Sociology, B.S.

Degree Type
Bachelor of Science
Department

The B.S. in Sociology degree program requires students to complete 60 credits in the liberal arts, rather than the 90-credit requirement of the campus' B.A. in Sociology offering.  In practical terms, this means that students with many credits from technical schools, teacher education programs or business schools often opt for the B.S. in Sociology. 

The Sociology Major has five components.

  1.  Basic courses provide students who have no training in sociology with a general introduction to the discipline.

  2. Foundation courses provide necessary grounding in sociological theory, analysis and methods.

  3. Cross-cultural component courses which will enhance sociological analysis in a global perspective.

  4. Elective courses chosen by majors allow students to delve more deeply in specific areas. (These courses are open to non-majors as well.)

  5. 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

Curriculum

Requirements:

Total credits: 120 (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.

A. Liberal Education Curriculum

Refer to the Liberal Education Curriculum Bulletin for specific requirements.

B. Major Requirements: 40 credits

In addition to campus-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:

1. SY1500 Introductory Sociology (4 credits)

2. Three elective courses (12 credits)

elective course options

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

  • SY2222 Sociology of Caring
  • SY2400 Sociology Through the Arts
  • SY2550 Social Problems
  • SY2600 Social Deviance
  • SY2800 Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality
  • SY2999 Religion, Science and Knowledge
  • SY3160 Sociology of Culture
  • SY3280 Social Inequality
  • SY3630 Political Sociology
  • SY3700 Family and Society
  • SY3750 Medical Sociology
  • SY3800 Race and Ethnicity
  • SY3900 Social Movements
  • SY3910 Sociology of Work
  • SY4260 Social Work: Theory and Practice
  • SY4270 Internship in Social Work, Sociology and Criminology
  • SY4400 Social Psychology
  • SY4500 Global Sociology
  • SY4600 Social Programs, Planning and Policy
  • SY4651 Sociology of Communications and Media
  • SY4810 Law and Justice
  • SY4830 Gender and Society
  • SY4850 Urban and Suburban Sociology
  • SY4950 Sociology of Music
  • SY4999 Issues in Sociology
  • CR2090 Juvenile Delinquency
  • CR3092 Victimology
  • CR3093 Criminal Justice Administration
  • CR3094 Drugs and Society
  • CR3099 Sociology of Violence
  • CR3117 Policing Bodies
  • CR3200 Crime, Media and Culture
  • CR4000 Gender, Crime and Justice
  • CR4091 Punishment and Corrections
  • CR4999 Issues in Criminology

    3. Four Sociological Foundation courses (16 credits)

    Sociological Foundation course options
    • SY4520 Research Methods I
    • SY4530 Sociological Theory I
    • SY4540 Sociological Theory II
    • SY4570 Research Methods II

    NOTE: SY4530 Sociological Theory I must be successfully completed before enrolling in SY4540 Sociological Theory II. SY4520 Research Methods I must be successfully completed before enrolling in SY4570 Research Methods II.

      4. Cross Cultural Component (4 credits)

      cultural component course options

      Select one.

      • CR3094 Drugs and Society
      • CR3200 Crime, Media and Culture
      • SY3160 Sociology of Culture
      • SY3700 Family and Society
      • SY4500 Global Sociology
      • SY4651 Sociology of Communications and Media
      • SY4950 Sociology of Music

      5. SY5990 Senior Seminar

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

      C. General Electives

      In consultation with an academic advisor