Sociology

Sociology is the study of societies, human interactions and relationships. Sociologists study the ways in which society is organized in order to facilitate communication and societal progress.

Overview

As a sociology student at Calvin, you'll study societal structures within the context of a strong liberal arts core curriculum. At Calvin, we believe that God created us to live in community. As Christian sociologists, it is our responsibility to understand human interactions so we are better able to heal them.

Careers in Sociology

  • Counselor
  • Corrections Officer
  • Advocate
  • Programmer
  • Rehabilitator
  • Teacher
  • More

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Study abroad in Chicago or Washington D.C.; Volunteer in local schools, churches and hospitals; gain hands on experience through a summer internship; Assist a professor with sociological research through a research fellowship.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Sociology major

(34 semester hours)

  • SOC-151 Sociological Principals and Perspectives
  • SOC-255 Social Science Statistics
  • SOC-318 Sociological Theory
  • SOC-320 Social Research
  • SOC-395 Sociology Integrative Seminar
  • Six electives

Sociology minor

(21 semester hours)

  • SOC-151 Sociological Principals and Perspectives
  • Six electives

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

Barbara Gezon Baker Scholarship for Academic Excellence in Sociology and Social Work
  • award amount: $2,600
  • junior or senior
  • GPA 2.50+
  • financial need may be considered
  • nomination by department members
Balog Family Social Work Scholarship
Donald and Marie Boersma Family Scholarship in Social Work
Dr. Donald H. Bouma Scholarship in Sociology and Social Work
Connie Bratt Social Work Scholarship
Daniel C. Duyst Memorial Scholarship
Carl and Sandra Gronsman Family Scholarship
  • award amount: $2,100
  • junior or senior
  • GPA 2.75+
  • financial need required
  • apply through the Calvin Portal
James and Catherine Haveman Family Scholarship
  • award amount: $1,700
  • first-year
  • HS GPA 2.5+
  • financial need required
  • automatic consideration
Annemary Heerspink Memorial Social Work Scholarship
Helping Hand Scholarship
  • award amount: $2,500
  • junior or senior
  • GPA 3.0+
  • financial need considered; preference to those with a career interest in serving the homeless; special consideration given to those who have volunteered at Mel Trotter Ministries, God's Kitchen or Degage Ministries
  • apply through the sociology and social work department
Leanne Joy Knot Memorial Scholarship
  • award amount: $1,750
  • junior or senior
  • GPA of 3.0+
  • financial need required; demonstrate a deep love for Jesus Christ as expressed by the Reformed faith and a love for others
  • apply through the sociology and social work department
Theodore A. Rottman Scholarship in Social Justice
Roland and Ellen Schroder Family Scholarship
  • award amount: $2,700
  • sophomore
  • GPA 3.0+
  • financial need required; at least one parent who graduated from Calvin College
  • apply through the Calvin Portal
Sociology and Social Work Faculty Scholarship
Richard and Janice Van Deelen Scholarship
  • award amount: $2,400
  • junior or senior
  • GPA of 3.0+
  • financial need required; be adopted or have a special interest in adoption and be committed to the pro-life position on the issue of abortion
  • apply through the sociology and social work department
Arnold and Janice VanderBok Family Scholarship
  • award amount: $2,700
  • first-year
  • financial need required; speak Spanish fluently; preference to Hispanic students
  • prospective students submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office (finaid@calvin.edu) describing your qualifications by February 1; returning students apply through the Calvin Portal
Vanderploeg-Edgerly Scholarship
Theodore C. Wagenaar Scholarship
  • award amount: $400
  • any class level
  • GPA 3.0+
  • financial need required; planning to participate in an off-campus interim or semester in the Southwest United States; pursuing a degree in social sciences or education, in that order
  • automatic consideration
Mary E. Vanden Bosch Zwaanstra Scholarship in Social Work and Gerontology
  • award amount: $1,600
  • junior or senior
  • GPA 2.5+
  • financial need not required; be committed to the field of gerontology and principles of social justice
  • apply through the sociology and social work department
View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Cheryl Brandsen Cheryl Brandsen
Dean for Social Sciences & Contextual Disciplines
Department of Sociology
SC 383B
brac@calvin.edu
(616) 526-7322

Jonathan Hill Jonathan Hill
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology
SC 217
jph27@calvin.edu
(616) 526-7259

Michelle Loyd-Paige Michelle Loyd-Paige
Dean of Multicultural Affairs, Professor of Sociology
Department of Sociology
SC 323
lopa@calvin.edu
(616) 526-8703

Elisha Marr Elisha Marr
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology
SC 213
emm24@calvin.edu
(616) 526-7019

Christopher Morrissey Christopher Morrissey
Teaching Staff
Department of Sociology
SC 219
cam48@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6029

Mark Mulder Mark Mulder
Associate Professor
Department of Sociology
SC 229
mtm3@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6755

Todd Vanden Berg Todd Vanden Berg
Professor, on leave spring 2013
Department of Sociology
SC 227
tvdberg@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6705

Rachel Venema Rachel Venema
Instructor
Department of Social Work
SC 221
rvenem68@calvin.edu
(616) 526-8741

Roman Williams Roman Williams
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology
SC 237
roman.williams@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6026

Talk to us

Todd Vanden Berg

Todd Vanden Berg
Department Chair
department chair
Department of Sociology
SC 227
tvdberg@calvin.edu
(616) 526-6705