Sociology, BA

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Program Description

Sociology is the scientific study of human societies. At the macro-level, sociology studies societies as a whole and their social institutions such as the family, economy, religion, polity, and education. At the micro-level, sociology is concerned with everyday interactions within small social groups.

The purpose of the sociology curriculum is to:

  1. provide education in the theories, concepts, definitions and language of sociology;
  2. cultivate an understanding of the methods of research and interpretation of research findings;
  3. prepare students for graduate study in sociology;
  4. develop selected skills applicable to careers in the public or private sector.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of sociological concepts, definitions, and theories and their application to the public and private sectors.
  • Conduct and present research using sociological methods.
  • Apply critical thinking and written communication skills to analyze sociological issues.
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General Requirements

Areas covered in the curriculum include, but are not limited to, development of human societies, the nature of social interactions at the individual and group levels, structures and processes of social organizations, deviant behavior, and research methods and computer applications used in social analysis. Skills acquired from this curriculum are helpful for careers in human services, government, business, and or graduate studies.

The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in sociology requires a minimum of 37 semester hours in sociology. At least 24 of these hours must be at the upper-division (3300 or 4300) level. The College of Liberal Arts also requires students in sociology to take at least 6 hours of a second language. Sociology majors are encouraged to take MATH 1442 Statistics for Life (4 sch) to satisfy the Mathematics Core Curriculum Program requirement. Students who do not take MATH 1442 Statistics for Life (4 sch) to satisfy the Mathematics Core Curriculum Program requirement will be required to do so in order to fulfill the statistics requirement for the major. Students are also encouraged to select a minor or elective work in a related field that is pertinent to the student’s career goals.

To earn a degree with a major in sociology, a student must complete a minimum of 37 semester hours of sociology courses exclusively applied to the major and beyond the requirement of the Core Curriculum Program.  Within the College of Liberal Arts, only 6 semester hours that count towards a major may be applied to a minor.

The sociology degree requires knowledge of basic statistical theories and applications.  This requirement is fulfilled by the successful completion of MATH 1442 or MATH 1342, or transfer courses such as PSYC 2317 or other courses with MATH, MAT, STAT, STA, PSY, AND PSYC prefixes AND the course title which includes Statistics, Quantitative Reasoning and/or  Psychological Science Methods.

The sociology degree begins with an introduction to the basic concepts, methods, and theories used in Sociology.  This requirement is fulfilled by the successful completion of SOCI 1301or SOCI 1301 transfer courses or other transfer courses with SOC or SOCI prefixes AND the course title which includes “Introductory Sociology” or “Introduction to Sociology” or “General Sociology” or “Principles of Sociology.”

Requirements Credit Hours
Core Curriculum Program 42
University Seminar (when applicable)1 0-2
Sociology Major Requirements 37
University Electives2 35
Foreign Language Requirements 6
Total Credit Hours 120-122
1

Full-time, first time in college students are required to take university seminar.

2

University Electives: 33-35 hours.

Program Requirements

Full-time, First-year Students
First year seminar0-2
USSE 1201
University Seminar
Core Curriculum Program
University Core Curriculum42
Sociology students must take the following:
Mathematics
MATH 1442
Statistics for Life
Sociology Major Requirements
SOCI 1301Introduction to Sociology3
SOCI 4301Social Theory 13
SOCI 4445Social Research Methods 14
SOCI 4385Senior Seminar in Sociology (to be taken during senior year only) 13
Statistics Requirement
Fulfilled by MATH 1442 or approved transfer course.3-4
Sociology Electives
Select eight from the following: 224
SOCI 2301
Social Problems
SOCI 2319
Social Psychology
SOCI 2350
Sociology of Sexuality
SOCI 3310
Sociology through Film
SOCI 3312
Racial and Ethnic Relations
SOCI 3320
Sociology of Gender
SOCI 3321
Mexican American Women
SOCI 3340
Sociology of the Family
SOCI 3349
Sociology of Deviant Behavior
SOCI 3350
Sociology of Education
SOCI 4310
Sociology of Work and Occupations
SOCI 4312
Power, Privilege, and Poverty
SOCI 4325
Medical Sociology
SOCI 4331
Juvenile Delinquency
SOCI 4335
Criminology
SOCI 4390
Topics in Sociology
SOCI 4396
Directed Individual Study
SOCI 4398
Applied Experience
University Electives
Select 33-35 hours of university electives.33-35
Foreign Language Requirements
See the College of Liberal Arts for the college language requirement.6
Total Hours120-122
1

