BS in Computer Science and Sociology

Sociology provides students with the conceptual tools to understand how various features of society affect its members as well as how people create and maintain those same features. The undergraduate sociology program at Northeastern University prepares students to rigorously analyze the social, political, and economic spheres of society at the local and global levels. Our undergraduate offerings cover everything from gender and family violence, to law and criminality, human services, race and ethnicity, social movements, and urban social problems. Sociology - Learning Goals and Objectives: The sociology major should demonstrate understanding of the following: The discipline of sociology and its role in contributing to our understanding of social reality, such that the student will be able to: know what sociology is as a discipline and a practice; apply the sociological imagination and concepts to her/his own life. Understand and apply basic concepts in sociology and their theoretical interrelations. The role of theory in sociology, such that the student will be able to: define theory and describe its role in building sociological knowledge; compare and contrast basic theoretical orientations; show how theories reflect the historical context of the times and cultures in which they were developed; show how different theoretical approaches would explain current social phenomena. The role of research methods in sociology, such that the student will be able to: know basic methodological approaches and describe the general role of methods in building sociological knowledge; compare and contrast the basic methodological approaches for gathering data, identifying the virtues and limitations of each method; explain basic concepts of social statistics and compute both descriptive and inferential statistics using both calculators and SPSS; understand the connection between theory and methods of investigation; evaluate a published research report. Creative thinking and effective communication skills, such that the student will be able to: evaluate the validity of contentions commonly encountered in everyday life; communicate effectively in oral and written reports; understand the social and ethical implications of sociological research findings and of social policies. The characteristics of contemporary societies and their international contexts sufficiently to be able to: describe the structure and culture of the United States and its distinctive features, relative to other advanced industrial societies; discuss the differences between Western and non-Western societies, and between the developed and less developed world; understand some of the challenges that globalization poses to contemporary societies and ways of life.