Sociology - Albright College
Source: https://www.albright.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/sociology
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
Sociology - Albright College
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Sociology
Study society. Analyze systems. Create meaningful social change.
Sociology at Albright gives students the analytical tools to examine social structures, inequality, culture, and human interaction. The major prepares graduates for careers in social research, community services, justice fields, public health, and more.
About the Program
Despite institutional restructuring, the department remains a vibrant hub of community engagement and applied learning.
Hands-On Learning
Students complete senior research projects, internships, service-learning, and community-driven initiatives supported by faculty leadership.
Program Goals
Course Requirements
Opportunities
Faculty
Advising Sheets
Foster intellectual curiosity.
Achieve breadth of knowledge across socio-anthropological substantive areas and depth within one area
Write and speak clearly and fluently while also incorporating the socio-anthropological knowledge (i.e. terms, concepts, and theories) that they have gained in their socio-anthropological coursework.
Practice the skill of connecting social observations with theory so that the theories alluded to in #3 can be used by graduates throughout their lives to develop sophisticated assessments about the causes and effects of human actions.
Develop a foundation of socio-anthropological theory about the way humans interact with the social and physical world such that they can use them to understand and assess a variety of human actions around the world.
Develop the skills and knowledge to conduct basic socio-anthropological investigations. This would include being familiar with the process by which an individual can: develop sociological hypotheses; collect pertinent sociological data; analyze data qualitatively and quantitatively; develop conclusions about the issue(s) in question.
Find, understand, and critically assess scholarly and analytic socio-anthropological literature.
Break free from the leash of cultural conformity by learning to think critically and creatively about issues for themselves without relying on others (authorities) to make the assessments for them.
Full Course Catalogue
Course Descriptions
Major Requirements
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (fulfills General Studies Foundations Social Science
course)
SOC 210 Research Methods
SOC 211 Statistics (fulfills General Studies Quantitative Reasoning course)
SOC 213 Social Theory
SOC 490 Senior Seminar
SOC 382/482 Internship, travel abroad course, or a 400-level approved substitution
Two of the following:
ANT 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
SOC 201 Social Problems
SOC 230 Cultural Sociology
SOC 261 The Family
SOC 262 Social Stratification
ANT 285 The Human Animal
One of the following:
ANT 310 Crime, Culture and Conflict Resolution
ANT 320 Sex, Gender and Culture
Two of the following:
SOC 202 The Criminal Justice System
SOC 203 Human Service for Families & Children
SOC 231 Cults & New Religious Movements
SOC 251 Crime and Deviance
SOC 291 Environmental Sociology
Three of the following:
SOC 302 Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 305 Terrorism
SOC 307 Organized Crime
SOC 311 Domestic Violence
SOC 331 Mass Media & Popular Culture
SOC 332 Sport & Leisure
SOC 333 Sociology of Religion
SOC 360 Crime and the Media
SOC 385 Violence and Victims
SOC 253 and SOC 254 Criminal Investigation I and II
One of the following:
SOC 430 Collective Behavior & Social Movements
SOC 440 Ethnographies in Crime and Deviance
SOC 450 White Collar Crime
SOC 460 Serial Murder Combined Major Requirements
Combined Major Requirements
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (fulfills General Studies Foundations Social Science course)
SOC 210 Research Methods
SOC 211 Statistics (fulfills General Studies Quantitative Reasoning course)
SOC 213 Social Theory
SOC 490 Senior Seminar
One of the following:
ANT 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
SOC 201 Social Problems
SOC 230 Cultural Sociology
SOC 251 Crime & Deviance
SOC 261 The Family
SOC 262 Social Stratification
SOC 266 Sociology of Race
ANT 285 Human Animal
SOC 291 Environmental Sociology
One additional 300-level sociology course
One additional 400-level sociology course
Minor Requirements
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
Four additional courses with a SOC- or ANT- prefix.
Field Study Experiences:
The Albright College sociology and anthropology department hosts a variety of opportunities for field study within the City of Reading, and the city, in a way, becomes a socio-anthropological laboratory. Students have worked with faculty to assess local social service agencies, study changes in neighborhoods experiencing reinvestment, explore the impact of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on communities, measure gang involvement and risk factors for gang membership, interview community members on town-gown relations, and compare religious services, among others.
Some of the field studies in which students have engaged took place in:
Barber shops
Pet stores
Roller rinks
Childcare facilities
Nightclubs
Homeless shelters
Agricultural animal auctions
Abortion clinics
Internships and Career Support
Students can connect with the
Career Development Center
to find internships with social service agencies, schools, government programs, or nonprofit organizations while developing skills for careers in research, policy, or community work.
ACRE Undergraduate Research
Students in any major can engage in interdisciplinary undergraduate research through the
Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE)
, partnering with faculty mentors to pursue independent research or creative projects and present their work beyond the classroom.
Carla Abodalo , M.S.
Senior Instructor of Sociology & Anthropology
Charles Brown , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
Brandon Clinton
Part-Time Faculty of Sociology & Anthropology
Kyle Hosking
Adjunct Faculty
Brian Jennings , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
Adrienne Lodge
Adjunct Faculty
Kennon Rice , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
Barton Thompson , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
Curriculum Highlights
Strong quantitative foundation through Sociology 211
Senior seminar integrating theory and research
Community engagement through Global Scholars and Cubs
Faculty-led justice mapping and public sociology projects
Skip To Main Content
Sociology
Study society. Analyze systems. Create meaningful social change.
