Undergraduate Program

 

A major of sociology within the College of Arts and Sciences is a flexible program. In addition to the Arts and Sciences liberal education requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree, students majoring in sociology will need to complete at least 30 semester hours of sociology, which includes five or six required courses, depending on the options chosen: Sociology 101 (Introduction to Sociology), Sociology 205 (Introduction to Social Research), Sociology 206 (Introduction to Social Research II), Sociology 355 (Theory and Intensive Writing), and Sociology 495 (Senior Seminar) OR either Sociology 396 (Research Experience), 310a-310b (Doing Sociology: Community Based Research), or 399H (Advanced Readings-for graduation with distinction). At least 12 of the 30 hours must be at the upper-division level (300 or 400 level). Student must enroll in courses for the major or minor for a grade. They must earn at least a "C" to satisfy the requirements. Sociology majors may pursue a minor in any department approved by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Since only 12 to 15 of the 30 hours of sociology for the major are required courses, the student has considerable flexibility in course selection. Choices may be made with respect to the student's interests and educational objectives. For example, some students use their undergraduate education in sociology as preparation for an occupation while others continue their education for advanced degrees in law, social work, counseling, or sociology. Those who intend to do post-graduate work will want to design their undergraduate programs to meet this objective. Regardless of the specific objectives, the sociology curriculum provides students with many valuable skills: The opportunity to learn, to think objectively and creatively, to write and speak effectively, to analyze data, and to more fully appreciate and understand social and cultural differences among people. Students majoring in other departments in the College of Arts & Sciences may complete a minor in Sociology by taking 18 hours, including Sociology 101, in the department.