Flourishing
Meet the four professors involved with the Global Flourishing Study, a landmark, five-year research initiative by Harvard and Baylor Universities focused on happiness and life satisfaction, physical and mental health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, close and positive social relationships and financial and material stability: Smaranda Lawrie (psychology), Steve Porter (Martin Institute), Carmel Saad (psychology and diversity leadership), and Blake Kent (sociology), left to right.
Alumni Stories
Riley Potter ’24 says, “In sociology, curiosity was cultivated and I grew in my ability to resist binary thinking. We tackled myriad complex issues without losing sight of the people involved. I now serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala and this worldview, characterized by critical and conscientious thinking, serves me every day.”
Sydney Azzarello ’24 writes “Studying sociology at Westmont taught me to investigate deeply, think beyond binaries, and seek understanding for the good of all people. These skills now serve my work in human services administration, where I use a lens of curiosity to make data driven decisions which serve clients effectively and with dignity.”
Career Opportunities
Social Work Counseling Probation Law enforcement Youth Services International relief Development work Foreign Service International business | Missionary outreach in developing countries Law Public administration Church ministry Community development Health industry Non-profit organizations Media |
See Career Paths for Graduates Who Studied Soc. & Anthro at Westmont
OUTCOMES
100%
Graduate School Placement Rate for Master of Social Work (MSW) Programs
Stories by Sociology Professor Blake Victor Kent
Belief in Miracles May Ease Nurses' Depressive Symptoms
Female nurses who believe God intervenes to cure ill people are less likely to experience depressive symptoms, according to findings published in Mental Health, Religion & Culture. The study, which uses interviews from nearly 4,000 American Indian and South Asian women as well as white, female nurses, asked respondents who believe in God to choose from two statements: “I believe that God intervenes to cure people who are sick by performing miracles or other special types of physical healing” or “I believe that God provides companionship, strength and comfort, but does not typically intervene to perform a miracle.”
Redeeming Pain and Normalizing Uncertainty
We need to normalize doubt, uncertainty and fear in the evangelical conversation about our relationships with God. That’s the theme of research my colleagues and I have been working on, but it’s a lesson I learned from Phillip Yancey long before I conducted scientific studies on the topic.
Global Studies
- Westmont in Asia
- Westmont’s Europe Semester
- Westmont Downtown
- Westmont in Mexico
- Westmont in Northern Europe
- Westmont in Ecuador Mayterm
Requirements for a Sociology Track
Sociology
Required Core Courses: 30 units
- SOC 001 Introduction to Sociology (4)
- SOC 108 Quantitative Research Methods (4)
- SOC 109 Qualitative Research Methods (4)
- SOC 171 Sociological Theory (4)
- SOC 190 or APP 190 or IS 190 Internship (4)
- SOC 195 Senior Seminar (2)
One of the following:
- SOC/AN 135 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective (4)
- SOC 189 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (4)
One of the following:
- SOC 197 Senior Research Capstone (4)
- SOC 199 Major Honors (4)
Electives: 16 units
Four sociology classes worth 4 units each that are not listed above.
This track is designed for students who are seeking a broad training in the sociological perspective. It prepares students with a critical understanding of society that is essential to many careers including those in the non-profit sector, education, business, governance, church ministry, and media. It is particularly suited for students who wish to pursue further work in academic sociology beyond the B.A.
Required Courses: 30 units
- SOC 001 Introduction to Sociology (4)
- SOC 108 Quantitative Research Methods (4)
- SOC 109 Qualitative Research Methods (4)
- SOC 171 Sociological Theory (4)
- SOC 190 or APP 190 or IS 190 Internship (4)
- SOC 195 Senior Seminar (2)
One of the following:
- SOC/AN 135 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective (4)
- SOC 189 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (4)
One of the following:
- SOC 197 Senior Research Capstone (4)
- SOC 199 Major Honors (4)
Electives (not taken above): 16 units
At least two of the following courses: (8)
- AN 115 Peoples and Cultures (4)
- AN 140 Food Systems (4)
- SOC 110 Social Problems (4)
- SOC 113 Social Determinants of Health (4)
- SOC/AN 135 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspectives (4)
- SOC/AN 150 Cross-Cultural Communication (4)
- SOC 160 Internet and Society (4)
- SOC 182 Sociology of Deviance (4)
At least two of the following courses: (8)
- AN 145 Culture Theory (4)
- SOC/AN 120 Religion and Society (4)
- SOC 130 Sociology of the Family (4)
- SOC/AN 155 Sociology of Global Inequality and Development (4)
- SOC 161 Environmental Sociology (4)
- SOC 177 Interpersonal Violence (4)
- SOC 180 Human Services and Social Policy (4)
- SOC 185 Fundamentals of Social Work Practice (4)
- SOC 189 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (4)
This track is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in the helping professions or in community organizations. It is appropriate for students interested in pursuing careers in social welfare and other human service areas as well as those drawn toward careers in counseling and the criminal justice system.
