Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

I. Majors in sociology must complete a minimum of 36 hours in sociology, at least 18 hours of which must be upper-division courses (300-400 level). Courses at the 500 level may be taken by qualified under-graduates with the consent of the instructor.

A. Each of these Core Courses

SOC 111 Introduction to Sociology
SOC 212 Introduction to Social Research
SOC 315 Modern Sociological Theory
SOC 317 Social Statistics

AND
B. Three courses selected from the following

SOC 322 Community and Urban Sociology
SOC 329 Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
SOC 341 Sociology of Law
SOC 404 Sociology of Gender & Sexuality
SOC 417 Advanced Statistics & Methods
SOC 420 Sociology of Poverty
SOC 432 Sociology of Religion
SOC 496 Juvenile Delinquency

II. Completing the Sociology Field Test from Educational Testing Services during the final semester of course work. Dates and times for the test will be announced at the beginning of each semester..

Certificate in the Sociology of Diversity

The sociology department has a strong emphasis in diversity and inequality issues, highlighting race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class. For sociology majors, minors and other students wishing to concentrate in these areas, we offer a certificate of specialization. Completion of the certificate provides evidence of specialized study, which can be beneficial for enhancing future career options and interests. The certificate is marketable to a wide variety of employers and educational institutions, including social work, graduate and professional schools, community action organizations, and social services. Participation in the certification program also provides students with opportunities for networking and mentoring. Dr. Abby Ferber is the coordinator of the Certificate in the Sociology of Diversity.

·Minimum Requirement for Completion: four courses, for a total of twelve credits.
·A minimum grade of 3.3 is required for each course applied toward the certificate.

Of these four courses, three must be 300 level or above. Independent studies may not be used to earn this certificate. All courses must be offered through the sociology department. Up to three transfer credit hours may be applied to the certificate from courses approved by the Certificate Coordinator. Students must take at least one course from each of the categories below:

Additional special topic courses may be offered that can be counted toward the certificate. These courses must be approved in advance by the Certificate Coordinator.

Certificate in Criminology and Justice Studies

The sociology department has a strong emphasis in multiple aspects of the criminal justice system, highlighting the impact of law and society, corrections systems, and structures of deviance in the social order. For students wishing to concentrate in these areas, we offer a certificate of specialization. Completion of the certificate provides evidence of specialized study, which can be beneficial for enhancing future career options and interests. The certificate is marketable to a wide variety of employers and educational institutions, including the Department of Corrections, law enforcement, law school, social work, graduate and professional schools, and social services. Participation in the certification program also provides students with opportunities for networking and mentoring. Dr. Michèle Companion is the coordinator of the Certificate in Criminology and Justice Studies.

· Minimum Requirement for Completion: 4 courses, for a total of 12 credits.
· A minimum grade of 3.3 is required for each course applied toward the certificate.
· SOC 341 (Sociology of Law) and SOC 340 (Criminology) are mandatory for the completion of the certificate.
· To satisfy the certificate requirements, all courses must be at level 300 or above in Sociology.

Independent studies may not be used to earn this certificate. Upon approval by the Certificate Coordinator up to three sociology transfer credit hours may be applied to the certificate. Additional courses that are eligible to fulfill this requirement include, but are not limited to the following:

SOC 419 – Deviant Behavior
SOC 452 – Sociology of Corrections and Rehabilitation
SOC 496 – Juvenile Delinquency

Additional special topic courses may be offered in a given semester that can be counted toward the certificate. These courses must be approved in advance by the Certificate Coordinator.

Certification Process

Students wishing to enroll in this certificate program must turn in an application to the Certificate Coordinator, ideally when they declare their major. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll by their junior year to ensure that certificate requirements are met. Students that are not sociology majors or minors must complete 3 credit hours of additional lower division sociology credit before enrolling in the certificate program.

Students must submit their transcript to the coordinator to verify that they have met the requirements for the certificate at the beginning of their final semester. To complete the certificate program, students are required to submit a five-page, typewritten self-statement, evaluating changes in their perceptions of diversity issues as a result of program participation and implications for future scholarly and professional work. The certificate will be mailed to recipients upon completion of a certificate audit and graduation.

Students may be awarded a certificate of specialization within an area of the curriculum by completing four upper division courses selected from within the same area or four upper division courses that reflect a common them that can be developed across area, or even across disciplines (i.e. adding a G.I.S. course from Geography to three sociology courses in community and urban sociology).

Minor in Sociology

Students seeking a minor must complete a minimum of 22 hours in sociology, at least 12 hours of which must be upper division courses (300 or 400 level). Specific courses that must be completed for the minor include the following:

SOC 111 Introduction to Sociology
SOC 212 Introduction to Social Research

AND EITHER

SOC 315 Modern Social Theory OR
SOC 317 Social Statistics