Sociology, Work and Family Studies Concentration, B.S.

Sociology and Anthropology  
615-904-8349
Angela Mertig, program coordinator
Angela.Mertig@mtsu.edu

Gretchen Webber, faculty advisor
Gretchen.Webber@mtsu.edu

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. It is an expanding field that addresses challenging issues such as family dynamics, inequality, patterns of behavior, and forces for social change and resistance. Sociologists’ research can be applied to virtually any aspect of social life, from crime to corporate downsizing.

Students may pursue a B.S. in Sociology with a general focus or one of three concentrations: Criminology, Social Justice, or Work and Family Studies.

The Work and Family Studies concentration offers students a practical understanding of the two closely related fields of family sociology and the sociology of work. This innovative concentration cultivates in-depth knowledge of gender, work, and family patterns at various levels of society and offers preparation for careers or graduate study in a variety of fields such as human resources, social work, education, public policy, law, mental health counseling, social welfare, and justice. Comprehensive and thorough knowledge of various work and family patterns is valuable to any major. 

Students must receive at least a C in each required course. Ideally students should take SOC 2980 , SOC 3040 , SOC 3050 , and SOC 3060  early in the academic program, but no later than the junior year and prior to enrolling in the senior seminar (SOC 4980 ) which should be completed during the senior year.

Students must complete 21 credit hours of courses related to the sociology of work and family including three required courses (SOC 3400 , SOC 4050 , and SOC 4100 ) and the remaining hours as guided electives.

A single minor is required for the Work and Family Studies concentration.