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2020-21 Catalogs
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- Welcome
- Undergraduate Catalog
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- The University
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- Admissions
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- Campus Life
- Core Curriculum
- Honors Program
- Russell Scholars Program
- Accelerated Graduate Pathways
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway Leading to Initial Certification in Special Education
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Counseling
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Leadership Studies
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Master of Social Work
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Master's of Athletic Training
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to MBA
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to M.S.Ed. in Teaching and Learning (ETEP)
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Occupational Therapy
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Policy, Planning, and Management (MPPM)
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Statistics
- Accelerated Graduate Pathways to Law
- College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Overview
- Majors, Minors and Certificates
- Minor in Labor Studies
- Art
- Communication and Media Studies
- Criminology
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- English
- English Overview
- BA in English
- BA in English - Secondary Teacher Education
- Minor in Creative Writing
- Minor in English
- Minor in Public and Professional Writing
- Certificate in Public and Professional Writing
- English Course Descriptions
- Game Design Studies Overview
- Minor in Game Design Studies
- Game Design Studies Course Descriptions
- Food Studies
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- College of Management and Human Service
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- BS in Business Administration - Accounting Major
- BS in Business Administration - Business Analytics Major
- BS in Business Administration - Finance Major
- BS in Business Administration - Management Major
- BS in Business Administration - Marketing Major
- BS in Business Administration - Sport Management Major
- Minor in Entrepreneurship
- Minor in Risk Management and Insurance
- Certificate in Accounting
- Certificate in Risk Management and Insurance
- Business Course Descriptions
- Education and Human Development
- Muskie School of Public Service
- Muskie School Overview
- Geography-Anthropology
- Geography-Anthropology Overview
- BA in Geography-Anthropology - Social Studies, Secondary Teacher Education
- BA in Geography-Anthropology, Specialization in Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Geospatial Analysis
- BA in Geography-Anthropology, Specialization in Cultural and Natural Heritage Management
- BA in Geography-Anthropology, Specialization in Sustainable Cultures and Communities
- Minor in Anthropology
- Minor in Archaeology
- Minor in Geography
- Minor in Planning and GIS
- Minor in Social Justice
- Certificate in Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Geography-Anthropology Course Descriptions
- Public Health
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Social Work
- College of Science, Technology, and Health
- College of Science, Technology, and Health Overview
- BA in Self-Designed Major - Elementary Teacher Education
- Certificate in Gerontology
- Biological Sciences
- Biological Sciences Overview
- BS in Biology
- BS in Biology - Biotechnology Concentration
- BS in Biology - Human Biology Concentration
- BS in Biology - Secondary Teacher Education
- Minor in Biology
- Minor in Ecology
- Certificate in Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Studies
- Certificate in Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Veterinary Studies
- Transfer Program in Pre-pharmacy: two-year, non-degree
- Biological Sciences Course Descriptions
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Environmental Science and Policy
- Environmental Science and Policy Overview
- BA in Environmental Planning and Policy
- BS in Environmental Science
- BS in Environmental Science - Secondary Teacher Education
- Minor in Applied Energy
- Minor in Environmental Policy
- Minor in Environmental Science
- Minor in Environmental Sustainability
- Certificate in Applied Energy
- Certificate in Environmental Education
- Certificate in Environmental Policy Analysis
- Environmental Science and Policy Course Descriptions
- Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences
- Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences Overview
- BS in Exercise Science
- BS in Health Sciences
- BS in Recreation and Leisure Studies - Therapeutic Recreation Concentration
- Minor in Disabilities Studies
- Minor in Nature Tourism
- Minor in Recreation Leadership
- Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences Course Descriptions
- Linguistics
- Linguistics Overview
- BA in Linguistics
- BA in Linguistics - ASL Linguistics Concentration
- BA in Linguistics - ASL/English Interpreting Concentration
- BA in Linguistics - French Linguistics Concentration
- BA in Linguistics - French Linguistics Concentration, K-12 Teacher Education
- BA in Linguistics - Spanish Linguistics Concentration
- BA in Linguistics - Spanish Linguistics Concentration, K-12 Teacher Education
- BA in Linguistics - Speech and Language Science Concentration
- Minor in Deaf Studies
- Minor in French Language
- Minor in German Language
- Minor in Linguistics
- Minor in Spanish Language
- Minor in Wabanaki Languages
- Linguistics Course Descriptions
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Mathematics and Statistics Overview
- BA in Mathematics - Applied Mathematics/Operations Research Concentration
- BA in Mathematics - Pure Mathematics Concentration
- BA in Mathematics - Secondary Teacher Education
- BA in Mathematics - Statistics Concentration
- Minor in Actuarial Science
- Minor in Applied Mathematics
- Minor in Mathematics
- Minor in Statistics
- Certificate in Actuarial Science
- Certificate in Statistics
- Mathematics and Statistics Course Descriptions
- Nursing
- Physics
- Psychology
- Technology
- College of Science, Technology, and Health Course Descriptions
- Lewiston-Auburn College
- Women and Gender Studies
- University of Maine School of Law
- Research Service Center
- Annual Security Report & Annual Fire Safety Report
- Administration of the University of Southern Maine
- Graduate Catalog
- Table of Contents
- The University
- Disclaimers
- Graduate Studies
- Admissions
- Student Financial Services
- Registration & Scheduling Services
- Campus Life
- Accelerated Graduate Pathways
