Sociology

Program Details

According to the American Sociological Association (ASA), sociology can be defined as follows:

1) Sociology is the study of society.
2) Sociology is the social science focused on studying the social lives of people, groups, and societies.
3) Sociology examines our behavior as social beings, covering everything from analyzing brief contacts between anonymous individuals to the investigation of social processes on a global scale.
4) Sociology is the scientific study of social aggregations, the entities human beings traverse throughout their lives.
5) Sociology is the overarching unification of all studies of humankind, including history, psychology, and economics.

People are influenced by numerous factors, including religion, system of government, culture, and so much more. As a sociologist, you can apply your knowledge and understanding toward reaching practical solutions that can benefit real people.

Sociology at Inver Hills

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Transfer Information

Completing this A.A. transfer pathway equips you to transfer with junior-year status to a designated sociology baccalaureate program at one of seven Minnesota State universities.:

Sociology courses fulfill transfer curriculum requirements for all programs and degrees.

Sociology at Inver Hills Adds Up

What you’ll accomplish as a student in our Sociology program:

  1. Sharpen your understanding of group and individual interactions
  2. Make the most of your passion for creating a better world
  3. Build a skill set that will work superbly for virtually any degree and career you pursue
  4. Earn a Transfer Pathway A.A. that opens the door to your bachelor’s degree
  5. Gain invaluable experience employing the scientific method
  6. Get firsthand experience working on true-to-life sociology projects
  7. Work directly with accomplished, student-focused sociology faculty with extensive experience in the field
  8. Benefit from small class sizes and collaborating with likeminded classmates
  9. Search for solutions to real-world sociology issues
  10. Save money and continue your academic and professional careers with less student debt

According to U.S. News & World Report, national student loan debt topped $1.7 trillion in the second quarter of 2021, or roughly $740 billion more than U.S. total credit card debt.

In Minnesota, 900,000 student loan borrowers owe an average $31,250 in federal and private student debt. That debt translates into an average monthly payment topping $250. 

Tuition and fees for one year at Inver Hills costs a little less than $5,500. Compare that to $15,000 to $20,000 at a for-profit college, or $40,000 to $50,000+ at a private college or university. You can complete your first two years at Inver Hills getting a topflight, hands-on education from knowledgeable, caring and experienced faculty and then transfer to a four-year school as a junior all while saving thousands of dollars.

Sociology Program Mission, Vision, and Goals

Mission

The Sociology Department's mission is to provide students with a framework within which to understand the social world and apply the sociological imagination.

Vision

  • Provide students with sufficient coursework in social thought to allow them to perform in upper division courses.
  • Provide students with a view of the world that helps them be informed citizens.
  • Provide expansive array of courses that develop students' ability to apply concepts to their own lives and be critical thinkers.

Goals

  • Expand sociological curriculum to support courses that engage greater use of the sociological imagination. Develop and change courses to improve articulation with other institutions.
  • Develop informal engagement of social thought as a relative part of every day life (sociology club, related courses, other student activities).

Intent

In Sociology, studies focus on developing a greater understanding of sociology and its methods and perspectives.  Students learn to use the tools of critical inquiry to understand and examine Sociology, various theories and the contexts in which they are developed.

Content

Courses in Sociology will enhance a broad range of critical inquiry skills both for personal development and growth, as well as prepare students to examine social-cultural premises, social systems, and theories that fundamentally support it.