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Majoring in Sociology
Minoring in Sociology
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Home > Undergraduate Program > Majoring in Sociology
   
Majoring in Sociology
Sociologists are actively involved in studying issues related to family, sexuality, race, deviance, drugs, self-concept and identity, social conflict and inequality, aging, death and dying, and a host of other applied topics. Our degree program i ntroduces students to key processes and methods, in addition to preparing students for graduate work in sociology and related fields. Students majoring in sociology explore the ways in which individual experiences and specific events are linked to larger social processes and social structures. 

Our department offers six areas of study from which to choose. Majors can follow the General Program in sociology, or they can select a concentration in Family, Race and Urban Studies, Gender and Sexuality, Geront ology, and Social Studies Education . Students completing concentrations are awarded a certificate in their area of concentration from either the Department of Sociology or the Gerontology Center. Click on the links below for specific information regarding the course requirements for each area of study.

Core Curriculum

Undergraduate sociology majors should complete the Core Curriculum requirements as specified by the University. These Core Curriculum requirements include:

  • Nine (9) hours of Area A, Essential Skills: English composition (6 hours) and Mathematics (3-4 hours).
  • Four (4) hours (2 courses) of Area B, Institutional Options: Critical Thinking; Human Communication; Perspectives on Comparative Culture; Scientific Perspectives on Global Problems.
  • Six (6) hours of Area C, Humanities and Fine Arts.
  • Eleven (11) hours of Area D, Mathematics and Technology.
  • Twelve (12) hours of Area E, Social Science: United States Politics and History; World History and Politics; Social Science Foundations.
  • Area H, Minor and Additional Courses: If necessary, additional courses not in the major must be taken as electives to complete a minimum of 120 semester hours (excluding 1000/2000 physical education or military science courses).
Upon completion of Core Curriculum requirements, students take courses within their declared major. Major requirements include:
  • Eighteen (18) hours of Area F, Courses Appropriate to the Major 
    • Nine (9) hours of required sociology courses: Soci 1101: Introductory Sociology; Soci 1160: Introduction to Social Problems; ForL 1002: Elementary Foreign Language.
    • Nine (9) hours of additional courses from Area F 
Students must then take the courses relevant to their chosen concentration or in the general sociology program.


