Nov 06, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Sociology, B.S.


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HEGIS Number: 2208

Curriculum Code: U0352

The Sociology Major has five components.

  • Basic courses provide students who have no training in sociology with a general introduction to the discipline.
  • Foundation courses provide necessary grounding in sociological theory, analysis and methods.
  • Cross-cultural component courses which will enhance sociological analysis in a global perspective.
  • Elective courses chosen by majors allow students to delve more deeply in specific areas. (These courses are open to non-majors as well.)
  • The senior seminar capstone course requires all majors to conduct an original primary research project and complete a senior thesis.

Graduate School Preparation

The major in sociology prepares students for a wide variety of graduate and professional programs, including Social Work, Social Policy and Law as well as graduate study leading to the Ph.D. Students intending to pursue graduate education should consult a faculty advisor.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this major program, graduates will:

LO1: gain knowledge of key theories, concepts, and perspectives that define the sociological discipline, and learn to utilize them accurately in their own work (Theories/Knowledge of Content)

LO2: understand quantitative and qualitative skills and techniques employed by social scientists in research projects, and appropriately apply them in their own work (Methods)

LO3: assess issues within and across different cultural contexts to understand how social phenomena are shaped, changed, and interpreted by others across the globe (Cross Cultural Component)

LO4: recognize cultural rules, biases, and differences and to interpret the intersection of such factors as race, gender, social class, and other categories through a critical worldview (Social Justice)

LO5: incorporate sociological theory and social research methods to build a clear, analytical argument supported by evidence within an original research project (Integration of Theory and Methods)

Requirements for a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Sociology


Total credits required: 120 (90 credits of liberal arts are required for the B.A. degree; 60 credits of liberal arts are required for the B.S. degree.) A minimum grade of C- or higher is required for all courses counted toward the major.

Liberal Education Curriculum


Refer to the Liberal Education Curriculum Bulletin for specific requirements.

Major Requirements: 40 Credits


In addition to college-wide requirements, students majoring in sociology must pass a minimum of ten courses, each with a grade of C- or better, and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in the major. The specific course requirements for the major are:

Three elective courses from the following list: 12 Credits


Freshmen and Sophomores are encouraged to take electives at the 2000 and 3000 level.

Four Sociological Foundation courses: 16 Credits


NOTE:  SY 4530 - Sociological Theory I  must be successfully completed before enrolling in  SY 4540 - Sociological Theory II  SY 4520 - Research Methods I  must be successfully completed before enrolling in  SY 4570 - Research Methods II .

Cross Cultural Component: 4 Credits


One course chosen from among the following list:

Senior Seminar


Students may repeat any Sociology/Criminology course used to fulfill their major requirements, only once.


General Electives


In consultation with an academic advisor

Special Requirements


Senior standing in sociology requires a student to have:

  1. Completed 100 credits (including transfer credits);
  2. Satisfied the College-wide requirements of mastery in English and computational skills;
  3. Passed all foundation courses (SY 4520 SY 4530 SY 4540 SY 4570 ) and at least one 4000-level elective, all with a “C-” or better.

To enroll in the Senior Seminar (SY 5990 ), students must have attained senior standing as majors in sociology, and have successfully completed  SY 4520 - Research Methods I  SY 4530 - Sociological Theory I  SY 4540 - Sociological Theory II  SY 4570 - Research Methods II  .

Sample Course Sequence By Major


Term 1


Term 2


Term 3


  • SY elective

Term 4


  • Cross-Cultural Component

Term 6


Term 8


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