Major-Sociology
Sociology is concerned with human social and group behavior. It concentrates on the social interaction and organization of people, deviant behavior, social order, and social change. The study of sociology contributes to an understanding of the underlying structures and dynamics of modern society.
The Department of Sociology provides an opportunity for students to learn the sociological interpretations of the human experience. Moreover, by contributing to a better understanding of the variation in human existence, sociology heightens the students’ awareness of their own life choices by putting those into an appropriate social and cultural context. Although many of our students pursue careers in sociology, departmental offerings are designed to support students in a variety of occupational endeavors, including social services, criminal justice, social research, medicine, and industrial relations.
The general goal of the Department of Sociology within the context of liberal is to contribute to the development of an individual capable of thinking critically, able to evaluate statistical and non-statistical information, and able to communicate coherently. Specifically, graduates of the department should be able to: 1) Understand the discipline of sociology and its role in contributing to our understanding of social reality. 2) Understand the role of theory in sociology. 3) Develop research skills sufficiently to be able to understand the role of evidence and qualitative and quantitative methods in sociology. 4) Understand the basic concepts in sociology and cultural anthropology and their interrelations. 5) Understand how social structures operate. 6) Understand the reciprocal relationships between individual and society. 7) Understand global trends and develop a multicultural / cross‑cultural perspective. 8) Understand in depth at least one area within sociology. 9) Understand the philosophical and historical background of the social sciences, and the interrelations among sociology and the other social sciences. 10) To engage in opportunities for practical professional experiences and career exploration.
B.A. in Sociology
To be accepted as a major in the sociology program students must have taken six credit hours of sociology and have earned not less than a “C” grade in each of the two courses. Students may not declare a major in sociology until this criterion is met.
In addition to the other Core Curriculum requirements, the following are specific core requirements:
- SO 201 – Principles of Sociology (required), MA 135 (MA 145 or higher is recommended), SS 300, SS 400, SO 201, SO 305, SO 310, SO 351, SO 352, SO 408, SO 453, nine credit hours of sociology electives, and nine credit hours outside of the department, but within the Division of Social Science (i.e., a total of nine credit hours in psychology and/or political science)
Major requirements:
- SO 305 – Research Methods
- SO 307 – Classical Sociological Theory
- SO 308 – Contemporary Sociological Theory
- SO 351 – Social Problems
- SO 352 – Cultural Anthropology
- SO 408W – Senior Thesis
- SO 453 – Internship
- SS 300 – Fundamental Statistics for the Social Sciences
- SO Elective
- SO Elective
- (SS 300, SO305 and SO408W must be taken in order beginning in the first semester of the junior year.)
Other Courses
- Social Science courses (CJ, PC, or PO) above Core Curriculum requirements
- General elective hours (may include additional SO courses)
B.S. in Sociology
For the B.S. degree there is an emphasis on quantitative skills to a much greater extent than is the case with the B.A. degree. Finite Mathematics (MA 145) or Algebra for the Sciences and Finance (MA 151) is a requirement for the B.S. rather than Mathematics for the Liberal Arts (MA 135), which is required for the B.A.. In addition to the general degree requirements (Statistics for the Social Sciences (SS 300) and Research Methods (SO305)), four additional quantitatively oriented courses are required: a course in data analysis/data utilization (SO 390), a course in demography (SO 405) and the required internship also entails working in an environment dealing with the collection and/or compilation, and interpretation of data. (Examples of such internships might be found in marketing, human resource departments, college admissions offices, institutional research, police departments, etc.) The Senior Thesis requirement for the B.S. degree should be a project entailing the quantitative analysis of secondary data. The analysis (findings and recommendations based on the analysis) must be presented in a written professional quality report.
To be accepted as a major in the sociology program students must have taken six credit hours of sociology and have earned not less than a “C” grade in each of the two courses. Students may not declare a major in sociology until this criterion is met.
In addition to the other Core Curriculum requirements, the following are specific core requirements:
- SO 201 – Principles of Sociology (required)
- MA 145 or MA 151
Major requirements:
- SO 305 – Research Methods
- SO 307 – Classical Sociological Theory
- SO 308 – Contemporary Sociological Theory
- SO 351 – Social Problems
- SO 352 – Cultural Anthropology
- SO 390 – Data Utilization
- SO 405 -- Demography
- SO 408W – Senior Thesis (Quantitative Thesis)
- SO 453 – Internship (Quantitative Internship)
- SS 300 – Fundamental Statistics for the Social Sciences
- (SS 300, SO305 and SO408W must be taken in order beginning in the first semester of the junior year.)
Other Courses
- Social Science courses (CJ, PC, or PO) above Core Curriculum requirements
- General elective hours
NOTE: Although additional natural science courses are not required, it is strongly recommended that B.S. take additional sciences or minor in a natural scientific discipline.
Minor in Sociology
SO 201 – Principles of Sociology
Any four (4) upper-level sociology
The preponderance of the hours above SO 201 must be taken at BAC.
It is the student’s responsibility to see that all degree requirements for graduation are fulfilled.
Faculty
Peter Lodge, Chair and Professor of Sociology
B.A. Manchester Polytechnic, Ph.D. University of Keele
Steven Arxer, Assistant Professor of Sociology
B.A. Barry University, M.A. University of Miami, Ph.D. University of Florida
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