SOCI 4301 Social Theory (3 sch) and SOCI 4445 Social Research Methods (4 sch) must be taken before SOCI 4385 Senior Seminar in Sociology (3 sch)

2

Elective coursework may include courses in Sociology as selected by the student in consultation with an advisor. Electives are designed to meet students’ needs and interests.

Required Sequences of Courses

Course Sequencing

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
SOCI 1301 Introduction to Sociology 3
USSE 1201 University Seminar 2
ENGL 1301 Writing and Rhetoric I 3
HIST 1301 U.S. History to 1865 3
Creative Arts Core Requirement 3
 Hours14
Spring
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 3
ENGL 1302
or COMM 1311
 Writing and Rhetoric II
or Foundation of Communication
 3
HIST 1302 U.S. History Since 1865 3
MATH 1442 Statistics for Life 4
 Hours13
Second Year
Fall
Language, Philosophy & Culture Core Requirement 3
POLS 2305 U.S. Government and Politics 3
Foreign Language I 3
Life & Physical Science Core Requirement 4
Core Component I 3
 Hours16
Spring
POLS 2306 State and Local Government 3
SOCI 2301 Social Problems 3
Life & Physical Science Core Requirement 4
Foreign Language II 3
Core Component II 3
 Hours16
Third Year
Fall
SOCI 3320 Sociology of Gender 3
SOCI 3340 Sociology of the Family 3
SOCI 4301 Social Theory 3
Upper Divisional Elective 3
Upper Divisional Elective 3
 Hours15
Spring
Upper Divisional Elective 3
SOCI 3350 Sociology of Education 3
Sociology Elective I 3
Sociology Elective II 3
Upper Divisional Elective 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall
SOCI 4445 Social Research Methods 4
Sociology Elective III 3
Upper Divisional Elective 3
Upper Divisional Elective 3
Upper Divisional Elective 3
 Hours16
Spring
Upper Divisional Elective 3
SOCI 4385 Senior Seminar in Sociology 3
Upper Divisional Elective 3
Upper Divisional Elective 3
Upper Divisional Elective 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours120

