Sociology, B.A.

Degree Type
Bachelor of Arts
Department

The Sociology Major has five components.

  •  Basic courses provide students who have no training in sociology with a general introduction to the discipline.
  • Foundation courses provide necessary grounding in sociological theory, analysis and methods.
  • Cross-cultural component courses which will enhance sociological analysis in a global perspective.
  • Elective courses chosen by majors allow students to delve more deeply in specific areas. (These courses are open to non-majors as well.)
  • The senior seminar capstone course requires all majors to conduct an original primary research project and complete a senior thesis.
Curriculum

Requirements:

120 Total Credits (90 credits of liberal arts are required for the B.A. degree; 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 college-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 from the following list. Freshmen and Sophomores are encouraged to take electives at the 2000 and 3000 level. 12 credits

  • 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

  • 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

One course chosen from among the following list:

  • 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

6. Students may repeat any Sociology/ Criminology course used to fulfill their major requirements, only once.
C. General Electives

In consultation with an academic advisor