Studying Sociology at Kenyon
Kenyon’s sociology faculty bring expertise in a wide range of fields, including American folklore, legal issues, race, culture, gender, globalization, health, social movements and the intellectual roots of Western social thought. From these areas of expertise, faculty teach students to analyze social patterns, social action and social change. This preparation leads students to success in a wide variety of careers, including education, research, social work, law, non-profit work, social activism, business, politics and graduate studies.
Featured Courses
Institutions and Inequalities
How does society operate within social institutions? How do these institutions create and maintain social norms that disenfranchise some while privileging others? How can individuals challenge these norms to enact change? This introductory course equips students with the grounding necessary to consider aspects of the social world through a sociological lens.
Sociology of Sexualities
Social life is saturated by sexuality in unstable and disjointed ways. Explore the social history of sexuality and the evolution of its framing in contemporary society; lived experiences of those labeled or identifying as sexual minorities; and the ongoing sociopolitical regulation of sexual bodies, communities and desires.
Wealth and Power
People in the U.S. are aware of social differences, yet few have a precise understanding of social class, the magnitude of inequality or why it exists at all. This course examines social stratification through various political approaches, presenting arguments made by conservatives, liberals, libertarians and radicals.
Sociology of Crime and Deviance
What makes an act “wrong” and the person who perpetrates it “deviant”? Engaging with theoretical, practical and ethical questions concerning the concepts of good and evil, this course provides a substantial introduction to criminology, with consideration of the social characteristics of offenders and victims, crime rates and various justifications of punishment.
The Senior Capstone
It's a culmination. It's a leap to a new level of mastery. It's a chance to take everything you've learned and apply it to a project that really compels you. Here's a sampling of recent Senior Capstone presentations in sociology.
The Spontaneous Conversations of SOC(YAK)
These impromptu conversations after class are pure. Like going north on Saturday night, chatting after class with the professor is a spontaneous enjoyment. You don't know what is going to happen next, yet you're not nervous. Oftentimes, you end up leaving with a core memory.
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Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio 43022