Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Students who major in sociology undertake a curriculum designed to help them develop the ability to work with concepts, think creatively and flexibly, and look at the world in different ways — in short, to acquire the educational background necessary for becoming successful workers and good citizens in today’s world. The sociology curriculum is relevant to careers in counseling, gerontology, human services, law, law enforcement, probation work, public administration, management, personnel, and international relations.

The major also prepares students for a variety of careers in the private and public sectors that require an understanding of race and ethnic relations, cross-cultural settings, contemporary social problems, and demographic and social transformations in contemporary society. Sociology majors have the option of choosing to concentrate in criminology or social gerontology. Students interested in teaching may combine the sociology major with professional preparation that leads to qualification for certification in adolescence education (grades 7-12).The B.A. in sociology (without a concentration) is usually of interest to students who want:

  • a general background for graduate school preparation
  • a broad degree of flexibility in choosing a career after graduation
  • the freedom to choose specific courses consistent with a “career preparation plan” in areas such as social work, counseling, and human services.

In addition to the college’s General Education, quantitative skills and foreign language requirements for the BA degree (consult College Catalog for an explanation of each), a total of 36 credit hours in sociology are required as follows:


Required Courses

  • SOC 150: Introduction to Sociology
  • SOC 492: Sociological Theory
  • SOC 493: Methods of Social Research I
  • SOC 494: Methods of Social Research II

Category Courses: 12 credit hours (3 credit hours from each of the four categories - A, B, C, D - listed below)

Category A - Social Institutions

  • SOC 330: Religions of Asia
  • SOC 340: Environmental Sociology
  • SOC 371: Sociology of Medicine
  • SOC 375: Sociology of Law
  • SOC 377: Crime and Criminal Law
  • SOC 405: Social Breakdown
  • SOC 430: Social Welfare Institutions
  • SOC 455: Sociology of Leisure
  • SOC 465: Political Sociology
  • SOC 470: Sociology of the Family
  • SOC 475: Sociology of Religion
  • SOC 487: Sociology of Education

Category B - Social Organization

  • SOC 351: The Community
  • SOC 352: US Ethnic Identity and Conflict
  • SOC 355: Gender and the Life Course
  • SOC 369: Population and Society
  • SOC 385: Sociology of Work
  • SOC 401: Sociology of Sex and Gender
  • SOC 420: Issues in Gerontology
  • SOC 451: Social Stratification
  • SOC 461: Urban Sociology

Category C - Social Processes

  • SOC 160: Social Change in the Modern World
  • SOC 220: Introduction to Social Gerontology
  • SOC 315: Development Sociology
  • SOC 322: Sociocultural Study of Aids
  • SOC 350: Civil Society
  • SOC 360: Self and Society
  • SOC 366: Sociology of International Conflict
  • SOC 425: Sociology of Aging and the Life Course
  • SOC 486: Collective Behavior

Category D - Social Problems and Deviance

  • SOC 230: Prejudice and Discrimination
  • SOC 333: The Police
  • SOC 345: Drug Policy
  • SOC 365: Sociology of Violence
  • SOC 373: Deviant Behavior
  • SOC 380: White-collar Crime
  • SOC 383: Race, Class, Gender and Crime
  • SOC 462: Juvenile Delinquency
  • SOC 463: Criminology
  • SOC 464: Corrections
  • SOC 477: Social Control
  • SOC 485: Capital Punishment

Sociology electives: 12 credit hours

Options for fulfilling these credit hours include choosing courses from any of the four categories (A, B, C, D), three credit hours of internship (CPV 400), and/or one anthropology course at the 300- or 400-level (excluding ANT 300).