General Education Requirements
Majors must satisfy the university and college general education requirements. Foreign language proficiency is not required, although students are encouraged to take foreign language courses.
All required courses for the major must be completed with a grade of C- or better. Courses counting toward the major requirements may not be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
The minimum number of Sociology hours required for the B.S. degree is 36.
Core Courses: 21 hours
Concentration Courses: 9 hours
Elective Courses: 6 hours
| Sociology B.S. Core (21 hours) | ||
| SOC 1010 | Introduction to Sociology (MOTR SOCI 101) | 3 |
| SOC 1040 | Social Problems | 3 |
| or SOC 1241 | Globalization and Social Change | |
| SOC 2160 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 3210 | Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOC 3220 | Quantitative Data Analysis in Social Science Research 1 | 3 |
| SOC 3230 | Research Methods | 3 |
| SOC 4040 | Survey Research Practicum for Sociology | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
| 1 | A statistics class from another social science department may be substituted with approval of the faculty advisor. |
Concentration (9 hours)
Students seeking a B.S. in Sociology must complete one of the following concentration choices:
A. Urban Sociology
B. Sociology of Health and Aging
C. Gender and Families
D. Military Sociology
| A. Urban Sociology | ||
| SOC 1999 | The City | 3 |
| SOC 2202 | Urban Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 3344 | Problems of Urban Community | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
| B. Sociology of Health and Aging | ||
| SOC/GERON 2170 | Aging in America: Concepts & Controversies | 3 |
| SOC/GERON 2300 | Social and Community Services for an Aging Population | 3 |
| SOC/GERON 3400 | Environment, Society, and Aging | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
| C. Gender and Families | ||
| SOC/GS 2102 | Introduction to Gender Studies | 3 |
| SOC 2103/GS 2102 | Gender Roles in Society | 3 |
| SOC 3243 | Marriage, Family and Kinship | |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| D. Military Sociology | ||
| SOC 2801/MVS 2100 | Veterans in American Society | 3 |
| SOC 2802/MVS 2130 | Gender and the Military | 3 |
| SOC 3801 | Military Sociology | 3 |
Electives (6 hours)
Students must complete at least 3 hours of SOC at the 4000-level and an additional 3 hours of SOC at the 2000-level or above. GERO, GS, MVS or other courses may be substituted with approval of the faculty advisor.
Pursuing a second concentration is encouraged.
Learning Outcomes
Upon Completion of the Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science in Sociology, a student will be able to:
Identify and apply sociological theories to understand social phenomena by:
- Recognizing the differences between “folk” explanations of social phenomena and sociological theories of those phenomena
- Distinguishing modes of sociological inquiry from other disciplinary modes of inquiry
- Applying key concepts and key themes in sociological theory to analyze social phenomena
- Discerning the role of social structures in creating and reproducing social inequality and examining how social structures change
- Distinguishing among micro, meso, and macro levels of observation, inquiry, and analysis
Apply scientific principles to understand the social world by:
- Effectively utilizing evidence-based knowledge and sociological theories and concepts to generate research questions and/or hypotheses
- Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of scientific methodology and methods for analyzing social phenomena in different contexts
- Explaining disciplinary standards for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of data
Critically evaluate explanations of human behavior and social phenomena by:
- Identifying and appraising major theoretical perspectives, including their assumptions, key concepts, and main arguments in terms of historical context and interpretive and explanatory capacities
- Employing the sociological imagination to analyze social problems in context and evaluate solutions to social problems
Use sociological knowledge to inform social change by:
- Engaging with the world around them, including everyday life, work, policy debates, stakeholders, and the public
- Constructing and proposing real world solutions to social issues;
- Expressing sociological ideas in a clear and coherent manner in written and oral communication
- Demonstrating informal, technological, qualitative, and quantitative literacy
Sample Four Year Plans
Sociology of Health and Aging Concentration
Gender and Families Concentration
Military Sociology Concentration
Urban Sociology Concentration
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| INTDSC 1003 | 1 | SOC 1040 or 1241 | 3 |
| ENGL 1100 | 3 | SOC 2160 | |
| CORE - Mathematics Proficiency | 3 | EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 |
| SOC 1010 | 3 | EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| CORE - US History and Government | 3 | ||
| 16 | 12 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 2202 | 3 | SOC 3210 | 3 |
| SOC 1999 | SOC 2000+ level course | 3 | |
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | CORE - Information Literacy | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 2 |
| 12 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 3220 | 3 | SOC 3230 | 3 |
| SOC 3344 | 3 | EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 |
| ENGL 3100 | 3 | Cultural Diversity Requirement | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | Elective or minor | 6 |
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 4000-level course | 3 | SOC 4040 | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 12 | Elective or minor | 12 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours: 114 | |||
| 1 | INTDSC 1003 is required only for first-time freshmen and transfer students with less than 24 college credits. |
Please Note: This plan is an example of what a four year plan could look like for a typical student. Placement exam scores in math as well as the completion of coursework may change the plan. It should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester. All requirements are subject to change.