Required Core: 38 units
- SOC 001 Introduction to Sociology (4)
- SOC 108 Quantitative Research Methods (4)
- SOC 109 Qualitative Research Methods (4)
- SOC 171 Sociological Theory (4)
- SOC 180 Human Services and Social Policy (4)
- SOC 185 Fundamentals of Social Work Practice (4)
- SOC 190 or APP 190 or IS 190 Internship (4)
- SOC 195 Senior Seminar (2)
One of the following:
- SOC/AN 135 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective (4)
- SOC 189 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (4)
One of the following:
- SOC 197 Senior Research Capstone (4)
- SOC 199 Major Honors (4)
Electives (not taken above): 8 units
At least one of the following courses:
- AN 115 Peoples and Cultures (4)
- AN 140 Food Systems (4)
- SOC 110 Social Problems (4)
- SOC 113 Social Determinants of Health (4)
- SOC/AN 135 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspectives (4)
- SOC/AN 150 Cross-Cultural Communication (4)
- SOC 160 Internet and Society (4)
- SOC 182 Sociology of Deviance (4)
At least one of the following courses:
- AN 145 Culture Theory (4)
- SOC/AN 120 Religion and Society (4)
- SOC 130 Sociology of the Family (4)
- SOC/AN 155 Sociology of Global Inequality and Development (4)
- SOC 161 Environmental Sociology (4)
- SOC 177 Interpersonal Violence (4)
- SOC 180 Human Services and Social Policy (4)
- SOC 185 Fundamentals of Social Work Practice (4)
- SOC 189 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (4)
This track is designed for students who are interested in studying the diverse cultural groups of the United States and the developing world. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in missions and cross-cultural ministries as well as for those who desire to pursue inter-cultural affairs for other applications.
Required Courses: 30 units
- AN 001 Introduction to Anthropology (4)
- SOC 108 Quantitative Research Methods (4)
- SOC 109 Qualitative Research Methods (4)
- AN 145 Culture Theory (4)
- SOC 190 or APP 190 or IS 190 Internship off-campus (4)
- SOC/AN 195 Senior Seminar (4)
One of the following:
- SOC/AN 135 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective (4)
- SOC 189 Sociology of Race & Ethnicity (4)
One of the following:
- SOC 197 Senior Research Capstone (4)
- SOC 199 Major Honors (4)
Electives (not taken above): 16 units
Students in the Cross-Cultural track are strongly encouraged to participate in a department-approved, off-campus, global program for elective credits.
At least one of the following courses:
- AN 115 Peoples and Cultures (4)
- AN 140 Food Systems (4)
- SOC/AN 135 Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspectives (4)
- SOC/AN 150 Cross-Cultural Communication (4)
At least one of the following courses:
- SOC/AN 120 Religion and Society (4)
- SOC 130 Sociology of the Family (4)
- SOC/AN 155 Sociology of Global Inequality & Development (4)
- SOC 189 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (4)
Additional electives, if needed: (4-8)
- SOC 110 Social Problems (4)
- SOC 113 Social Determinants of Health (4)
- SOC 160 Internet & Society (4)
- SOC 161 Environmental Sociology (4)
- SOC 177 Interpersonal Violence (4)
- SOC 180 Human Services & Social Policy (4)
- SOC 182 Sociology of Deviance (4)
- SOC 185 Fundamentals of Social Work Practice (4)
Requirements for a Sociology Minor: 24 units
- SOC 001 Introduction to Sociology (4)
- SOC 171 Sociological Theory (4)
- and Four Upper-Division SOC classes: (16)
Requirements for an Anthropology Minor: 24 units
- AN 001 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (4)
- AN 145 Culture Theory (4)
Three of the following: (12)
- AN 130 Applied Anthropology (4)
- AN 135 Gender in Cross-Cultural Communication (4)
- AN 140 Food Systems (4)
- AN 150 Cross-Cultural Communication
- AN 155 Sociology of Global Inequality & Development
- AN 196 Topical Seminar (4)
And an Upper-Division Elective in Sociology or Anthropology of your choice. (4)