Sociology at Albright gives students the analytical tools to examine social structures, inequality, culture, and human interaction. The major prepares graduates for careers in social research, community services, justice fields, public health, and more.
About the Program
Despite institutional restructuring, the department remains a vibrant hub of community engagement and applied learning.
Hands-On Learning
Students complete senior research projects, internships, service-learning, and community-driven initiatives supported by faculty leadership.
Program Goals
Course Requirements
Opportunities
Faculty
Advising Sheets
Foster intellectual curiosity.
Achieve breadth of knowledge across socio-anthropological substantive areas and depth within one area
Write and speak clearly and fluently while also incorporating the socio-anthropological knowledge (i.e. terms, concepts, and theories) that they have gained in their socio-anthropological coursework.
Practice the skill of connecting social observations with theory so that the theories alluded to in #3 can be used by graduates throughout their lives to develop sophisticated assessments about the causes and effects of human actions.
Develop a foundation of socio-anthropological theory about the way humans interact with the social and physical world such that they can use them to understand and assess a variety of human actions around the world.
Develop the skills and knowledge to conduct basic socio-anthropological investigations. This would include being familiar with the process by which an individual can: develop sociological hypotheses; collect pertinent sociological data; analyze data qualitatively and quantitatively; develop conclusions about the issue(s) in question.
Find, understand, and critically assess scholarly and analytic socio-anthropological literature.
Break free from the leash of cultural conformity by learning to think critically and creatively about issues for themselves without relying on others (authorities) to make the assessments for them.
Full Course Catalogue
Course Descriptions
Major Requirements
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (fulfills General Studies Foundations Social Science
course)
SOC 210 Research Methods
SOC 211 Statistics (fulfills General Studies Quantitative Reasoning course)
SOC 213 Social Theory
SOC 490 Senior Seminar
SOC 382/482 Internship, travel abroad course, or a 400-level approved substitution
Two of the following:
ANT 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
SOC 201 Social Problems
SOC 230 Cultural Sociology
SOC 261 The Family
SOC 262 Social Stratification
ANT 285 The Human Animal
One of the following:
ANT 310 Crime, Culture and Conflict Resolution
ANT 320 Sex, Gender and Culture
Two of the following:
SOC 202 The Criminal Justice System
SOC 203 Human Service for Families & Children
SOC 231 Cults & New Religious Movements
SOC 251 Crime and Deviance
SOC 291 Environmental Sociology
Three of the following:
SOC 302 Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 305 Terrorism
SOC 307 Organized Crime
SOC 311 Domestic Violence
SOC 331 Mass Media & Popular Culture
SOC 332 Sport & Leisure
SOC 333 Sociology of Religion
SOC 360 Crime and the Media
SOC 385 Violence and Victims
SOC 253 and SOC 254 Criminal Investigation I and II
One of the following:
SOC 430 Collective Behavior & Social Movements
SOC 440 Ethnographies in Crime and Deviance
SOC 450 White Collar Crime
SOC 460 Serial Murder Combined Major Requirements
Combined Major Requirements
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (fulfills General Studies Foundations Social Science course)
SOC 210 Research Methods
SOC 211 Statistics (fulfills General Studies Quantitative Reasoning course)
SOC 213 Social Theory
SOC 490 Senior Seminar
One of the following:
ANT 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
SOC 201 Social Problems
SOC 230 Cultural Sociology
SOC 251 Crime & Deviance
SOC 261 The Family
SOC 262 Social Stratification
SOC 266 Sociology of Race
ANT 285 Human Animal
SOC 291 Environmental Sociology
One additional 300-level sociology course
One additional 400-level sociology course
Minor Requirements
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
Four additional courses with a SOC- or ANT- prefix.
Field Study Experiences:
The Albright College sociology and anthropology department hosts a variety of opportunities for field study within the City of Reading, and the city, in a way, becomes a socio-anthropological laboratory. Students have worked with faculty to assess local social service agencies, study changes in neighborhoods experiencing reinvestment, explore the impact of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on communities, measure gang involvement and risk factors for gang membership, interview community members on town-gown relations, and compare religious services, among others.
Some of the field studies in which students have engaged took place in:
Barber shops
Pet stores
Roller rinks
Childcare facilities
Nightclubs
Homeless shelters
Agricultural animal auctions
Abortion clinics
Internships and Career Support
Students can connect with the
Career Development Center
to find internships with social service agencies, schools, government programs, or nonprofit organizations while developing skills for careers in research, policy, or community work.
ACRE Undergraduate Research
Students in any major can engage in interdisciplinary undergraduate research through the
Albright Creative Research Experience (ACRE)
, partnering with faculty mentors to pursue independent research or creative projects and present their work beyond the classroom.
Carla Abodalo , M.S.
Senior Instructor of Sociology & Anthropology
Charles Brown , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
Brandon Clinton
Part-Time Faculty of Sociology & Anthropology
Kyle Hosking
Adjunct Faculty
Brian Jennings , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
Adrienne Lodge
Adjunct Faculty
Kennon Rice , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
Barton Thompson , Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
Curriculum Highlights
Strong quantitative foundation through Sociology 211
Senior seminar integrating theory and research
Community engagement through Global Scholars and Cubs
Faculty-led justice mapping and public sociology projects