Courses

SOCI 1301  Introduction to Sociology  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
An introduction to the basic concepts, methods, and theories used in Sociology. Topics illustrate the systematic understanding of social interaction, social organization, and social institutions.  Reciprocal relationships between individuals and society are examined. Topics may include – but are not limited to – socialization, culture, social stratification, race and ethnicity, sex and gender, deviance, family, work, and social change.
TCCNS: SOCI 1301  
SOCI 2301  Social Problems  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
A survey and exploration of the causes and consequences of major social problems in the U.S. society, including contemporary issues of poverty, unemployment, income inequality, health care, crime, climate change, and other issues of social class, racial, ethnic, and gender inequality.
TCCNS: SOCI 1306  
SOCI 2319  Social Psychology  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
The scientific study of how a person's thoughts and behavior are influenced by others. Topics will include social cognition, attitudes, persuasion, interpersonal relationships, and group behavior. (Credit may not be given for both this course and PSYC 2326.) Cross listed with PSYC 2319.
TCCNS: SOCI 2326  
SOCI 2350  Sociology of Sexuality  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
An examination of sexuality from a sociological perspective. This course will consider the historical evolution of sexuality, the social construction of sexual identities, sexual inequalities and power, how sexualities and sex acts are defined as normal or deviant, and applications of sociological, queer, and feminist theories.
SOCI 3310  Sociology through Film  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
The examination of film as a culture artifact to illustrate sociological concepts, theories, and perspectives. Specific attention will be given to narratives of film as they illustrate culture, aging, social class, gender, race/ethnicity, identity, and other sociological concepts.
SOCI 3312  Racial and Ethnic Relations  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
The study of cultural, religious, ethnic and racial groups, and the treatment accorded them in society. Prejudice, discrimination and the outcomes of discrimination in relation to both dominant and subordinate groups are considered.
SOCI 3320  Sociology of Gender  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
An examination of the roots, nature and social construction of gender roles including socialization of men and women, gender role relationships from the perspectives of sociology. Issues of family, education, work and the economy, religion, politics and law, feminist organizations, feminist theory, and men's and women's movements will be considered.
SOCI 3321  Mexican American Women  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
A study of the Chicanas and the trends in society and Mexican-American culture affecting their lives and behaviors.
SOCI 3340  Sociology of the Family  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
The study of the family, relationships among its members, and the relationship of family to other social institutions.
SOCI 3349  Sociology of Deviant Behavior  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
A systematic and critical study of the nature, patterns, and processes of violations of significant social norms by members of society. Specific attention is given to violations such as drug abuse, violence in and outside the family, and white-collar offenses.
SOCI 3350  Sociology of Education  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
Employing a sociological lens to examine formal education in the United States and other countries, students will explore various schools of thought and controversies surrounding education in modern societies. They will examine important issues related to formal education, such as the expansion of schooling, equality of educational opportunity, unequal achievement of groups of students, the reproduction of inequality in education, schools' roles in the transmission of culture, and the social organization of schools.
SOCI 4301  Social Theory  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
Combines an analysis of the major ideas and theories in sociology and their relationship to social research with an understanding of social processes and structures.
Prerequisite: SOCI 1301.
SOCI 4310  Sociology of Work and Occupations  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
The study of work as a social phenomenon, including the social organization of work, occupations, and professions in society. The labor force, work culture, workers mobility, career lines, and leisure in contrast to work are considered.
SOCI 4312  Power, Privilege, and Poverty  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
The study of social inequality in society, with emphasis on the social class structure of the United States, its origins, development, and consequences for individuals, groups, and society.
SOCI 4325  Medical Sociology  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
Examination of the social contexts of physical and mental health, illness and medical care. Topics include the social, environmental, and occupational factors in health and disease; socialization of health care providers; doctor-patient relationships; the structure and processes of health care organizations; and health care and social change.
SOCI 4331  Juvenile Delinquency  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
Examination of the extent and pattern of juvenile crime today. History and theory of delinquency and society's response to it. (Credit may not be given for both this course and CRIJ 4331.) Cross listed with CRIJ 4331.
SOCI 4335  Criminology  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
An examination of the major sociological explanations for crime, criminal behavior, and the social responses to crime. (Credit may not be given for both this course and CRIJ 4335.) Cross listed with CRIJ 4335.
SOCI 4385  Senior Seminar in Sociology  
3 Semester Credit Hours  
This is a capstone course required of all students graduating with a major in sociology. The course is designed to enable faculty to assess each student's expertise in applying sociological concepts and practices. Students demonstrate this expertise through the completion of a final project requiring substantial research activity. Students are allowed considerable flexibility in selecting either survey research or evaluation research for their project.
Prerequisite: SOCI 4301 and 4445.
SOCI 4390  Topics in Sociology  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
A consideration of various topics on social behavior and social structure. May be repeated when topics vary.
SOCI 4396  Directed Individual Study  
1-3 Semester Credit Hours  
See College description.
SOCI 4398  Applied Experience  
3 Semester Credit Hours (3 Lecture Hours)  
See College description.
SOCI 4445  Social Research Methods  
4 Semester Credit Hours (4 Lecture Hours)  
A survey of the basic research techniques and methods used in sociology including content analysis, field research, sampling, surveys, polls, and computerized data analysis.
Prerequisite: SOCI 1301 and MATH 1442.