Sociology

Undergraduate Studies in Sociology

We offer Major options culminating in either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, a comprehensive but flexible Minor, and a host of fun and fascinating courses to fulfill your general education and elective requirements. Whether you're looking to make a career in business administration, public relations, or politics, want to supplement your education with the critical soft-skills study in the social sciences provides, or have always dreamed of growing up to be a sociologist, we've got the right track for you.

A Bachelor of Science in Sociology is...

...ideal for students interested in leadership roles involving analysis and understanding of group behavior (Business Analytics, Project Management, Human Resources), those enrolled in disciplines such as Computer Science or Accountancy who want to beef up their post-grad resume with a double major, and professionals in such fields as Nursing or Pharmacology looking to advance or shift their careers.

• Major Course Requirements

  
  A Major in Sociology (B.S.) requires the completion of 30 credit hours, an overall GPA of at least 2.0 in the major, a grade of "C" or above in each required course in the major, a Major Field Test, and a minor of the student's choosing. 
  
  

   

  SOCI 1020	Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)
  SOCI 2020	Social Problems (3 cr.)
  SOCI 3210	Sociological Research (3 cr.)
  SOCI 3350	Social Statistics (3 cr.)
  SOCI 3444	Data Analysis (3 cr.)
  SOCI 4057	Applied Sociology (3 cr.)
  SOCI 4807	Classical Social Theory (3 cr.)

  (Total: 21 Credit Hours)
• Elective Course Requirements

  Students may choose 3 SOCI electives in consultation with a Undergraduate Advisor in Sociology.

   

  
  (Total: 9 Credit Hours)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Additional Requirements

  • MATH 1530 (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Natural Sciences (8 hrs. in the same lab science)
  • Philosophy of Science - PHIL 2640 (3 cr. hrs.)
  • Reasoning - PHIL 2030 or COMM 2055 (3 cr. hrs.)

  (Total: 17 credit hours)

...ideal for students interested in leadership roles involving analysis and understanding of group behavior (Advertising, Film Production, Community Organizing), those enrolled in disciplines such as Political Science or Visual & Performing Arts who want to beef up their post-grad resume with a double major, and professionals in such fields as Education or Non-Profit Organizations looking to advance or shift their careers.

• Major Course Requirements

  A Major in Sociology (B.A.) requires the completion of 30 credit hours, an overall GPA of at least 2.0 in the major, a grade of "C" or above in each required course in the major, a Major Field Test, and a minor of the student's choosing.
  
  
  

   

  SOCI 1020	Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)
  SOCI 2020	Social Problems (3 cr.)
  SOCI 3210	Sociological Research (3 cr.)
  SOCI 3350	Social Statistics (3 cr.)
  SOCI 4057	Applied Sociology (3 cr.)
  SOCI 4807	Classical Social Theory (3 cr.)

  
  (Total: 18 Credit Hours)
• Elective Course Requirements

  Students may choose 4 elective courses in consultation with the Undergraduate Advisor in Sociology. For more information, view our SOCI Major Sheet.
  (Total: 12 credit hours)
• Additional Requirements

  • Non-U.S. History (3 cr.)
  • MATH: 1530, 1840, or 1910 (3 cr.)
  • Foreign Language (6 cr.)

  (Total: 12 credit hours)
  
  

For more information, view our SOCI Major Sheet.

A Sociology Minor is...

...ideal for students who can't commit to a major, but would still benefit from the knowledge, skills, and qualifications the study of sociology engenders. These students come from every major and discipline, with career goals wide ranging as Creative Writing and Sports Management. The thing they all share? An understanding of the benefits a wholistic educational foundation provides.

• Core Requirements

  A Minor is Sociology requires the completion of 18 credit hours (minimum of 9 from SOCI 3000/4000 courses), an overall GPA of at least a 2.0 in the minor, and a grade of "C" or above in each required course in the minor.

   

  SOCI 1020	Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)
  SOCI 2020	Social Problems (3 cr.)
  SOCI 3210	Sociological Research (3 cr.)

  (Total: 9 Credit Hours)
• Elective Requirements

  Students may choose 3 courses for elective credit from the SOCI and/or SOAA course listings. For more information, view our SOCI Minor Sheet.
  
