Why Hartwick?

You want to help families as a social worker or a counselor. You want to pursue a career in law or law enforcement, international relationships, communications, human resources, or education. You want to understand human relationships, how people interact and behave, or how culture, economy and politics affect people – Hartwick can help.

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MANY CAREER PATHS

A Hartwick degree in sociology investigates how we relate and interact on all levels – interpersonal, institutional, societal, and global. You’ll analyze, critically examine and understand the social structures based on class, ethnicity and race, age, gender and more.

Cross-disciplinary work with criminal justice and political science will help you deepen your understanding of how to use sociology in the world, or add a social work minor to hone in your focus on preventing abuse and helping families and individuals get the help they need.

If you’re interested in research, you’ll have opportunities to work with your Faculty Mentor on a project, gathering data and analyzing your findings. You may even have opportunities to present your work at regional conferences, such as the New York State Sociology Society or the Eastern Sociological Society annual meetings or co-author a scholarly publication!

EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITIES

Foundational courses in social theory and both qualitative and quantitative analysis will be the building blocks of your studies, then hone in on your individual interests while taking electives such as Social Psychology, Sociology of Family, Religion and Society, Socio-political Movements, Counseling Skills, Sociology of Medicine, and many other fascinating courses.

Embark on an exciting J Term experience in Ireland to broaden your understanding of Irish culture and social institutions, expand your knowledge of Ireland's unique history and familiarize yourself with the Irish language, customs and traditions.

Your Career Coach will help you find an internship that puts your coursework into practice, and your Alumni Mentor will share their personal experiences and tips for helping you succeed in the workplace.

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AN EDUCATION BUILT FOR YOU

In your Senior year, you’ll devote yourself to your Senior Capstone, working on research that is based on their interest and prospective professional pathway, such as focusing on domestic violence factors, preventing child abuse, bullying in school, addiction, or other topics. You’ll present your findings at the Senior Showcase, then add it as your capstone on your Digital Resume.

WHERE WILL A HARTWICK SOCIOLOGY DEGREE TAKE YOU?

INVESTIGATIONS

Like Cyrus Dennis ’22, a private investigator at C.J. Ford Private Investigation, where he interned in the Wrongful Convictions Investigations Office as a student. He also got real-world public safety work experience as a night attendant at Hartwick College.

SOCIAL WORK

Like Gabriella Wheeler ’20, whose double-major in sociology and criminal justice, along with her minor in social work, prepared her well for her career as a Social Worker at the Van Duyn Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing.

GRADUATE SCHOOL

Like John Pino ’22, now getting his master’s in social work at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work. A Hartwick Presidential Scholarship and John Kellogg Scholarship recipient, he also served as Resident Advisor and a Mental Health advocate, as well as raised a future guide dog puppy for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind club.

INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC SERVICE

The Hartwick College Institute of Public Service is dedicated to strengthening democracy across the region by serving as a hub of collaboration and innovation between state and local government, and through civic engagement and legal studies.

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