Sociology > Programs > Undergraduate > Degree Requirements

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Requirements for Majors and Minors

If you're interested in sociology as part of a broader liberal arts education, we recommend that you select the general sociology option. If you're interested in a career involving greater use of sociological methods and data analysis techniques, you will find the applied sociology option more useful. As an applied sociology major, you'll learn skills you can use for applications such as program evaluation, needs assessment, environmental impact assessment, and market research. You'll also get a field placement opportunity, where you can gain first-hand knowledge in applying the skills you learn in the classroom.

You must have the department's consent to qualify for the applied sociology option and the applied sociology field placement. You should apply after completing Sociology 202. We recommend that you consult a department advisor in advance.

Major - for the Bachelor of Arts, 32 semester hours, distributed as follows:

Option I. General Sociology

1. Sociology 100 or the equivalent (3 hours)
2. Sociology 201, 202 (8 hours)
3. Seven additional sociology courses (21 hours) including at least:
   1. 9 hours at the 300 or 400 level, excluding Soc 496
   2. One from Soc 400*, 405*, 485*, 487*, 488*
   3. One from Soc 285, 485*, 487*, or 488*

Note: No more than 8 hours of independent study (Soc 296, 298, 299, or 496) may be counted toward the degree. Soc 485, 487, or 488 fulfill both the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement(2) and the theory requirement(3).

*Fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.

Option II. Applied Sociology

1. Soc 100 or the equivalent (3 hours)
2. Soc 201, 202, 298, 400*, 401 (17 hours)
3. Soc 471 or 473 (3 hours)

Three additional sociology courses (only one of which may be independent study, Soc 296, 298, 299, or 496) (9 hours)

*Fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.

Minor - 15 semester hours, distributed as follows:

1. Soc 100 or the equivalent (3 hours)
2. Two courses at the 200, 300, or 400 level (6 hours)
3. One course at the 300 or 400 level (3 hours)
4. One Sociology elective (3 hours)   

Departmental Distinction

To graduate with departmental distinction, you must complete all requirements for a sociology major, and earn a 4.25 grade point average (A=5.00) in all sociology courses. To graduate with departmental high distinction, you must also complete an honors thesis in Sociology 299 (3 hours) with at least a grade of "B". To graduate with departmental highest distinction, you must complete all requirements for a sociology major, earn a 4.50 grade point average in all sociology courses, and complete an honors thesis in Sociology 299 (3 hours) with a grade of "A".

If you think you may qualify, you should consult with an Academic Advisor two or three terms in advance of graduation.