2014-15 Catalogs
BA in Sociology
Sociology is the study of social life and the social origins and consequences of human behavior. Sociology's subject matter ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob, from crime to religion, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, from the sociology of work to the sociology of sport. Sociology is a liberal arts major with particular emphasis on developing students' abilities to think critically about complex issues, to analyze social phenomena, to design and carry out research, and to write with clarity and economy. An undergraduate major in sociology offers valuable preparation for careers in social work, social research, politics, public administration, law, business, and education.
The major also provides an excellent basis for graduate study in sociology, law, criminology, social work, and education.
Program Requirements
Requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree
All students are reminded that, in addition to meeting Departmental requirements for a major leading to a baccalaureate degree, they must also meet the requirements of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and the University's Core curriculum.
Major Credit and Grade Policy
The prerequisites for all 300-level sociology courses are SOC 100 and SOC 210 with grades of C or better. Courses to be taken for major credit at other institutions must be approved in advance. Grades of C or better must be achieved in all courses for major or minor credit. Courses taken pass/fail are not acceptable.
The minimum number of credits (exclusive of the University's Core curriculum) required for the major: 38.
Required Prerequisites for all advanced sociology courses (6 hours)
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
SOC 210 Critical Thinking About Social Issues
Required Courses (11 hours)
SOC 300 Sociological Theory
SOC 301 Qualitative Research Methods
SOC 307 Quantitative Research Methods
Required Courses in Class Processes–choose one course from the following (3 hours):
SOC 348 Sociology of Work
SOC 358 Sociology of Women's Work
SOC 359 Leisure and Consumption under Global Capitalism
SOC 392 Poverty: Policy, and Perspectives
SOC 393 Women, Welfare, and the State
Elective Courses–choose from among the following (18 hours)
SOC 315 Self and Society
SOC 316 Sociology of Gender
SOC 318 Childhood and Society
SOC 323 Sociology of Death and Dying
SOC 327 Social Movements
SOC 330 Sociology of the Family
SOC 331 School and Society
SOC 333 Medical Sociology
SOC 334 Sociology of Religion
SOC 343 Social Psychology
SOC 348 Sociology of Work
SOC 352 Demography
SOC 355 Politics and Society
SOC 357 Organization: Individual and Society
SOC 358 Sociology of Women's Work
SOC 359 Leisure and Consumption under Global Capitalism
SOC 363 Food, Culture and Society
SOC 365 Sociology of the Body
SOC 370 Sociology of the Environment
SOC 371 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
SOC 374 Mental Health and Mental Illness
SOC 380 Topics in Sociology
SOC 390 Individualized Instruction I
SOC 391 Individualized Instruction II
SOC 392 Poverty: Policy and Perspectives
SOC 393 Women, Welfare, and the State
SOC 395 Internship
SOC 450 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship