In obtaining a Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology students will be exposed to the study of group life and its consequences. As a social science, it combines scientific and humanistic perspectives in the study of urban and rural life, family patterns and relationships, social class, technology and communications, health care and illness, community responses to disasters, social movements, and contemporary social problems. The undergraduate degree in sociology prepares individuals to be competitive in a wide variety of occupations, including those in business, the public sector, and the helping professions. Because students learn how to systematically collect and manage data, they are sought by employers interested in those skills. Employers are also impressed with the sociological understanding of group dynamics that comes from the discipline. Not only is the sociology degree excellent preparation for graduate work in the social sciences and applied fields, but it also combines the classic liberal arts education with practical skills.