Undergraduate
The primary aim of coursework in the Department of Sociology is to provide students with an understanding of social institutions and organizations, social behavior and social structures, cultures, and the theories and methods for studying them.
Plans of Study
Majors:
Honors Majors:
Minors:
Academic Advisors for Sociology and Law & Society
Lupita Acosta-Roberts, B.A., Purdue University; M.A., University of Chicago | acostang@purdue.edu
Senior Academic Advisor | Mentor Coordinator | Areas of Advising: African American Studies, Anthropology, Classical Studies, Communications, Digital Criminology, Latin American and Latino Studies, Law and Society, Sociology,Sociology, Womens Studies
Kaitlyn Callahan, B.S., Milliken University, M.A., Ottawa University | callahk@purdue.edu
Academic Advisor | Areas of advising: Communications, Law and Society, Sociology
Carol Randel, B.A., Purdue University; M.A., Ball State University | crandel@purdue.edu
Senior Academic Advisor | Areas of advising: Law and Society, Political Science, Sociology
Taylor Weast M.S. Ed., Indiana University; B.S., IUPUI | tweast@purdue.edu
Assistant Director of Academic and Career Advising
Academic Advisor | Areas of Advising: Art Education, Communications, Sociology, Visual & Performing Arts
College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Advising & Career Center
Young Hall, 10th Floor
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907
765-494-3670
http://www.cla.purdue.edu/students/advising/directory.html
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Associate Teacheing Professor Lindsey Hamm, Beering Hall
Honorary Society and Clubs
Alpha Kappa Delta is the international honorary society for sociology. Its mission is "To investigate humanity for the purpose of service." Undergraduates are invited to apply. Requirements:
- Must be an officially declared sociology major or demonstrate a serious interest in sociology within an official program of the host institution.
- Must be at least a junior (third year) by standards of the host institution.
- Must have accumulated the equivalent of an overall g.p.a. of 3.3 (by a four point scale where: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) and rank in the top 35% of their class in general scholarship
- Must have maintained the equivalent of a 3.0 g.p.a. in sociology courses taken at the host institution prior to initiation.
- Must have completed at least four regular courses in sociology prior to initiation (exclusive of extension or courses graded pass/fail).
See: http://alphakappadelta.org/
Purdue's AKD Faculty Advisor is Associate Professor Kevin Stainback.
Internships
SOC 423:
Student in sociology or law and society may pursue a service learning course, SOC 423, Field Practicum. It is reserved for 3rd and 4th year students. Contact the academic advisors for details. Students in SOC 423 complete 100 hours of work as an intern in the Greater Lafayette Community and meet as a class once a week to discuss their experiences and relevant sociological theories and methods.
SOC 489:
Sociology students who have completed 60 credit hours, and completed SOC 382 and SOC 383 may pursue a research internship, SOC 489. Students can earn 3-6 credits working in an organization that collects or analyzes data from surveys, social media, focus groups, interviews, or experiments. For more information, contact SocIntern@purdue.edu or view a brief video interviewing former interns.
Sociology Department Undergraduate Awards
Each spring semester, the Sociology Department makes the following awards to undergraduate students at an awards reception:
- CLA Honors Program Outstanding Senior Award
- Outstanding Community Service Award
- Outstanding Undergraduate Paper Award
- CLA Alumni Outstanding Senior Award
On alternate years, the Sociology Department makes the following awards to an undergraduate student at an awards reception:
- Carolyn C. Perrucci Undergraduate Achievement Award
For descriptions of these awards, please click here.