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. 

Course List

Code	Title	Units
General Education Requirements
First-Year Seminar (FYS)		2
Lower Division Area A: Foundational Skills 8		6-9
Lower Division Area B: Natural Sciences 8		6-9
Lower Division Area C: Arts and Humanities		6
Lower Division Area D: Social and Behavioral Sciences 8		0-3
Lower Division Area E: Student Enrichment and Lifelong Learning (SELF) 8		0-3
Lower Division Area F: Ethnic Studies		3
American Institutions: Government and History		6
Junior Year Diversity & Reflection (JYDR) 8		0
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)		3
Upper Division Thematic Area B and C		6
General Education Capstone 9		0
General Education Subtotal 10		38-50
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
Core Courses: Service Course & Internship
SOC 3600	Social Services and Social Problems	3
SOC 4920	Internship in Applied Sociology 6	3
Core Courses: Experiences in Family and the Life Course
Select two of the following:		6
SOC 3500	Family and Society
SOC 3510	Childhood and Society
SOC 3520	Older Adults in Society
SOC 4510	Family and Stress
Core Courses: Experiences of Diverse Populations in the US
Select two of the following:		6
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 4400	The LGBTQ Experience in the U.S.
Core Courses: Social Issues in American Society
Select three of the following: 7		9
SOC 3040	Sociology of Deviance
SOC 3060	Sex, Life Course and Human Population
SOC 3610	Small Group Dynamics
SOC 3630	Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 3640	Urban Sociology
SOC 4300	Sociology of Immigration
SOC 4610	Sociology of Education
SOC 4620	Sociology of Health and Wellness
SOC 4630	Sociology of Medicine
SOC 4650	Neighborhood and Community
Major Subtotal		60
Additional Units Needed Towards Graduation		7-22
Total Units		105-132

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 passing grade of C- or higher required

⁵

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

⁶

Requires satisfactory completion of SOC 3600 Social Services and Social Problems

⁷

To be selected in consultation with the faculty advisor to provide additional “depth” or greater “breadth” in subject matter content areas associated with Human Services

⁸

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

⁹

Capstone is included in SOC 4988 Senior Seminar in Sociology

¹⁰

Some General Education requirements are included in major. 

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