Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology emphasizes the systematic study of human behavior in social groups.  It focuses on how people coordinate their activities to achieve both individual and collective goals.  Sociology is different from the other social and behavioral sciences in two important ways.  First, it places primary importance on the social group within the larger society.  Second, it seeks to explain the broad range of human behavior as it is influenced by the social context.  Thus, sociology studies the major issues of our times and seeks to understand their complexity and predict their future.  It investigates how patterns of social activity originate, what sustains them, why they take one form rather than another, and how they change. Depending on the particular interest of the student, an appropriate minor area of study is selected in consultation with the student’s advisor.  In lieu of the traditional minor, the Department also offers a concentration in either Racial and Ethnic Dynamics or in Human Services. Career opportunities for sociology majors include a variety of agencies at the federal, state, and municipal levels, as well as with both private non-profit and private for-profit organizations. The Sociology program faculty stresses a close working relationship with students and strongly encourages students to take full advantage of the many opportunities the Department provides including but not limited to collaborative research with faculty, student internships, teaching assistantships and other professional opportunities. The department’s program learning goals and objectives can be found on the department’s website.

Mission Statement

Our goal is to advance students’ intellectual preparation in macro and micro sociological concepts through rigorous, substantive, theoretical, and methodological coursework.  The program provides opportunities for praxis-oriented internships, and on-going and continuous engagement with the program faculty’s teaching and research activities.  Our graduates will have the personal and scholarly skills needed to face the challenges associated with social change, diversity of persons and ideas, and an evolving global economy. 

The Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Sociology requires a minimum of 120 semester units which includes courses for the major and minor and courses for the other university-wide graduation requirements: General Education, American Institutions, First-Year Experience, Upper Division Writing, and Foreign Language. To fulfill the requirements for the major in sociology, the student must complete courses acceptable to the Department, including at least nine at the upper-division level.  Typical course patterns for graduation can be found on the department website.

Course List

Code	Title	Units
General Education Requirements
First-Year Seminar (FYS)		2
Lower Division Area A: Foundational Skills 7		6-9
Lower Division Area B: Natural Sciences 7		6-9
Lower Division Area C: Arts and Humanities		6
Lower Division Area D: Social and Behavioral Sciences 7		0-3
Lower Division Area E: Student Enrichment and Lifelong Learning (SELF) 7		0-3
Lower Division Area F: Ethnic Studies		3
American Institutions: Government and History		6
Junior Year Diversity & Reflection (JYDR) 7		0-3
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)		3
Upper Division Thematic Area B and C		6
General Education Capstone 8		0
General Education Subtotal 9		38-53
Major Requirements
Lower Division Requirements
SOC 1008	Introduction to Sociology	3
SOC 2208	Introduction to Statistics in the Social Sciences 1	3
SOC 2018	Self and Society	3
SOC 2300	Race and Ethnic Relations	3
or SOC 2400	Sex and Gender Issues
Core Curriculum Requirements
SOC 3000	Introduction to Research Methods 2	3
SOC 3100	Classical Sociological Theory 2	3
SOC 3110	Contemporary Sociological Theory 3	3
SOC 3208	Junior Diversity and Research Ethics	3
Select one of the following: 4		3
SOC 4200	Quantitative Analysis
SOC 4210	Qualitative Research Methods
SOC 4230	Demographic Analysis
SOC 4260	Program Evaluation Design and Analysis
SOC 4000	Social Stratification	3
SOC 4988	Senior Seminar in Sociology 5	3
Select six additional Courses in Sociology at least at five of which must be upper division and of the following: 6		18
SOC 3008	Social Psychology
SOC 3010	Sociology of Knowledge
SOC 3030	Political Sociology
SOC 3040	Sociology of Deviance
SOC 3050	Sociology of Religion
SOC 3060	Sex, Life Course and Human Population
SOC 3070	Cultural Sociology
SOC 3080	Popular Culture
SOC 3090	Sociology Through Films
SOC 3300	Cultural and Social Geography
SOC 3310	Racial and Ethnic Dynamics in the United States
SOC 3320	The African American Experience in the United States
SOC 3330	The Indigenous Experience in the Modern Americas
SOC 3340	Cultural Diversity in U.S. Schools
SOC 3350	The Asian-American Experience in the United States
SOC 3360	The Latino Experiences in the United States
SOC 3408	Gender and Society
SOC 3420	Chicana Experiences
SOC 3500	Family and Society
SOC 3510	Childhood and Society
SOC 3520	Older Adults in Society
SOC 3610	Small Group Dynamics
SOC 3630	Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 3640	Urban Sociology
SOC 3650	Sociology of Crime
SOC 3658	Violence and Society
SOC 4008	Society and the Natural Environment
SOC 4010	Social Changes and Social Movements
SOC 4020	Globalization and Social Change
SOC 4038	Technology and Society
SOC 4050	Secularity and Nonreligion
SOC 4068	The Civil Rights Movement
SOC 4300	Sociology of Immigration
SOC 4310	The Latin American Experience
SOC 4400	The LGBTQ Experience in the U.S.
SOC 4510	Family and Stress
SOC 4610	Sociology of Education
SOC 4620	Sociology of Health and Wellness
SOC 4630	Sociology of Medicine
SOC 4640	Sociology of Happiness
SOC 4650	Neighborhood and Community
Major Subtotal		51
Additional Units Needed Towards Graduation 10		16-31
Total Units		105-135

¹

Or equivalent elementary statistics course

²

Must pass with a C- or higher

³

Requires satisfactory completion of SOC 3100 Classical Sociological Theory and must have a passing grade of C- or higher

⁴

Each requires satisfactory completion of SOC 3000 Introduction to Research Methods and must have a passing grade of C- or higher

⁵

Must pass with a C- or higher and fulfills Capstone requirement

⁶

With approval of faculty advisor

⁷

May be satisfied in major, minor or other university requirement.

⁸

Capstone is included in SOC 4988 Senior Seminar in Sociology

⁹

Some General Education requirements are included in major. 

¹⁰

The recommended minor can count towards additional units needed towards graduation.

Note: One (1) semester unit of credit normally represents one hour of in-class work and 2-3 hours of outside study per week.

A minor consisting of at least 12 units is recommended. If a minor is not chosen, students will complete an additional 12 units for the degree.