Graduate Certificate in Sociology Online
Prepare to Teach at a University Level With a Graduate Sociology Certificate
The Graduate Certificate of Completion in Sociology at Grand Canyon University (GCU) prepares those passionate about education and sociology to teach at two or four-year institutions. This program is ideal for students seeking continuing education to build upon their sociological knowledge and pedagogical skills in order to engage undergraduate students in the world of sociology.
Course Topics in GCU’s Graduate Certificate in Sociology
As a student in the graduate certificate in sociology program, you will study the following topics:
- The works of great thinkers and three major schools of thought including structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism and conflict theory
- The family’s role within society and compare the institution of family around the world from a sociocultural perspective
- World poverty, world political order and social justice on the world stage
- How social movements create or resist social change from a sociohistorical perspective
- The intersection of sociology and pedagogy in the university setting, while examining pedagogical theory and sociology elements
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Gain Valuable Training and Skills During Your Graduate Certificate in Sociology
As a student, you will gain advanced training in the fields of sociology and education, as well as satisfy requirements for professional development. Upon completion of the program, you will be able to fulfill graduate course requirements and the 18 credits needed to pursue opportunities to teach at a community college or university.
Throughout this five-course graduate certificate in sociology program, you will explore the following:
- Various theories (e.g. integrative, contemporary, globalization and modern social theories)
- The history and importance of family in sociology with a focus on theoretical perspectives, marriage, social class differences, racial and ethnic variations, current challenges and the future of the institution
- Global issues of inequality with a focus on class, access to resources, gender, ethnicity, crime, political order, religion and social change
- The evolution of social movements, goals of these movements, the demand for citizenship, social change categorization and related sociological theories
- Teaching in the university classroom, course/curriculum design and lesson planning, teaching with technology, assessment and the reflective professional
Career Opportunities for Graduates With a Sociology Certificate
Education is an excellent field for professionals seeking a career path where they can share their passion with others. Teachers instill sociological knowledge, helping students analyze and fully understand human society and behavior, as well as social organization and culture.
Potential job opportunities include college instructor, faculty member or professor. Potential workplace settings include two or four-year higher education institutions, colleges and universities, trade and technical schools and educational research or publishing companies.
Graduate Certificate in Sociology FAQs
For those interested in advancing your teaching skills with a graduate certificate in sociology online, please read our responses to these frequently asked questions:
In the sociology certificate program online, you will focus on the fields of sociology and education in order to teach sociological theories and concepts to students at the postsecondary level.
If you are a working professional seeking continuing education credits to further develop your sociological and pedagogical skills, then earning a graduate certificate in sociology is worth your consideration.
GCU’s graduate certificate in sociology online program requires 20 credits to completion. The courses are offered 100% online and are generally eight weeks in length. Working professionals can complete the online courses on a flexible schedule.
Studying sociology requires an understanding of complex social theories, skills in analysis and critical thinking, and an innate empathetic nature. The sociology certificate program’s online courses at GCU are designed to be challenging in order to prepare you for teaching future sociology professionals at the postsecondary level.
Math is not a requirement for the graduate certificate in sociology at GCU. However, foundational skills in data analysis and statistics would be beneficial for some program courses.
Core Courses
Course Description
In this course, students analyze the works of the great thinkers within the field of sociology. The three major schools of thought are examined in depth, including classical and modern theories of sociology. Students select sociological topics and engage in comparative analysis of the theories.
Course Description
This course takes a sociocultural perspective on the institution of the family. The role of the family within the functioning of society is examined. The course also compares the institution of the family around the world.
Course Description
This course examines social stratification within specific countries and around the globe. The course focuses on world poverty, world political order, and social justice on the world stage.
Course Description
The course takes a sociohistorical perspective on societal change. An in-depth look at how social movements create or resist social change is provided.
Course Description
This course explores the intersection of sociology and pedagogy in the university setting. Pedagogical theory and elements of sociology are examined. Through pedagogical analysis, students look at the discipline of sociology and build a pedagogy for sociology in the university setting. The course uses an Introduction to Sociology textbook to analyze and scaffold an Introduction to Sociology course.
- GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
- Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
- Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.