Mission

The Minor in Sociology aims at advancing a strong sociological understanding of contemporary society, addressing its complexities and the individual’s place within it.

Program Objectives

The graduates with a Minor in Sociology shall be able to:

1. Acquire interdisciplinary competencies
2. Apply critical thinking about sociological theories and social issues
3. Develop student’s professional and practical skills, so as to assist them in obtaining jobs in the local, regional and international markets.

Program Outcomes

Students will be able to:

1. Describe the basic facts, concepts, and theories pertaining to sociology;
2. Ask relevant research questions pertaining to sociology;
3. Appreciate the interrelationship among the sociological, political and psychological dimensions in Sociology;

Admission Requirements

To enter the major, students must meet the general university requirements.

Graduation Requirements

A total of 18 credits are required to graduate, based on:

Program Requirements

Core Courses (9 credits)

• SOC201 / Introduction to Sociology
• SOC321 / Sociology of the Arab World
• SOC401 / Sociological Theories

Electives (9 credits): Electives can be chosen from the following courses:  

• SOC203 / Citizenship and Leadership 
• SOC204 / PSY 204: Social Psychology
• SOC212 / JSC 312:Media and Society
• SOC215 / Introduction to Gender Studies
• SOC216/ POL 210: Intro. to Political Thought
• SOC222/ POL 222: Comparative Political Systems
• SOC303 / ARC581:Urban Sociology/Urban Planning
• SOC304 / Sociology of Religion
• SOC313 / WOS313: Women in the Arab World
• SOC335 / POL 335: Politics of Multiculturalism
• SOC488 / Topics in Sociology

Study Plan

Courses regularly offered in the Fall:

• SOC201 / Introduction to Sociology
• SOC203 / Citizenship and Leadership
• SOS212 / JSC312: Media and Society
• SOC303 / ARC581: Urban Sociology/Urban Planning
• SOC304 / Sociology of Religion
• SOC335 / POL335: Politics of Multiculturalism
• SOC401 / Sociological Theories

Courses regularly offered in the Spring:

• SOC201 / Introduction to Sociology
• SOC204 / PSY204: Social Psychology
• SOC210 / POL210: Introduction to Political Thought
• SOC222 / POL222: Comparative political Systems
• SOC313 / WOS313: Women in the Arab World
• SOC321 / Sociology of the Arab World
• SOC488 / Topics in Sociology

​Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program can pursue a career in the following areas:

• In social services, teaching, industrial relations, criminal justice work, policy development and implementation, case management, group work with youth or the elderly, urban planning, general administration, migrant and refugee affairs.
• Community and Non-profit organisations:  In administration, overseas aid & development agencies, social research, policy development, lobbying.
• The business sector:  In consumer/social research, public relations, human resources and personnel work, publishing, training and development, sales and marketing, journalism.
• Tertiary education:  In teaching (High Schools), administration and research. Graduates may also go on to further study at Masters and PhD levels.

Course Descriptions Related to the Minor in Sociology

SOC201 / Introduction to Sociology

The course introduces students to the basic concepts and processes governing social relationships as well as scientific approaches dealing with and explaining social phenomena. Various social institutions are examined.

SOC203 / Citizenship and Leadership

This course covers the basic concepts of leadership, active citizenship and public involvement in a democratic society.  It also examines the theories and approaches that link together these three concepts. The course will cover the principles and skills that leaders and citizens should acquire to be civically engaged in different social, political and economic contexts. Students will propose and implement a civic engagement project.

SOC204 / PSY204:  Social Psychology (prerequisite PSY201)

Social Psychology focuses on how individual motives, cognitions, attitudes are affected by groups, organizations and institutes. These influences will be explored in domains such as interpersonal attraction, prejudice, conformity, attitudes, aggression and motivation.

SOC212 / JSC312: Media and Society

An introduction to the social responsibilities of the mass communicator in Lebanon, the Middle East and the world. An examination of the mass media in terms of the social, political and economic forces which influence and shape them.

SOC215 / Introduction to Gender Studies

This course examines what it means to be a man or a woman, from a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives. It explores the construction of masculinities and femininities in a variety of cultural contexts. Special attention is given to gender differences, and gender inequalities.

SOC216 / POL210: Introduction to Political Thought (prerequisite POL201)

The course surveys key political ideas primarily from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment up to the beginning of the 20th century. Analysis and discussion of original texts and political ideas related to the general philosophy of each author’s historical and political background.

SOC222 / POL222: Comparative Political Systems (prerequisite POL201)

The course provides an overview of political systems in the world and compares the ways governments operate and people behave in political life. It examines why different countries in the world implement different forms of government and electoral systems. It compares the ways different governments interact with their respective citizens in both representation and policy making.

SOC303 / Urban Sociology (prerequisite SOC201)

This course is a survey of the city as a historical development, in relation to economic, social, and political factors, from the early settlements to the development of contemporary urbanism. It deals with a broad overview of the current planning theories, from the context of modernist ideals to the social studies of planners and sociologists.

SOC304 / Sociology of Religion (prerequisite SOC201)

This course examines historical and contemporary relationships between social groups and their sacred symbols and objects, including the forms and functions of religion, religious beliefs and rituals, the politics and economics of religion, identity politics and religious movements.

SOC313 / WOS313:  Women in the Arab World

This course examines the roles and status of Arab women in relation to various societal factors, including a brief overview of the legal rights as stated in the personal status code. Class discussions will analyze the changes by identifying determinants and patterns of change. Students are also introduced to basic gender, and feminist, perspectives on the status of women in Arab societies.

SOC321 / Sociology of the Arab World

A seminar for students interested in understanding the Arab world’s social structures with emphasis on major institutions and values, viewed from a three-dimensional perspective, namely: habitat, ethnic compositions and history.

SOC335 / POL335: Politics of Multiculturalism (prerequisite POL201)

Multiculturalism is a buzz word in current political debates and popular discussions of ethnicity and migrant communities. This course explores why multicultural policy has become important, what kinds of minorities need to be accommodated and what kinds of policy contexts are important for multiculturalism in different countries. The course examines sociological evidence for cultural diversity, its linkages with inter-generational socio-economic disadvantage and the political arguments for and against multiculturalism.

SOC401 / Sociological Theories (prerequisite SOC201)

The course is an advanced study of classical and modern sociological theories including, but  not restricted to, the works of Durkheim, Marx, Weber, Bourdieu, Giddens, Hall and Norbert Elias.

SOC488 / Topics in Sociology: Sociology of Migration (prerequisite SOC201)

The course introduces students to the basic concepts and processes governing mobility of people between various countries. It applies sociological, anthropological and cultural studies approaches to analyze this phenomenon.