Sociology should be a part of the Core…

I am well aware that many of you are probably reading this article to discover once and for all: “what the hell is sociology?” and I am happy to answer. Although many (including myself) might vaguely refer to sociology as the study of “society” it is truly so much more than that. To me, sociology is the language that has allowed me to understand and articulate my opinions and grievances about the world, grounded in an immense body of academic research. Sociology is a complex understanding of social systems, human interactions and behavior, history, and culture, among many other things beyond the scope of this article. Essentially, sociology is whatever you want it to be, which is why I love it so much. 

Upon arriving at Columbia, I was set on a Philosophy Major with a Women’s and Gender Studies Minor, and while the latter is still the case, I could not imagine what the past two years would have looked like without sociology classes. Not to be dramatic, but switching to Sociology was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I have ever made. A number of my classes have been truly life changing, and as my friends can attest, I literally never stop talking about my classes. The first class I took my first semester was a Barnard class called “Sociology of Gender,” taught by Professor Gualtieri-Miller, which completely altered my brain chemistry and changed my perspective on academics for the better. Switching my major was not a hard choice, but the attitude around sociology and other social sciences is definitely a difficult one to navigate. Many non-sociology majors may take these classes for an “easy A” or think of my workload as simply reading some articles and writing a few papers, but the academic rigor of a sociology major makes it anything but easy. Formally categorized as a social science, sociological research is complex and necessary for understanding how the world is structured. My family was also not thrilled by my choice in major, mostly due to the lack of typical career trajectories, but after explaining that the diversity and openness of the major is exactly what makes it so appealing and beneficial in the job market, they were on board. As someone who doesn’t know exactly what they want to do after graduation, being in a major that allows me to explore so many different topics makes a sociology major extremely appealing. 

Requirements:

The requirements for Columbia’s Sociology Major consists of 30-31 points, or 9 courses. 

• The Social World (SOCI UN1000): This course is essentially the sociology introductory course, which gives students a general overview of some of the major concepts in sociology and begins to define what “the social world” is, making it entirely necessary for the remainder of the classes in the discipline. While absolutely not a comprehensive view of sociology as a whole, I enjoyed this class in that it provided context and a good foundation to understand how to partake in sociological research through an interview project, and how to read and analyze sociological texts. 
• Social Theory (SOCI UN3000): This course offers a deep dive into the main authors of the American sociological cannon including Adam Smith, Karl Marx, W.E.B. Du Bois, Max Weber, and Emile Durkheim. This class is incredibly useful as you move into upper level sociology, as a knowledge of these thinkers becomes foundational to participating in more modern and specific aspects of sociology. Although it is a lecture, classes often felt like a seminar, which was incredibly helpful in furthering my understanding of these often very complex and theoretical texts. Sophomore standing is required for this course, and I would recommend taking it as soon as possible.
• Methods for Social Research (SOCI UN3010): This course is divided into a number of projects, each centered on a different method of sociological research, including ethnography, in-depth interviews, and surveys. This class further asserts the scientific nature of sociological research and provides students with experience in multiple methods of research that are explored in the upper level courses. Completing research projects centered around students’ individualized questions (as opposed to responding to a prompt), allows students to explore their specific interests in sociology and think critically about the social world.
• Six elective courses, including:
  • Three lecture courses at the 2000 or 3000 level (3 points each)
  • At least two seminars at 4 points each 
  • An additional lecture course OR a seminar

Electives are undoubtedly the best part of the major, as they allow students to use the theoretical and methodological background that the core requirements provide in more specialized courses that focus on a multitude of fields. From politics, gender, education, human rights, global health, immigration, and countless other topics, the sociology electives are numerous, and have been some of my favorite courses I have taken at Columbia. 

The minor requirements include: 

• The Social World (SOCI UN1000) 
• Social Theory (SOCI UN3000)
• Three elective courses 

Class Recommendations: 

Sociology of Work and Gender (SOCI UN3265): Aside from the fact that Professor Sharpe (Director of Undergraduate Studies) is an incredibly engaging and enjoyable professor to have, the content of this course is thought-provoking and relevant. By examining the relationship between the United States’ conception of the workforce and gender, this class seeks to understand the historical and modern relevance of institutions and gendered dynamics that are often ignored. Although it is technically a lecture, Professor Sharpe is engaging and invites discussion in a way that makes every session worthwhile.

Social Movements (SOCI UN3225): This course delves into the complexities of social movements, considering how they emerge, why individuals decide to or not to participate, and how they succeed or fail. By using numerous case studies, such as Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ Activism, Feminist Movements, and the Global Justice Movement, to name a few, students are challenged to examine the structures of the movements and consider what political, organizational, and cultural factors impact their success. I found the assignments for this class to be very informative and exciting to complete, while challenging my preconceived notions about certain movements and considering the immense effort and structural considerations to developing a movement.

Advice:

• GO TO OFFICE HOURS. Sorry, too much? Sociology professors want to help you and be mentors in whatever way they can, and the best way to access that support is through office hours. They’re there for a reason, and not nearly enough students take advantage of them. Even if you don’t have a specific question, go talk to professors about their research or your potential interests, I promise they would love to talk to you. Also, sociology people LOVE to yap, so that awkward interaction you might be expecting likely won’t happen. All it takes is one quick conversation before you’re waving to them around campus and chatting after class. 
• Yes, it’s scary to not have a major with a standard career path, but you will be glad to know that a lot of employers LOVE sociology majors. In my internship search, I was consistently met with huge smiles and excitement at my mention of being a sociology major. This discipline provides you with a worldly perspective and technical skills that other disciplines lack, and employers in a multitude of fields (think journalism, public relations, education, government) truly appreciate. 
• The readings are FUN. I know this sounds absolutely crazy, but the diversity of topics that a sociology class covers (even the ones that seem hyper-specific) will shock you. I have had such enriching conversations with my friends who are not sociology majors about random articles I read for class, which wouldn’t have occurred had I not done the readings. In what other discipline do you go from reading about Chappell Roan’s rise to fame to the history of Pigeons in New York City in just one week?

For more information, visit the Barnard and Columbia Sociology Department websites.

Alma Mater via Bwarchives