Sociology Department

Undergraduate Curriculum

The sociology curriculum offers structure and flexibility for students majoring or minoring in sociology and for students taking sociology courses for distribution credit. In addition to preparing students for graduate programs in sociology, we provide an excellent liberal arts background for postgraduate and professional training and for careers in public service and administration, law, business, medicine, journalism and many other professions.

Requirements for Major
A major in sociology requires a minimum of 33 semester hours. Students must take the following core courses:

- 250 (Principles of Sociology) [prerequisite for Soc 351]
- 351 (Sociological Theory);
- 352 (Methods of Social Research);
- 353 (Social Statistics);
- 494W (Senior Project) or 495-496 (Honors).

Students also must take at least six additional courses, five of which must be numbered 300 and above and at least one which must be a seminar numbered between 400-440. To satisfy the major writing requirement students must successfully complete either the Senior Project(494W) or Honors (495-496). Majors will satisfy the computing proficiency requirement by successfully completing SOC 353 or an approved equivalent statistics course.

For students declaring Sociology as a major at the end of their sophomore year, the recommended sequence of courses is:

- Freshman or Sophomore year: 250 (Principles of Sociology)
- Fall of Junior year: 351 (Sociological Theory), 352 (Methods of Social Research)
- Spring of Junior year: 353 (Social Statistics)
- Senior year (either Fall or Spring): 494W (Senior Project)

While it is highly recommended that sociology majors take SOC353 to fulfill the department's statistics requirement, this requirement may also be met with one of the following courses: BUS231, ECON307, KIN394, MATH106, or PSY301.

Requirements for Minor
A minor in sociology requires a minimum of 18 semester hours. Students must take 250 (Principles of Sociology) and at least five other courses, four of which must be at the 300 or 400 level.