From the outside, New Orleans looks pretty tough to categorize. Although it’s called the Big Easy, the amount of diversity and character in our culture might seem difficult to place. But that’s exactly what interests you about studying sociology, isn’t it? You want to understand people—their beliefs, their problems, their behavior, their organizations—and you want to ensure they are represented fairly and treated with respect. You feel a commitment to social justice, and this concentration will allow you to make that an area of expertise. Whether you’re interested in graduate school or going directly to work in social services or policy, here at Loyno we can equip you with the skills to make it happen.
Overview of Courses
In addition to our foundational sociology core, theory, and research methodology, you will complete a sociology research project and internship and choose electives from the social justice and inequalities track for this concentration. Here’s a sample of what you can expect to learn and do:
- Race, Racism, and Privilege
This course provides an examination of the social construction of race, changing racial ideologies, and the manifestation of these as racism and privilege, both historically and currently. Particular attention is paid to the historical and sociological basis for racial/ethnic tensions in the United States and discrimination against racial/ ethnic minorities. Additionally, there is an emphasis on self-reflection and an interrogation of the significance of the role race plays in all of our lives. - Social/Political Inequality
In this course we examine the social structures and practices that perpetuate inequality. The social categories of race, class, gender, and sexuality are the central foci of the class as these help to shape individuals’ life chances. Additionally, we examine how our own position within the larger social structure shapes our lives. - The Sociology of Gender
This course focuses on the constraints that the social construction of gender imposes on both men and women. The emphasis of this course is on developing a critical, empirically based understanding of the structural and historical foundations affecting men and women in society
Sociology Course Information
Find out more about the Sociology major: