Sociology is the systematic study of social relationships at many different levels. For example, sociologists analyze small groups, complex organizations such as bureaucracies or factories, race/ethnic relations, gender relations, communities, nations, and even global social formations. The processes and behaviors sociologists examine include social interaction among individuals, institutional change, social policy formation, criminal and deviant behavior (and responses to such behavior), population growth and distribution, and social change and development.
The sociology program offers concentrations in general sociology and in criminology. General sociology provides a desirable background, as either a sole or combined major, for further professional training in law, city planning, public administration, hospital administration, and medicine, as well as for advanced graduate work in sociology or other social sciences. It also prepares students for a wide variety of careers that involve problem-solving and gathering, organizing, and analyzing information (i.e., data). Such careers may involve jobs ranging from sales and management to community services and government work.
The criminology concentration prepares students for careers in the criminal justice system (including law enforcement, correctional institutions, court services) as well as advanced study in law or graduate work in sociology, criminology, or criminal justice.
Students who major in sociology should refer to the general requirements for the BA or BS degree earlier in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog. Sociology students who desire to teach in secondary schools should prepare for teacher licensure with a major in sociology (see the College of Education section of this catalog).
All sociology majors are required to complete 3 credit hours of required outside courses. Students majoring in general sociology must also take 10 credit hours of required core courses and 21 credit hours of electives, with 12 of these 21 credit hours at the 500 level or above. Criminology students must complete 19 credit hours of required core courses and 15 credit hours of electives from two categories of ancillary courses. In order to graduate with a bachelor's degree in either concentration, students are required to earn a 2.5 grade point average in courses taken within the major.