B.A. Degree Requirements 
General Program in Sociology Requirements
  • Twelve (12) hours of Major Requirements: Soci 3010: Social Statistics; Soci 3020: Social Research Methods; Soci 3030: Sociological Theory; Soci 3201: Wealth, Power, and Inequality.
  • Fifteen (15) hours of additional 3000-level or above sociology courses. 
Family Concentration Requirements
  • Twelve (12) hours of Major Requirements: Soci 3010: Social Statistics; Soci 3020: Social Research Methods; Soci 3030: Sociological Theory; Soci 3201: Wealth, Power, and Inequality.
  • Soci 3101 Families and Society (3)
  • Select one from the following list. (3)
    • Soci 3152 Birth and Parenthood (3)
    • Soci 3162 African-American Family (3)
    • Soci 4150 Sexual and Intimate Violence (3)
  • Select two from the list below or the list in section 3 above. (6)
    • Soci 3110 Identity, Self, and Social Interaction (3)
    • Soci 3156 Sexuality and Society (3)
    • Soci 3212 Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
    • Soci 3216 Gender and Society (3)
    • Soci 3232 Poverty and Welfare (3)
    • Soci 3346 Drug Use and Abuse (3)
    • Soci 3352 Mental Illness in the U.S. (3)
    • Soci 3356 Sexual Identity (3)
    • Soci 4116 Aging and Society (3)
    • Soci 4122 Death, Dying, and Loss (3)
    • Soci 4230 Sociology of Health and Illness (3)
    • Soci 4310 Issues in the African-American Community (3)
    • Soci 4315 Girls (3)
    • Soci 4380 Educational Sociology (3)
  • Internship: Soci 4980 Internship (3)
Race and Urban Studies Concentration Requirements
  • Twelve (12) hours of Major Requirements: Soci 3010: Social Statistics; Soci 3020: Social Research Methods; Soci 3030: Sociological Theory; Soci 3201: Wealth, Power, and Inequality.
  • Race and Urban Studies Core Courses (6)
    • Soci 3212 Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
    • Soci 4226 Urban Sociology (3)
  • Select two courses. (6)
    • Soci 3208 Work and Employment (3)
    • Soci 3214 American Racial-Ethnic Groups (3)
    • Soci 3220 Activism, Protest, and Revolution (3)
    • Soci 3222 Deviant Behavior (3)
    • Soci 3224 Crime and Punishment (3)
    • Soci 3228 The Holocaust (3)
    • Soci 3232 Poverty and Welfare (3)
    • Soci 3340 Population Problems (3)
    • Soci 3346 Drug Use and Abuse (3)
    • Soci 3350 Social Change and the Future (3)
    • Soci 3354 Sociology of Popular Culture (3)
    • Soci 4218 Power and Politics (3)
    • Soci 4230 Sociology of Health and Illness (3)
    • Soci 4279 Metropolitan Atlanta (3)
    • Soci 4310 Issues in the African American Community (3)
    • Soci 4312 African-American Women in the United States (3)
    • Soci 4360 Religion and Society (3)
    • Soci 4366 Law and Society (3)
    • Soci 4380 Educational Sociology (3)
  • Internship:Soci 4980 Internship (3)
Gender and Sexuality Concentration Requirements
  • Twelve (12) hours of Major Requirements: Soci 3010: Social Statistics; Soci 3020: Social Research Methods; Soci 3030: Sociological Theory; Soci 3201: Wealth, Power, and Inequality.
  • Gender and Sexuality Core Courses (6)
    • Soci 3156 Sexuality and Society (3)
    • Soci 3216 Gender and Society (3)
  • Select two courses from the list below. (6)
    • Soci 3103 Families and Society (3)
    • Soci 3110 Identity, Self, and Social Interaction (3)
    • Soci 3152 Birth and Parenthood (3)
    • Soci 3208 Work and Employment (3)
    • Soci 3232 Poverty and Welfare (3)
    • Soci 3340 Population Problems (3)
    • Soci 3352 Mental Illness in the United States (3)
    • Soci 3354 Sociology of Popular Culture
    • Soci 3356 Sexual Identity (3)
    • Soci 4150 Sexual and Intimate Violence (3)
    • Soci 4218 Power and Politics (3)
    • Soci 4230 Sociology of Health and Illness (3)
    • Soci 4311 African-American Male/Female Relationships (3)
    • Soci 4312 African-American Women in the U.S. (3)
    • Soci 4315 Girls (3)
    • Soci 4366 Law and Society (3)
  • Internship:Soci 4980 Internship (3)
Gerontology Concentration Requirements
  • Twelve (12) hours of Major Requirements: Soci 3010: Social Statistics; Soci 3020: Social Research Methods; Soci 3030: Sociological Theory; Soci 3201: Wealth, Power, and Inequality.. 
  • Gerontology Requirements (9)
    • HHS 4200 Health and the Older Adult (3)
    • Psyc 4610 Psychology of Aging (3)
    • Soci 4116 Aging and Society (3)
  • Select one course. (3)
    • Soci 4110 Aging Policy and Services (3)
    • SW 4260 Social Work with the Aging
    • Select one course. (3)
    • Anth 4500 Anthropology of Aging (3)
    • Soci 4122 Death, Dying, and Loss (3)
    • Soci 4110 Aging Policy and Services (3) (if not taken in section above)
    • SW 4260 Social Work with the Aging (3) (if not taken in section above)
    • Spch 4775 Communication and Aging (3)
  • Internship:Soci 4910 Gerontology Internship (3)
Social Studies Education (Sociology) Concentration Requirements
  • Twelve (12) hours of Major Requirements: Soci 3010: Social Statistics; Soci 3020: Social Research Methods; Soci 3030: Sociological Theory; Soci 3201: Wealth, Power, and Inequality. 
  • Students pursuing this concentration must also choose three allied fields (minor areas) from the following departments, taking nine hours in each, for a total of 27 hours: economics, geography, history, or political science (see these depa rtments for specific course requirements).
  • Select one to two courses from each group for a total of five courses. (15)
    • Family and the Life Course (3-6)
      • Soci 3101 Families and Society (3)
      • Soci 3110 Identity, Self, and Social Interaction (3)
      • Soci 3152 Birth and Parenthood (3)
      • Soci 3162 African-American Family (3)
      • Soci 4116 Aging and Society (3)
    • Race and Urban (3-6)
      • Soci 3212 Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
      • Soci 4226 Urban Sociology (3)
      • Soci 4279 Metropolitan Atlanta (3)
      • Soci 4310 Issues in the African-American Community (3)
      • Soci 4380 Educational Sociology (3)
    • Gender and Sexuality (3-6)
      • Soci 3156 Sexuality and Society (3)
      • Soci 3216 Gender and Society (3)
      • Soci 3356 Sexual Identity (3)
      • Soci 4150 Sexual and Intimate Violence (3)
      • Soci 4311 African-American Male/Female Relationships (3)
      • Soci 4315 Girls (3)

      Please note: In order to gain teacher certification, students completing this degree program should also complete the requirements for a master's degree in social science education (see College of Education for m ore details).


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