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway Leading to Initial Certification in Special Education
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Counseling
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Leadership Studies
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Master of Social Work
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Master's of Athletic Training
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to MBA
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to M.S.Ed. in Teaching and Learning (ETEP)
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Occupational Therapy
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Policy, Planning, and Management (MPPM)
- Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Statistics
- Accelerated Graduate Pathways to Law
- College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- College of Management and Human Service
- College of Management and Human Service Overview
- Business
- Education and Human Development
- School of Education and Human Development Overview
- Centers/Programs
- Adult and Higher Education
- Counselor Education
- Counselor Education Overview
- MS in Counseling with a Concentration in Clinical Mental Health
- MS in Counseling with a Concentration in Rehabilitation
- MS in Counseling with a Concentration in School
- Certificate of Advanced Study in Counseling
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Culturally Responsive Practices in Education and Human Development
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community (MHRT/C)
- Counselor Education Course Descriptions
- Educational Leadership
- Educational Psychology
- Extended Teacher Education Program (ETEP)
- Literacy Education
- Montessori Early Childhood Education
- School Psychology
- Special Education
- Special Education Overview
- MS in Special Education - Effective Instruction and Assessment for Students with Suspected and Identified Disabilities
- MS in Special Education - In-Service (certified educators)
- MS in Special Education - Integrated General Education and Special Education Initial Teacher Certification
- MS in Special Education - Pre-Service (Teaching Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities)
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Gifted and Talented Education
- Special Education Course Descriptions
- TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Overview
- MSEd in TESOL
- MSEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL): Initial K-12 ESL Certification
- Certificate of Advanced Study in English as a Second Language
- Certificate of Graduate Study in English as a Second Language
- TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Overview Course List
- School of Education and Human Development Course Descriptions
- Muskie School of Public Service
- Muskie School Overview
- Geography-Anthropology
- Policy, Planning, and Management
- MPPM in Policy, Planning, and Management
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Applied Research and Evaluation Methods
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Community Planning and Sustainable Development
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Policy Analysis
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Public and Nonprofit Management
- Policy, Planning, and Management Course Descriptions
- Public Health
- Public Policy
- Social Work
- College of Science, Technology, and Health
- College of Science, Technology, and Health Overview
- Biological Sciences
- Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences
- Mathematics and Statistics
- Nursing
- Nursing Overview
- Graduate Nursing Policies
- DNP in Nursing
- MS in Nursing - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- MS in Nursing - Nursing Education
- MS in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner
- MS in Nursing - Nursing Administration and Leadership
- MS in Nursing - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (across the lifespan)
- MS in Nursing - RN to Master of Science Degree Program for Registered Nurses
- Certificate of Advanced Study in Nursing - Post-Masters
- Nursing Course Descriptions
- Technology
- Lewiston-Auburn College
- Lewiston-Auburn College Overview
- Leadership Studies
- PhD in Leadership
- MA in Leadership Studies
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Creative Leadership and Global Strategy
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Leadership
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Organization Development
- Certificate of Graduate Study in Professional Leadership Education
- Leadership Studies Course Descriptions
- Occupational Therapy
- University of Maine School of Law
- Research Service Center
- Annual Security Report & Annual Fire Safety Report
- Administration of the University of Southern Maine
BA in Sociology
Sociology studies the relationship between individual experience and broader social forces. Sociology will assist you in understanding the role of social structures in the creation - and dismantling - of class, race, sexuality, and gender inequalities. Studying sociology will expand your skills in critical thinking, writing, and analysis through an exploration of social problems and social change. An undergraduate major in sociology offers valuable preparation for careers in social work, social research, criminal justice, community organizing, business, and education.
The major also provides an excellent basis for graduate study in sociology, law, public policy, and social work.
Program Requirements
Requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree
All students are reminded that, in addition to meeting Program 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: 37.
Required Prerequisites for all advanced sociology courses (6 credit hours)
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
SOC 210 Critical Thinking About Social Issues
Required Courses (10 credit hours)
SOC 300 Sociological Theory
SOC 301 Qualitative Research Methods
SOC 307 Quantitative Research Methods
SOC 410 Sociology Capstone (must be taken concurrent with designated 3-credit companion course)
Elective Courses–choose from among the following (21 credit hours)
SOC 315 Self and Society
SOC 316 Sociology of Gender
SOC 318 Childhood and Society
SOC 327 Social Movements
SOC 330 Sociology of the Family
SOC 331 School and Society
SOC 333 Medical Sociology
SOC 336 Law and Society
SOC 348 Sociology of Work
SOC 355 Politics and Society
SOC 358 Sociology of Women's Work
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 379 Sociology of Indigenous Peoples
SOC 380 Topics in Sociology
SOC 390 Individualized Instruction I
SOC 391 Individualized Instruction II
SOC 395 Internship
SOC 450 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship