We encourage sociology majors to explore diverse career options through course activities, research projects, internships and community service projects.

The average starting salary for entry-level positions that require a bachelor’s degree in sociology is $36,700, according to a 2013 National Association of Colleges and Employers survey. The annual media salary for a professional sociologist with an advanced degree is $72,360, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Create Graduate Study & Career Opportunities

Sociologists often work in education, social services, public policy or research industries. They study topics such as health, crime, education, ethnic relations, families, population trends, gender issues, poverty and aging. Sociologists specialize in analyzing systems and solving problems creatively to lead organizational innovation.  A master's or doctoral degree is require for some sociology and anthropology positions.

Mount Mary graduates have a 100 percent acceptance rate to graduate school throughout the past three years. With an advanced degree you could pursue a career as an:

  • Epidemiologist
  • Human resources director
  • Lawyer
  • Mediator
  • Nursing home executive
  • Policy analyst
  • Professor/researcher
  • Urban planner

Get Real-World Experience in College

Internships are required for most sociology students. Typically you’ll earn 3 credits per semester for working 8 hours per week in the field.

You can choose the location of your internship and work with a faculty supervisor to develop a learning plan and identify an on-site supervisor. During the semester, you’ll interact regularly with your faculty supervisor. The faculty supervisor will visit you at least two times at the internship location.

Mount Mary students have interned at the following organizations in the past:

  • Milwaukee Center for Independence
  • Milwaukee Public Schools
  • Luther Manor Adult Day Center
  • Pathfinders
  • St. Francis Children’s Center
  • Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Walker’s Point Youth and Family Services
  • Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Sexual Predators Unit
  • Interfaith Older Adult Programs
  • Women’s Center, Inc. (Waukesha)

Research Sociology Topics

Mount Mary provides opportunities for you to participate in research projects with faculty members.  During the Community Based Research course students work with an organization to assess programs.  Students may also work with a professor on a research project that assists a community organization, such as measuring the impact of parenting classes for single mothers or exploring how inner city communities can build peace circles.

Contact us to hear from your Admission Counselor: