Sociology

Sociology | Lasell College

The Sociology Major has a professional focus, rooted in Connected Learning, that seeks to educate students by promoting self-expression, academic exploration, and critical thinking in academic, civic, and career-relevant areas.

The Sociology Major at Lasell takes an active and hands-on approach to train students in advocacy skills and promoting social justice.
Students take part in group social justice campaigns, as well as work independently on linked-credit projects on issues they are passionate about.
The Sociology Major prepares students in understanding social trends and group-level dynamics, which gives students advantages in media, marketing, fundraising, and more.
Lasell's School of Humanities, Education, Justice & Social Sciences has degree programs in Criminal Justice, Education, English, Global Studies, History, Law & Public Affairs, Legal Studies, Psychology, and Sociology.

Connected Learning

Connected Learning complements traditional approaches with active learning experiences by doing internships, service learning, and challenging projects in and out of the classroom.

Student being interviewed by reporter at State House

Social Justice Campaigns & Courses

In the Action & Social Justice (SOC307) class, students pick an injustice, develop achievable goals, and design and carry out a group campaign to promote social justice. For instance, a class researched the implications and injustices of human trafficking and led a protest for stronger laws that made news headlines.
In conjunction with Lasell Fashion program, students in the Beauty Myth (HON305) course analyzed the practice of Chinese foot binding.
The Multidisciplinary Experience (MDSC203) class explores a social or intellectual problem using various perspectives.

Linked-Credit Projects

Students have the opportunity to link service-learning, social justice activism, intergenerational studies, or research across the curriculum projects to their coursework. Under guidance of a faculty member, students complete projects related to the course theme and can earn an additional academic credit.

Service Learning: Students provide activities, programs, and support that directly benefit non-profit organizations that are off-campus
Social Justice Activism: Students create projects that addresses a social justice issue, and create actions to address the issue by raising awareness or advocating for change.
Intergenerational Studies: Students design and complete projects that compare some aspect of thought or behavior across individuals of different ages
Research Across the Curriculum: Students conduct a research project that extends an area of study.

Presentations

Students conduct and collaborate on research projects to publish in scholarly journals and present at national industry conferences.
Faculty provide students the opportunity to conduct research and present at conferences with them, such as presenting at the Eastern Sociological Society.

Internships

Students take part in a year-long internship their senior year. With the Sociology program at Lasell, students have gained internships at:

Legislative advocacy for Alzheimer's Association
Grassroots organizing for $15/hour minimum wage
State Representative Kay Kahn's office of Children and Families
Social media and event planning for ex-prisoner's group
Fundraising for NARAL Pro-choice Massachusetts
Campus organizer for Environment Massachusetts

Employment Opportunities

With the Sociology Major, students have flourished in careers in:

advocacy
public policy
social services/counseling
education
media
marketing/sales
research

The Sociology Major also prepares students for graduate programs in:

social work
law
business
public health
public administration

Social Sciences Faculty

	Lori Rosenthal, Ph.D. Associate Dean, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Education; Associate Professor of Psychology Areas of Expertise: psychological perspectives; personality psychology; social psychology
	Charlotte Frazier Associate Professor of Psychology
	Sarahbeth Golden, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology Areas of Expertise: clinical psychology; media consumption and their relationship beliefs and expectations; human sexuality; psychology of personality
	Betsy Leondar-Wright, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Sociology Areas of Expertise: race and ethnicity; social movements; sociology
	Tessa LeRoux, Ph.D Professor of Sociology, the Joan Weiler Arnow '49 Professor Areas of Expertise: gender and family studies; sociology
	Marsha Mirkin, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Areas of Expertise: family therapy; women's studies; adolescent psychotherapy
	James Ostrow, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor of Sociology Areas of Expertise: intersection of social theory, continental philosophy, and American pragmatist philosophy; sociological theory; qualitative research; educational philosophy; educational research methods
	Jesse Tauriac, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology; Director of the Donahue Institute for Ethics, Diversity, and Inclusion Areas of Expertise: transformative education; cultural competence; clinical psychology
	Zane Zheng, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology Areas of Expertise: cognitive neuroscience; speech perception; biological basis of behavior; psychological perspectives