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2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology applies the unique approach of sociology to study all forms of human behavior from the individual and small group interactions of everyday life to larger institutions that shape our global experiences as humans. Sociology aids in developing a sociological imagination, the ability to examine the lived experiences of oneself and others. From different theoretical perspectives, sociology delves into issues such as healthcare; politics; religion; race and ethnicity; sex and gender; and the impact of social conflict, inequity, and injustice on society.

Students will develop key skills in collaboration, information literacy, critical thinking, writing, and social science research methods and analysis. Students will also identify ways to engage in social movements that promote social justice in their career fields and daily lives. Sociological knowledge and skills are especially well suited as preparation for diverse fields including civil service, research, education, healthcare, social service, business, management, social media, or law.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:

  • Differentiate major paradigms, classic and contemporary theories that inform the study of sociology.
  • Apply a sociological imagination to everyday social behavior as well as current social issues and crises.
  • Identify how social stratification influences social inequality and social injustice.
  • Discuss how the individual self-concept is directly influenced by social processes and social structures.
  • Describe the functions and influence of social institutions on societies.
  • Evaluate appropriate ethical considerations, methodological approaches and analysis techniques for sociological research.
  • Assess the impact of social change and technology on social life and social relationships.

Degree at a Glance

Degree Program Requirements

General Education (30 semester hours)

Major Required (30 semester hours)

Complete at least 2 courses in the Major section before taking SOCI331 or SOCI332.

Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from a Concentration in Community Action, Concentration in Digital Society, Concentration in Education, Concentration in Health, Concentration in Public Policy, or Concentration in Social Justice.

Concentration in Community Action (15 semester hours)

This interdisciplinary concentration will help prepare sociology students for professional responsibilities that relate to community organization and action. Students will explore organizations, agents of social change, religious organizations, and the role of the family in communities.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Apply the sociological imagination to understanding different types of communities and the motivation of communities to engage in action.
  • Analyze communities using organizational sociology theories.
  • Identify career paths for sociologists with expertise in community organization and action.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)

Concentration in Digital Society (15 semester hours)

This interdisciplinary concentration will prepare sociology students for professional responsibilities that involve digital communication and media, social media management, and social media analysis. Students will examine how sociological theory applies to digital society, explore online social communities to examine the effectiveness of design and interaction, and identify ways to collect and analyze online social data.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Apply sociological theory to our digital society.
  • Examine data provided in online digital communities.
  • Identify career paths for sociologists with expertise in digital communication and social media.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)

Concentration in Education (15 semester hours)

This interdisciplinary concentration will help prepare sociology students for education related fields. Students will explore organizations, social movements and social change, learning theory, and strategies for measuring and evaluating education programs and institutions.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Compare and contrast education practices and systems using a sociological perspective.
  • Evaluate the historical and current relationships between education, inequality, and socioeconomics.
  • Identify career paths for sociologists in education related fields.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)

Concentration in Health (15 semester hours)

This interdisciplinary concentration will help to prepare sociology students for health related fields. Students will explore sociological factors that play a role in health and illness, the history of healthcare institutions, the process of aging and death. Students will examine public health issues in both national and international contexts using a sociological lens.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Analyze the historical and current relationships between health, inequality, and socioeconomics using sociological theories.
  • Apply a sociological perspective to evaluating different healthcare systems.
  • Identify career paths for medical sociologists in public health and other healthcare related fields.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)

Concentration in Public Policy (15 semester hours)

This interdisciplinary concentration will help to prepare sociology students for fields related to understanding the sociological and bureaucratic factors that relate to public policy in local, national, and international settings. Students will apply sociological theory to understand organizations, political institutions, law, and social change.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Analyze social problems and the public policies and programs designed to solve them.
  • Apply a sociological perspective to historical and current issues in public policy such as voting rights, incarceration, and workplace rights.
  • Identify career paths for sociologists in public service, administration, and other organizations.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)

Concentration in Social Justice (15 semester hours)

This interdisciplinary concentration will help to prepare sociology students for professional responsibilities in promoting and supporting social justice issues in local, national, and international settings. Students will examine social justice issues related to race and ethnicity as well as gender and sex. Courses will also examine social movements and social change as well as leadership and organizational culture.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:

  • Examine causes and consequences of poverty at local, national, and international levels.
  • Evaluate availability and effectiveness of social welfare programs and explore new strategies for increasing social justice.
  • Identify career paths for sociologists in organizations addressing social justice and social welfare issues.
Concentration Requirements (15 semester hours)

Final Program Requirement (3 semester hours)

Elective Requirements (42 semester hours)

  1. All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110-Making Writing Relevant.

  2. All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101-Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110-Making Writing Relevant.

  3. Prerequisite: SOCI111 and completion of all major and elective courses prior to enrollment. To be taken as the last course before graduation.

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