Why study Sociology at MC?

Sociology is the study of people, society, and social life. Majoring in Sociology means exploring diversity among people, practices, and populations. Thinking like a sociologist means uncovering the taken-for-granted, testing the assumed, and critically exploring social situations.

As a Sociology major at Maryville College, you will learn fascinating and challenging things about the world around you including the realities of inequality, social problems, and social change. Classes explore areas such as marriage and family, religion, education, and social movements. Sociology majors graduate with skills in social theory and a variety of scientific methods used to understand people. The Sociology major at Maryville College is a welcoming and inclusive major for students of all backgrounds, providing a learning environment in which to better understand your own life circumstances as well as those whose life circumstances may be quite different from your own.

Sociology students will find unique opportunities at Maryville College including service learning, research with professors, and an option for certification in non-profit management. Your chosen senior thesis topic will let you explore any area of sociology under the two-semester mentorship of a sociology faculty member. Here are just a few of the recent senior thesis projects of sociology majors:

  • Organizational Development in Nonprofit Settings: Blount County Habitat for Humanity
  • The Romantic Revolution: A Sociological Study of Online Dating
  • Globalization and the Effects of Cosmetic Surgery on Women in South Korea
  • The Effects of Urban Agriculture on Urban Youth
  • Gender Norm Transmission Through Magazines to Teenage Girls
  • THIS COULD BE YOUR CHURCH: A Study of Church Signs

Sociology deals with social relationships, the structure of society, and the variety of human cultures. The Major in Sociology prepares students for endeavors such as teaching, research, human services, and community organization. The Minor in Sociology provides a useful supplement to majors in a variety of academic fields.

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Meet a Current Scot

Photo of Hannah Eddleman

Hannah Eddleman

Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee

MC’s liberal arts emphasis on building strong critical thinking skills, convinced Hannah that MC would be a perfect fit for her. She enjoys learning about the greater world around her and says that the sociology major encourages not only world knowledge but also self-knowledge. Hannah adds that “the study of sociology provides new perspectives and insight into how others’ lives can be far different from our own which enables us to make the world a better place.”

Also taking the track in Child Trauma and Resilience, Hannah’s career goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Balancing her studies, volunteer work and three jobs, Hannah recently passed her RBT exam and is now a Registered Behavior Technician at Proud Moments, a local autism therapy service specializing in ABA therapy for children.

 

Meet a Recent Grad

Photo of alumni Haly Scott who recently graduated with a degree in Sociology.

Haly Scott ’23

Currently: Working in Adult Crisis Services with the Helen Ross
McNabb Center in Knoxville, Tennessee

Haly, who doubled majored in Sociology and Psychology at MC, graduated with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in May 2025. She credits her experiences at MC (including a 10-day study abroad experience in Switzerland with a focus on child welfare and an internship with Harmony Family Center), for giving her interpersonal, time-management, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.

“These, as well as the analytical and research skills developed during the completion of my Senior Study, propelled me into success in my master’s program, even landing me a position as a research assistant with a counseling professor,” she said.

Haly recently passed the National Counseling Exam and is on track to become a licensed professional counselor (LPC).

 

Associate Professor of Sociology
Dr. Andrew Gunnoe
Associate Professor of Sociology
More Info

Sociologists work in professional settings with families, children, the elderly, community organizations, businesses, and individuals struggling with addiction or criminal behavior.  Through conversations with your advisor, your experience at Maryville College will be custom-tailored to suit your own life goals. Maryville College’s Sociology graduates have gone on to a variety of careers. These include:

  • Human services
  • Criminal justice
  • Sales and marketing
  • Management
  • Research
  • Teaching
  • Community planning
  • Law school
  • The Peace Corps

Job Placements

American Cancer Society
Blount County Schools
Clayton Homes/Vanderbilt Mortgage
Crossroads Church
Ewha American Language Academy
Helen Ross McNabb Center
Henry County Schools
Ridgeview Behavioral Health
Rivermont Presbyterian Church
State of Alaska, Division of Alaska Pioneer Homes
State of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services
SunCoast Blood Bank