Sociology of Health and Aging Concentration
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| INTDSC 10031 | 1 | SOC 1040 or 1241 | 3 |
| SOC 1010 | 3 | SOC 2160 | |
| ENGL 1100 | 3 | EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 |
| CORE - Math Proficiency | 3 | EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | Elective or minor | 2 |
| EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 | ||
| 16 | 11 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 2170 | 3 | SOC 3210 | 3 |
| SOC 2300 or GERON 2300 | 3 | SOC 2000+ level course | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | CORE - US History and Government | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | CORE - Information Literacy | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 3220 | 3 | SOC 3230 | 3 |
| SOC 3400 | 3 | Cultural Diversity Requirement | 3 |
| ENGL 3100 | 3 | Elective or minor | 9 |
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | ||
| Elective or minor | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 4000-level course | 3 | SOC 4040 | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 12 | Elective or minor | 12 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours: 117 | |||
| 1 | INTDSC 1003 is required only for first-time freshmen and transfer students with less than 24 college credits. |
Please Note: This plan is an example of what a four year plan could look like for a typical student. Placement exam scores in math as well as the completion of coursework may change the plan. It should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester. All requirements are subject to change.
Gender and Families Concentration
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| INTDSC 10031 | 1 | SOC 1040 | 3 |
| ENGL 1100 | 3 | SOC 2160 | |
| SOC 1010 | 3 | EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 |
| CORE - Mathematics Proficiency | 3 | EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 |
| CORE - US History and Government | 3 | Elective or minor | 2 |
| EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | ||
| 16 | 11 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 2102 | 3 | SOC 3210 | 3 |
| SOC 2103 | 3 | SOC 2000+ level course | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | CORE - Information Literacy | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Huanities and Fine Arts | 3 | Cultural Diversity Requirement | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 3 | EXPLORE - Social Sciences | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 3220 | 3 | SOC 3230 | 3 |
| SOC 3243 | 3 | Elective or minor | 12 |
| ENGL 3100 | 3 | ||
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | ||
| Elective or minor | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 4000-level course | 3 | SOC 4040 | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 12 | Elective or minor | 12 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours: 117 | |||
| 1 | INTDSC 1003 is required only for first-time freshmen and transfer students with less than 24 college credits. |
Please Note: This plan is an example of what a four year plan could look like for a typical student. Placement exam scores in math as well as the completion of coursework may change the plan. It should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester. All requirements are subject to change.
Military Sociology Concentration
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| INTDSC 10031 | 1 | SOC 1040 or 1241 | 3 |
| SOC 1010 | 3 | SOC 2160 | 3 |
| ENGL 1100 | 3 | CORE - US History and Government | 3 |
| CORE - Mathematics Proficiency | 3 | Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | Elective or minor | 2 |
| EXPLORE - Math & Sciences | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 2801 or MVS 2100 | 3 | SOC 3210 | 3 |
| SOC 2802 or MVS 2130 | 3 | SOC 2000+ - level elective | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 |
| EXPLORE - Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | CORE - Information Literacy | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 3 | Elective or minor | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 3220 | 3 | SOC 3230 | 3 |
| SOC 3801 | 3 | Cultural Diversity Requirement | 3 |
| ENGL 3100 | 3 | Elective or minor | 9 |
| EXPLORE - Math and Sciences | 3 | ||
| Elective or minor | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 4000-level elective | 3 | SOC 4040 or 4307 | 3 |
| Elective or minor | 12 | Elective or minor | 12 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
| 1 | INTDSC 1003 is required only for first-time freshmen and transfer students with less than 26 college credits. |
Please Note: This plan is an example of what a four year plan could look like for a typical student. Placement exam scores in math as well as the completion of coursework may change the plan. It should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester. All requirements are subject to change.