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Through travel, students broaden their understanding of our interconnected world.
Department Chair:
Scott London, PhD
Phone: 804-752-4705
E-mail: slondon@rmc.edu
Sociology
Sociology and anthropology study social life
and culture in order to understand the causes and consequences of human
action. A sociology major develops an understanding of how cultures shape our behaviors and choices—insight that can be applied to careers in any field, from medicine to business, higher education to law, teaching to sales.
A major to suit your interests: With a sociology major, you explore the world through the lens of societies and cultures. The sociology curriculum at R-MC, which also includes the study of anthropology, draws upon a variety of theoretical perspectives to consider
such areas as culture, socialization, deviance, inequality, health and
illness, family patterns, social change and race and ethnic relations. While being introduced to the broad reach of sociology and anthropology, majors also refine their focus by choosing an area of concentration and by participating in an internship, field study or independent research project.
Learning through giving back: Service learning projects in the sociology major have included hurricane-relief in New Orleans and mentoring and tutoring of refugees from Burundi newly arrived in the United States.
Travel for knowledge: Recent travel-study programs led by sociology faculty have included trips to Ghana and Brazil. All R-MC students also are encouraged to consider the college's semester abroad options.
Beyond R-MC: A sociology major provides a strong foundation for further study or challenging careers. Amanda Ingenito '08 is pursuing a graduate degree in diplomacy and intelligence. Chad Edwards '99 is now Vice President - Technical Support for Cavalier Telephone and says, "Getting my education and playing four years of baseball at R-MC provided me a strong desire, as well as the persistence and self-discipline, to succeed."
| "I saw a college town and felt at home right away."
J.P. McCollum '11, a sociology major and a women's studies minor, was an active member of the RMC community. He participated in the college's Habitat for Humanity program for several years, including helping with Habitat for Humanity's local community efforts by sorting scrap metal in Hanover County, raking leaves for Ashland residents and placing decals on storm drains discouraging waste dumping during the college's annual Macon a Difference Day. When he wasn't focusing on academics, McCollum enjoyed intramural sports such as dodge ball, volleyball and indoor soccer. In conjunction with his interests in sports and sociology, McCollum also traveled to Brazil in January 2011 with R-MC Professors Reber Dunkel (sociology), Alphine Jefferson (history) and Kimberly Borchard (Spanish).
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