Information for and about the Sociology program at NSU. Sociology is the scientific study of human society and social interactions.
Sociologists attempt to understand the forces that mold individuals, shape behavior, and determine social events. Our program includes emphases on criminal justice, human services, and gerontology which help students learn oral and written communication skills, critical thinking skills, analytical skills, problem solving and pattern recognition, the ability to research using varied methods, and a
sensitivity to diverse cultural traditions and backgrounds. All of these skills, and more, help prepare students for many different jobs in a large number of fields, including law, policing and corrections, social welfare, business administration, education, communications, advocacy, and many more. The skills acquired by choosing a Sociology major provide a good grounding for students to better understand themselves and the world around them. This gives Sociologists a unique insight to the structures and hierarchies of the world, making them ideal candidates for jobs in a variety of careers. Sociology teaches many of the highly sought-after skills, including:
(a) Communications skills: the ability to express yourself verbally or in writing in clear, concise, and meaningful ways
(b) Computer literacy: familiarity with word processing, data entry and analysis, and graphics
(c) Cross-cultural understanding: the ability to understand variations in values, perceptions, and approaches to work that comes with differences in racial/ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, ability, or class and gain a more global understanding, have a high degree of intercultural awareness, and are free from traditional stereotypes
(d) Interpersonal skills: the ability to share leadership, work cooperatively with others, work on task forces or teams but still initiate and pursue a project independently
(e) Research skills: the ability to define a problem or research question, design a study to find answers, carry out your research, and report on your findings using critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze, synthesize, and interpret information
NSU's Sociology program prepares students to work in areas they can apply the broad skills they learn through coursework. Our low faculty-to-student ratio means individualized attention for students inside and outside of the classroom. Through a thriving internship program, we help foster relationships for our students in the Aberdeen and South Dakota communities that facilitate application of sociological knowledge and cultivate career opportunities.
08/27/2020
Today, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which first gave women the right to vote! The festivities included a celebratory march through campus, a re-enactment of a famous speech from the era and a Dacotah Prairie Museum display. The 19th Amendment did not provide voting rights to all women in our country, however, and Wednesday’s event at Northern also paid tribute to those women who were unable to vote until decades later.
09/04/2019
Check out Dr. Waid-Lindberg in her new role! Let's give her a round of applause.
Dr. Courtney Waid-Lindberg Announced as Northern State Faculty Athletic Representative
Aberdeen, S.D. – Northern State University Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Dr. Courtney Waid-Lindberg will take on the role as the Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) for Wolves athletics. The FAR serves as an advocate for student-athletes, ensures student-athletes' well-being, and prom...
The Aberdeen Area and Northern State University Employment Expo and Job Fair will be held Wednesday, March 27, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Barnett Center. Free admission for job seekers. Showcase yourself and meet with multiple local employers.
Our Spring 2019 Noon Forum series will kick-off next week (Wednesday, February 13). Peter Ramey, Ginny Lewis, and Juan Gonzalez will be our featured speakers. They’ll be addressing the topic “Found in Translation” talking about their various translation projects and what they’ve learned.
Please join us if you can, and invite friends you think might be interested. Forums are held in NSU's Williams Library Rotunda.
Here's the complete Spring 2019 Noon Forum schedule:
February 13—Found in Translation (Peter Ramey, Ginny Lewis, and Juan Gonzalez)
February 27—The Internet of Things--BYOD (Instructional Design Team)
March 6--Spring break—no forum
March 13—Five Essential Stand Up Comics (Liz Sills)
March 20—Five Hidden but Essential Women (Kristi Brownfield, Marla Fogderud)
March 27—Get them Talking: Class Discussion Strategies (Andria Moon, Cheryl Wold)
April 3—Ye Shall Be As Gods (Grant Manhart, Ken Blanchard)
April 10— Business Students and General Education: An Assessment of Perceived Relevance (Kristi Bockorny and Hannah Walters)
April 17— Understanding the (de-)motivation of language students (Changsheng Jiang and the Confucius Institute)
April 24—That Was the Year That Was: Classroom and NSU Highs and Lows
May 1—The Last Lecture I’d Ever Give (Dan Yurgaitis)
01/16/2019
Congrats to all Sociology students that made it on this list! Great job!
08/27/2020
09/04/2019
08/26/2019
02/27/2019
02/05/2019
01/16/2019
12/03/2018
11/30/2018