Sociology, BA or BS

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Becoming a Sociology Major

Students interested in majoring in sociology should first meet with a faculty member to discuss the program and the major requirements. Students who then decide to pursue the major should apply to the program when they have completed approximately 48 credits and most lower division University Studies requirements. Application forms are available from the program faculty or on the program website. The completed application materials may be turned in to the sociology program coordinator. To be accepted as a major, students must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 in SOC 204 and 205; no grade lower than a C+ in all coursework that will be applied to the major; completed University Seminar (or received credit for equivalent courses from institutions previously attended); and fulfilled their Quantitative Reasoning University Studies requirement by taking MTH 243 or EC 232 or an equivalent college-level statistics class. Transfer students must provide GPA evidence from their previous institutions. The program notifies students who have succeeded in becoming majors. Some upper division courses in the field are restricted to majors.

Advising

Sociology faculty members are committed to mentoring our students to help them succeed personally and professionally. Sociology students will be matched with an advisor upon entry into the program as a pre-sociology student or upon acceptance to the major. We attempt to match students with faculty based on their major areas of interest. However, students are encouraged to select their own advisor, change advisors, or consult with other faculty members whenever they feel it is appropriate. Sociology faculty are available for advising during their office hours or by appointment.

Requirements for the Sociology Major

1.

Fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements as stated in General Degree Requirements .

2.

A minimum of 56 credits in sociology; 48 credits must be upper division and 8 credits lower division. Of the 48 upper division credits, 24 must be upper division electives. All credits counted toward the major must be taken for a letter grade, except practicum.

3.

Research and Writing requirement:

SOC 301 - Sociological Practice 4 credits
SOC 326 - Introduction to Social Research Methods 4 credits
SOC 327 - Quantitative Data Analysis 4 credits

4.

Quantitative Reasoning component:

MTH 243 - Introduction to Statistical Methods 4 credits
or
EC 232 - Exploratory Data Analysis 4 credits

5.

Earn a minimum grade of C+ for each sociology course counted toward the major, plus a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 in all courses that are counted toward the major.

Capstone

The sociology capstone requires students to bring sociological expertise to bear on selected social issues. In this two term seminar students review writing, research, and current controversies in the field and apply their expertise to individual research and analysis of selected issues or social problems. SOC 301 , SOC 326 , SOC 327 , and SOC 370 are prerequisites for the capstone seminar.

Sociology Core Courses

(56 credits)

The following nine courses (32 credits) are required of all sociology majors:

SOC 301 is a prerequisite for SOC 326 and SOC 327 . SOC 301, 326, 327, and SOC 370 should be completed during the student’s junior year and are prerequisites for SOC 414A /SOC 414B Senior Capstone.

SOC 204 - The Sociological Imagination 4 credits
SOC 205 - Social Problems and Policy 4 credits
SOC 301 - Sociological Practice 4 credits
SOC 326 - Introduction to Social Research Methods 4 credits
SOC 327 - Quantitative Data Analysis 4 credits
SOC 370 - Classical Sociological Thought 4 credits
SOC 371 - Society and Identity 4 credits
SOC 414A - Sociology Senior Capstone I 2 credits
SOC 414B - Sociology Senior Capstone II 2 credits

All sociology majors must also complete a minimum of 6 upper division elective courses (24 credits), including a minimum of two 400-level courses (8 credits). These 8 credits may not include practicum or other individualized study:

SOC 304 - Poverty, Family, and Policy 4 credits
SOC 310 - Community Studies 4 credits
SOC 312 - Sociology of Families 4 credits
SOC 320 - Schools and Society 4 credits
SOC 333 - Global Culture, Media, and Politics 4 credits
SOC 337 - Racial and Ethnic Relations 4 credits
SOC 340 - Sociology of Gender 4 credits
SOC 343 - Gender and the Body 4 credits
SOC 350 - People and Forests 4 credits
SOC 372 - Social Inequality 4 credits
SOC 399 - Special Studies 1 to 18 credits
SOC 407 - Seminar 4 credits
SOC 420 - Environmental Sociology 4 credits
SOC 425 - Food, Power, and Agriculture 4 credits
SOC 444 - Organizational Sociology 4 credits
SOC 450 - Social and Cultural Change 4 credits
SOC 454 - Sociology of Deviant Behavior 4 credits
SOC 461 - Creating and Negating God 4 credits

Practicum Credit

A maximum of 4 credits or practicum may be counted as elective credit toward the major. Practicum credits may not be substituted for 400-level electives.

Related Disciplines

The sociology program is a part of the Department of Social Sciences, Policy, and Culture. Up to 8 credits from related disciplines within the Department of Social Sciences, Policy, and Cuture may be counted toward the major electives with advisor consent.