Overview
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Sociology is the study of group life. Sociology is the study of social life, social change and the underlying social factors and outcomes of human actions. As a social science, it combines scientific and humanistic perspectives to identify, describe, explain and understand the connections between the social forces that help shape who we are, what we believe, how we behave, and how we choose to live our lives.
Sociology examines how we shape our world through our interactions with others and by the choices we make, and how and why groups form, organize, achieve goals and evolve. The Online Bachelor of Science in Sociology, while not limited to this population, is designed especially for students who require flexible scheduling options and are unable to attend traditional classes.
The Sociology program seeks to cultivate in our students a sociological imagination that will enable them to understand the influence intersecting social identities on shaping both individual and group behavior. We prepare our graduates to be well-equipped critical thinkers and engaged citizens of an increasingly knowledge-intensive and globally diverse society. Graduates of the program are prepared to enter graduate or law school as well as take positions in a wide variety of governmental and private organizations.
Our 100% online curriculum emphasizes sociological concepts, theories, and methods as powerful analytical tools for making connections between personal problems and larger social issues. Learn to use research, data analysis, and high-level analytical thinking to solve complex problems. Elective coursework includes criminology, marriage and the family, the sociology of work and occupations, and popular culture.
Students who successfully complete this degree acquire a broad understanding of social processes, social institutions, and group behavior, and strong analytical skills that are highly prized in the worlds of business, industry, and local, state, and federal government and community organizations. This degree is also good preparation for graduate or professional school (e.g., Law or MS/MBA).
In this online bachelor’s in sociology program, you will:
- Analyze the interaction of technology and society, including the social changes and issues that arise with technological advancement
- Gain an understanding of theories involving social class, distribution of wealth, power, and prestige in the U.S.
- Study how people interact with one another in society and how communities are intertwined
- Examine dominant-minority intergroup relations, prejudice, discrimination, and other intergroup processes
A Versatile Degree
Students have the opportunity to explore the complexities of human society, culture, and behavior.
Imagine gaining skills to:
- show people alternatives to drugs or violence
- study the effects of cultural difference on problems of peace and war
- vanalyze the dynamics of a hostile mob
- track patterns in corporate downsizing
- explore how people express emotions
- and many more...
What you’ll learn in this online sociology program
Skills you'll learn:
- Sociological theory, research techniques and how social institutions function
- Sociology subjects and research methods, as well as the history of social and racial issues in our communities.
- Develop an overall knowledge base about concerns related to multiculturalism, diversity and other social issues
- Communicate, interpret information and comprehend statistical methods.
- Sociological theory
- Group behavior and social patterns
- Research methods and assessment
- Current social issues
- Impact of social constructs, such as gender, race and nationality
What can you do with a sociology degree?
Upon graduation from this sociology degree, you’ll be equipped to take on a variety of careers in the fields of social services, business, government and more. This program also serves as a stepping stone for graduate school or careers in sociological research.
The coursework prepares you for your next career or educational path within sociology with a deep understanding of social institutions, such as family, educational environments and workplaces, while improving your writing abilities, technical proficiencies and familiarity with research methods.
What can I do with a degree in Sociology?
Graduates from the sociology program are well prepared for graduate school or may find employment in a variety of occupations including but not limited to:
- Community Organizer
- Diversity Manager
- Human Resources Coordinator
- Law Enforcement Officer
- Non-profit Manager
- Policy Analyst
- Research Associate
- School Counselor
- Social Scientist
- Political Analyst
- Human Resources Manager
- Market Research Analyst
- Survey Researcher/Pollster
Degree Requirements
To obtain the degree in Sociology, students must complete 120 semester hours of coursework at both the upper and lower levels including all general education and university requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.00 scale.
To major in sociology, a student must take courses in social theory, research methods, and appropriate substantive material by completing at least 30 semester hours in sociology. The basic prerequisites for all sociology majors are Introduction to Sociology and Social Problems followed by 15 hours of core courses in theory and research. The additional 15 semester hours are to be taken from among the courses in sociology and anthropology. Students may select elective courses from the following areas: social stratification and inequalities, social organizations and processes, environmental sociology, and anthropology. Internships are available to students and are recommended for students who do not plan to do graduate work.