  
  
  (Total: 9 Credit Hours)

Sociology Course Descriptions:

• SOCI 1020-4999

  COURSE	TITLE & CREDITS	DESCRIPTION
  SOCI 1020	Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)	Sociology is the systematic study of social behavior. Topics include interaction, culture, inequality and social class, the changing society, socialization, subcultures, crime and deviance, family and religion, among others.
  SOCI 2000	Marriage and the Family (3 credits)	An overview of the effects of societal change on marital and non-marital relationships. Topics include premarital dynamics, singles, dual career families, family violence, and divorce.
  SOCI 2020	Social Problems (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 Sociological study of major current problems confronted in American society and the beliefs that compound them.
  SOCI 2040	Social Institutions (3 Credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 This course examines social patterns or societal subsystems designed to meet human needs.
  SOCI 3030	Gender and Society (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or permission of instructor Study of the social construction of gender and its consequences for individuals and society. Examination of our cultural assumptions about gender identities, roles, behaviors, and the social processes that reproduce gender inequality.
  SOCI 3060	Medical Sociology (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or permission of instructor Study of the concepts, theories, and methods of medical sociology with particular emphasis on the analysis and application of the findings of contemporary research in medical sociology.
  SOCI 3110	Minorities (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or permission of instructor Examination of the relationships between dominant and subordinate racial, ethnic, and other groups in the U.S., the theoretical perspectives, the processes that create or maintain institutional discrimination, and current issues concerning inter-group relations.
  SOCI 3210	Sociological Research (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or permission of instructor Methods used in investigating and reporting social phenomena.
  SOCI 3300	Deviant Behavior (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or permission of instructor An analysis of various types of deviance in society with an emphasis on the application of various theories. Topics include drug addiction, prostitution, mental illness, disability, sexual deviance, alcoholism, and domestic violence.
  SOCI 3320	Juvenile Delinquency (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or permission of instructor A study of the extent, causes, treatment, and prevention of delinquency.
  SOCI 3330	Sociology of Crime & Punishment (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or permission of instructor Provides an overview of the sociological aspects of crime, policing, and punishment in the United States. This course outlines major sociological theories of crime, critically examines policing and punishment in relation to social inequality, and details the social policies that have created and sustain mass incarceration in the U.S.
  SOCI 3350	Social Statistics (3 credits)	Prerequisite: MATH 1530 Introduces applied statistics in the field of sociology and related disciplines.
  SOCI 3444	Data Analysis (3 credits)	Prerequisite: MATH 1530, CSCI 1100, and SOAA 3350 or a comparable course with the approval of the instructor Instruction on the use of SPSS and/or other software packages for analyzing social science data via statistics with an emphasis on interpretation and application.
  SOCI 3500	Environment & Society in a Changing World (3 credits)	Studies knowledge and theoretical perspectives relevant to the field of environmental sociology. The course examines social contributions to environmental problems, their consequences for inequality, and efforts to promote environmental sustainability and justice.
  SOCI 3600	Fads, Panics, and Riots (3 credits)	This course examines various types of unusual group behavior, such as panics, riots, protests, fads, urban myths and legends, and millenarian groups.
  SOCI 3620	Sociology of Sport (3 credits)	Critically assesses the role sport plays in individual lives and how it functions as an agent of socialization.
  SOCI 4018	Honors Thesis (3-6 credits)	Prerequisite: Open to those in university honor programs only A capstone experience serving as the culmination of an honors curriculum.
  SOCI 4057	Applied Sociology (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 3210, CJCR 2000, or PSYC 3201 An examination of the issues and concepts of community and the principles of community-based research using theoretical and applied approaches.
  SOCI 4087	The Family in Transition (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or permission of instructor An analysis of the changing family with emphasis on family theory.
  SOCI 4200	Society and Global Development (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or instructor approval Examines modern global political, economic, and environmental transformations associated with development, and the transitions, challenges and potential solutions associated with them.
  SOCI 4252	Race, Class, and Gender in Film (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or ANTH 1020 or WGSS 2010 or FILM 3000 or equivalent A sociological examination of film entertainment, the film industry, and how films represent social life, social problems, and social processes of inequality.
  SOCI 4257	Power, Wealth, and Poverty (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 Examination of the theories and research concerning the distribution of power, wealth, and prestige in American society, and the impact of social class on life chances.
  SOCI 4337	Symbolic Interaction & Social Identities (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or permission of instructor Study of social interaction, the development of self, and the social construction of reality.
  SOCI 4440	Sociology of Religion (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or ANTH 1240 or RELI 2210 or equivalent This course critically examines sociological theory and research used to study  religion and its place in societies.
  SOCI 4507	Sociology of Aging (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 Applies basic sociological principles, theories, and research findings to the understanding of the aging and their relationships with other segments of the population.
  SOCI 4557	Population (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 Studies major population characteristics, trends, and problems, primarily those of the United States.
  SOCI 4807	Classical Social Theory (3 credits)	Prerequisite: SOCI 1020 or permission of instructor This course provides a comprehensive survey of key modern social theorists and theories within the historical context of the emergence of the modern world order.
  SOCI 4900	Independent Studies (1-3 credits)	Prerequisite: Permission of instructor Offers students an opportunity for focused study relevant to their interests and a sponsoring professors research and specialties.
  SOCI 4957	Special Topics in Sociology (1-6 credits)	Offering section specific topical courses. Contents vary section-by-section; please see section notes for more information prior to registering.
  SOCI 4989-4999	Cooperative Education (1-3 credits)	Prerequisite: Permission of instructor and all appropriate approvals Out-of-Classroom learning opportunities.