Sociology, B.A.

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About the Sociology Bachelor’s Program

Sociology is the study of groups in society and individuals in those groups. Areas of specialization and faculty expertise include criminology and delinquency, intimate relationships and families, race and ethnicity, inequality, gender, aging, social psychology, medical sociology, religion, social research methods, and social theory. A major or minor in sociology is beneficial to students planning careers in a variety of areas, including business, law, law enforcement, government, international development, medicine, and social services. The department also offers a criminology concentration for sociology majors who wish to specialize in this area. Courses in sociology fulfill core curriculum requirements in the social and behavioral sciences and multicultural core requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences and the university.

A student majoring in sociology must complete 30 hours in sociology, 24 of which must be upper-division courses (3000 or 4000). At least 6 hours of the College of Arts and Sciences general education requirements must be upper-division. A maximum of 9 hours of transfer credit may be accepted for the major. Core course requirements are as follows:

SOC 1301 , SOC 3391 , and SOC 3392 .
Either SOC 3393 or SOC 3394 . Student expecting admission to graduate work in sociology should take both of these courses.

Recommended Sample Curriculum

First Year

Fall

SOC 1301 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Semester Credit Hours
POLS 1301 - American Government, Organization 3 Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 1301 - Essentials of College Rhetoric 3 Semester Credit Hours
Life and Physical Sciences 4 Semester Credit Hours *

Total: 13

Spring

ENGL 1302 - Advanced College Rhetoric 3 Semester Credit Hours
POLS 2302 - American Public Policy 3 Semester Credit Hours
SOC Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours **
Life and Physical Sciences 4 Semester Credit Hours *
Oral Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours *

Total: 16

Second Year

Fall

ENGL Literature 3 Semester Credit Hours *
MATH Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Sophomore Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours
Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
SOC Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
Personal Fitness and Wellness 1 Semester Credit Hour *

Total: 16

Spring

ENGL Literature 3 Semester Credit Hours *
MATH Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Sophomore Foreign Language 3 Semester Credit Hours
HIST 2300 - History of the United States to 1877 3 Semester Credit Hours
SOC Elective (Jr./Sr. Level) 3 Semester Credit Hours
Personal Fitness and Wellness 1 Semester Credit Hour *

Total: 16

Third Year

Fall

HIST 2301 - History of the United States Since 1877 3 Semester Credit Hours
SOC 3391 - Introduction to Social Statistics 3 Semester Credit Hours
SOC 3393 - Development of Sociological Theory 3 Semester Credit Hours
OR
SOC 3394 - Contemporary Sociological Theories 3 Semester Credit Hours
(Either SOC 3393 (fall only course) or SOC 3394 (spring only course))
SOC Elective (Jr./Sr. Level) 3 Semester Credit Hours
Minor 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15

Spring

SOC 3392 - Introduction to Social Research Methods 3 Semester Credit Hours
Language, Philosophy, & Culture 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Creative Arts 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Minor 6 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15

Fourth Year

Fall

SOC Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
Language, Philosophy, & Culture 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Minor 6 Semester Credit Hours
Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15

Spring

SOC Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
Creative Arts 3 Semester Credit Hours *
Minor 3 Semester Credit Hours
Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
Elective 2 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 14

Total Hours: 120

* Select from Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirements . At least 6 hours must be upper-division (3000 or 4000 level).
** Choose from the following lower-level courses (also satisfies core requirement for Social and Behavioral Sciences ): SOC 1320 , SOC 2324 .

Sophomore Foreign Language

A student must complete 6 hours at the sophomore level or above in a single language. The prerequisite for all sophomore language courses is credit for the freshman level. This credit can be determined through credit by examination. The score attained on the exam will determine whether the student is placed in a second-year course, a 5-hour review course, or in some cases the first or second semester of a beginning (first-year) language course. See Arts and Sciences General Degree Requirements for further explanation.