Admissions
Read about the admission criteria for this online sociology program
The Bachelor of Science in Sociology online program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Admission Requirements:
Online Application
Official Transcripts
| Course Code | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 102 | Careers in Sociology | 3 |
| COMM 134 | Communication | 3 |
| MATH 145 | Mathematics | 3 |
| SOC 135 | Life and Physical Sciences | 3 |
| LIN 245 | Language, Philosophy and Culture | 3 |
| ART 123 | Creative Arts | 3 |
| POL 234 | Government/Political Science | 3 |
| ENG 109 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 110 | Composition II | 3 |
Elective
Student should choose a course in one of the following elective courses
SOC 116 Gender and Society Credits: 3.00
SOC 117 Feminist Theory Credits: 3.00
SOC 119 Sociology Through Cinema Credits: 3.00
SOC 178 Popular Culture Credits: 3.00
SOC 192 Rural and Urban Sociology Credits: 3.00
SOC 193 Sociology of Aging Credits: 3.00
SOC 118 Family Communication Credits: 3.00
SOC 197 Stepfamilies Credits: 3.00
| Course Code | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 212 | Social/Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| SOC 223 | Global Inequalities | 3 |
| SOC 245 | Social Statistics | 3 |
| SOC 251 | Introduction to Social Research | 3 |
| SOC 252 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 267 | Marriage and Family | 3 |
| SOC 278 | Race & Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| POL 279 | Sociology of Gender | 3 |
| SOC 287 | Medical Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 298 | Urban Sociology | 3 |
SOC 215 Changing Faces of Culture Credits: 3.00
SOC 217 Sociology of Gender Roles Credits: 3.00
SOC 245 Social Deviance Credits: 3.00
SOC 267 Sociology of Death and Dying Credits: 3.00
SOC 278 Medical Sociology Credits: 3.00
SOC 279 Social Problems Credits: 3.00
SOC 281 Sociology of the Family in America Credits: 3.00
SOC 291 Social Demography Credits: 3.00
SOC 292 Comparative Culture and Societies Credits: 3.00
SOC 298 Comparative Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3.00
| Course Code | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 303 | Terrorism and Political Violence | 3 |
| SOC 312 | Sociology of Religion | 3 |
| SOC 341 | Sociology of Sexuality | 3 |
| SOC 342 | Sociology of Culture | 3 |
| SOC 347 | Social Stratification | 3 |
| SOC 378 | Comparative Family Studies | 3 |
| SOC 381 | Deviant Behavior | 3 |
| POL 389 | Population Problems | 3 |
| SOC 392 | Criminology | 3 |
| SOC 395 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
SOC 313 Cultural Anthropology
SOC 342 Sociological Theory and Literature
SOC 345 Methods of Social Research
SOC 377 Global Forces in a Changing World
SOC 379 Social entrepreneurship and Grassroots Social Action
SOC 390 Program Development and Evaluation
SOC 391 Community Theory and Development
SOC 397 NGOs: Global Social Innovation
| Course Code | Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 407 | Sex, Gender, Social Interaction | 3 |
| SOC 415 | Family | 3 |
| SOC 449 | Minority Group Problems | 3 |
| SOC 458 | Racism: A Sociological Analysis | 3 |
| SOC 479 | Sociology of Child Development | 3 |
| SOC 480 | Advanced Sociological Research | 3 |
| SOC 487 | Managing & Analyzing Databases | 3 |
| SOC 488 | Social Research | 3 |
| SOC 489 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOC 499 | Senior Project | 3 |
SOC 416 Sociology of Education Credits: 3.00
SOC 427 Change & Social Movement Credits: 3.00
SOC 435 Chinese Society Credits: 3.00
SOC 477 African Society Credits: 3.00
SOC 415 Research Methods Credits: 3.00
SOC 493 Data Analysis Credits: 3.00
SOC 492 Internship in Sociology: Advanced Grant Writing Credits: 3.00
SOC 495 Directed Studies in Sociology
SOC 496 Classical Sociological Theory Credits: 3.00
SOC 497 Contemporary Sociological Theory Credits: 3.00