Graduate School Placements

Columbia University, Teacher’s College
East Tennessee State University, Criminology, Sociology
Emory University School of Law
Florida Coastal School of Law
Lincoln Memorial University, Education Administration
Union Presbyterian Seminary, Christian Education/Divinity
University of Colorado Denver, Sociology
University of Kentucky, Sociology
University of Tennessee Knoxville, College of Social Work
University of Tennessee Knoxville, Department of Plant Sciences

Students successfully completing the program of study will be able to:

  1. Use sociological concepts and principles in describing and explaining the social world
  2. Understand the discipline’s major theoretical perspectives
  3. Develop a social research design that includes:
    1. Generating a research question
    2. Selecting a research method
    3. Gathering data
    4. Analyzing results
  4. Analyze contemporary social issues form a sociological perspective

 

The Major in Sociology requires 45/46 credit hours: 33 in sociology and 12/13 credit hours in related areas.

Required courses include:

Major and Major-Related Courses

SOC 101: Introductory Sociology (3 hrs)
SOC 315: Social Inequality (3 hrs)
SOC 351: Senior Study I (3 hrs)
SOC 352: Senior Study II (3 hrs)
SOC 401: Social Theory (3 hrs)
MTH 221: Inferential Statistics w/Data Visualization (3 hrs)
SLS 301: Social Sciences Research Methods (3 hrs)
PSY 101: Introductory Psychology (3 hrs)

Nine credit hours chosen from the following list:

SOC 211: Cultural Anthropology (3 hrs)
SOC 215: Sociology of Marriage and Family (3 hrs)
SOC 217: Gender and Society (3 hrs)
SOC 221: Social Psychology (3 hrs)
SOC 222: Sociology of Appalachia (3 hrs)
SOC 226: Global Child Welfare (3 hrs)
SOC 231: Environmental Sociology (3 hrs)

Nine credit hours chosen from the following list:

SOC 305: Organizational Behavior (3 hrs)
SOC 320: Development and Globalization (3 hrs)
SOC 325: Sociology of Religion (3 hrs)
SOC 326: Social Movements (3 hrs)
SOC 327: Sociology of Culture (3 hrs)
SOC 328: Global Feminisms (3 hrs)
SOC 349: Selected Topics in Sociology (3 hrs)

One course selected from the following courses:

ECN 201: Principles of Economics (4 hrs)
ECN 221: Economic Development (3 hrs)
PLS 211: Comparative Government and Politics (3 hrs)
PLS 232: Public Policy (3 hrs)

The Minor in Sociology consists of a minimum of 15 credit hours, including 12 hours above the 100 level.

Required courses include:

Minor and Minor-Related Courses

SOC 101: Introductory Sociology(3 hrs)

Additional hours may be selected from the following courses:

SOC 211: Cultural Anthropology(3 hrs)
SOC 215: Sociology of Marriage and Family(3 hrs)
SOC 217: Gender and Society(3 hrs)
SOC 221: Social Psychology(3 hrs)
SOC 222: Sociology of Appalachia(3 hrs)
SOC 226: Global Child Welfare(3 hrs)
SOC 231: Environmental Sociology(3 hrs)
SOC 305: Organizational Behavior(3 hrs)
SOC 315: Social Inequality(3 hrs)
SOC 320: Development and Globalization(3 hrs)
SOC 325: Sociology of Religion(3 hrs)
SOC 326: Social Movements(3 hrs)
SOC 327: Sociology of Culture(3 hrs)
SOC 328: Global Feminisms(3 hrs)
SOC 349: Selected Topics in Sociology(3 hrs)
SOC 401: Social Theory(3 hrs)
SLS 301: Social Sciences Research Methods(3 hrs)

In addition to required courses for majors and minors, Maryville College students take classes in the Maryville Curriculum, a core program of general education. Consisting of 51 credit hours, the Maryville Curriculum ensures that students see their major in a wider context and develop the basic communication, quantitative, and critical thinking skills that are needed for success in college and career.

You may also be interested in:

Ministry and Church Leadership Certificate Program

Philosophy

Psychology

Religion
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Interested in this Program of Study at Maryville College? Submit your basic information and an Admissions counselor will contact you shortly to answer any questions you might have.

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