Sociologists study the causes and consequences of social inequality. They also explore the social aspects of the environment, technology, politics, health, globalization, social movements, social justice, markets, mass media/popular culture and more. Through coursework and projects, sociology majors gain hands-on experience doing sociology, which includes: immersion in the daily life of groups, interview methodology, examining recorded interaction, interpreting historical documents, analyzing large national surveys and producing sophisticated social critique. The sociology program develops the student's ability to analyze the social world by using diverse sociological theories and research methods. It stresses the importance of social, cultural, and historical contexts for understanding relationships between and among individuals and the social structures that make up societies. Students will gain the ability to think broadly and critically about the diversity of social organization and practice locally and globally. Students will also develop the ability to take a disciplined and scholarly approach to understanding the world in which we live. Sociology courses are offered both in-person and online.

Complete available courses that are equivalent to JMU's 100 or 200 level required courses in Sociology. Earn credit in courses in Sociology that will transfer to your major at JMU.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
• Connect with an advisor at your community college and James Madison University within your first year via College Connect

Students in the Sociology and Anthropology majors have a wide range of opportunities to develop the rigorous research skills necessary for a strong entry into their professional lives or graduate school. In the classroom, students learn research skills in courses such as SOCI 300 Sociological Inquiry, SOCI 480 Senior Seminar in Sociology, ANTH 435 Ethnographic Genres and Methods, ANTH 445 Methods and Research Perspectives in Biological Anthropology, and ANTH 455 Archaeology: Methods of Analysis and Interpretation. These are all small, upper-level seminar-style classes that offer direct hands-on learning. Outside of the classroom, students in Sociology and Anthropology are highly engaged in issues that impact people's daily lives. So it is not surprising that our majors also practice their research skills outside of the classroom. These opportunities include: Field Schools and Study Abroad Programs, the Archaeology Lab, Internships, Service Learning Experiences, and Research and Teaching Assistantships with Professors. In terms of student research opportunities, many Sociology and Anthropology majors decide to “dig deeper” with their research and study one-on-one with their professors in researching and writing up Independent Studies and Honors Theses. Our majors frequently present the results of their research at the department symposium, as well as at regional and national scholarly conferences.

Students majoring in Sociology develop skills in all the critical career competencies: formulating and answering critical questions; excellent writing and presentation skills; leadership and group work experience; digital literacy; cross-cultural competency. They learn how to conduct independent research and ways to analyze and present their findings, and they have plenty of access to academic and professional mentoring throughout their time in the department.

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: James Madison University