Sociology (BA)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2024–Spring 2025 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Sociology
Academic Plan Code(s): SOC_BA, SOC_BA_O, SOC_BA_CUL, SOC_BA_CUO, SOC_BA_DIN, SOC_BA_DIO

Program Information

This program can be completed in a traditional classroom format or entirely online.

Students in the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology program learn to take an analytical, evidence-driven approach to social issues, as well as gain the interpersonal communication skills necessary to craft persuasive narratives grounded in critical thought. Sociology students focus on diversity and inequality and use their analytical insight into social structures for effective formulation and implementation of democratic social policy.

Those interested in sociology are intrigued by the challenging social issues pervading our world, how society influences and is influenced by them, and how to effectuate change.  BA in Sociology students learn how to address these issues through scientific research and application, and, as our world continuously evolves, sociology students are well prepared to offer insight into these changes and how best to accommodate them.

Given the breadth, adaptability, and utility of sociology, employment opportunities are plentiful in social service agencies; federal, state, and local governments; non-profit organizations; and private enterprises

Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.

Degree Summary

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Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.

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Sociology offers three BA options (two tracks and one non-track). For all three options, including the non-track, please refer to the Track Requirements tab.  

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Admission to the BA in Sociology requires:

1. Completion of SOC 301 with a grade of C or better;
2. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0; and
3. Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in Sociology, if any courses have been taken. 

The Change Major Request form can be found under the Academic Progress tile on ULink.

General Education Requirements

*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Program/Major Requirements

Sociology majors may take no more than six hours of “Special Topics” courses in Sociology to meet degree requirements.

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.

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Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language

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In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at 300 level or above

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May be incorporated into other degree requirements

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May be used to satisfy a General Education: Cardinal Core requirement.

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SOC 303 and SOC 320 must be completed with a grade of C or better.

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The list of approved CUE courses appears above. At least one of the 400-level courses taken to satisfy track requirements must be a designated CUE course. 

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Students may be allowed to substitute a statistics course for SOC 301 and/or a methods course for SOC 303 but must gain the permission from the Department of Sociology Undergraduate Advisor prior to doing so and must take a 300+ level sociology elective in lieu of the required sociology course.  Students must also earn a C or better in the statistics and/or methods course from the other department for it to count it toward sociology degree requirements. 

Track Requirements 

Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

Non-Track Sociology BA 

Academic Plan Code(s): SOC_BA, SOC_BAO

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SOC 350 may be used to satisfy this degree requirement depending on the appropriateness of its topic and with the department undergraduate advisor's approval.  Other sociology electives may be substituted upon approval from the department undergraduate advisor.

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One of these 400-level electives must be a designated Sociology CUE course. 

BA in Sociology with a Track in Diversity and Inequality

Academic Plan Code(s): SOC_BA_DIN, SOC_BA_DIO

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SOC 350 may be used to satisfy this degree requirement depending on the appropriateness of its topic and with the department undergraduate advisor's approval. Other sociology electives may be substituted upon approval from the department undergraduate advisor.

BA in Sociology with a Track in Sociology of Culture

Academic Plan Code(s): SOC_BA_CUL, SOC_BA_CUO

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SOC 350 may be used to satisfy this degree requirement depending on the appropriateness of its topic and with the department undergraduate advisor's approval. Other sociology electives may be substituted upon approval from the department undergraduate advisor.

Flight Plan

Non-Track BA in Sociology

Academic Plan Code: SOC_BA, SOC_BAO

Track in Sociology of Culture

Academic Plan Code: SOC_BA_CUL, SOC_BA_CUO

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This elective must be chosen from among the following courses: SOC 305, SOC 325, SOC 327, SOC 329, SOC 344, SOC 346, SOC 350 (if the topic is related to the sociology of culture), SOC 374 or SOC 380. Other electives may be substituted with approval from the undergraduate advisor. 

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This elective must be selected from among the following: ANTH 205, ANTH 309, ANTH 310, ANTH 318, ANTH 320, ANTH 321, ANTH 328, ANTH 331, ANTH 332, ANTH 334, ANTH 339, ANTH 340, ANTH 343,COMM 433, COMM 435, GEOG 324, PAS 214, PAS 272, PAS 273, PAS 310, PAS 311, PAS 330, PAS 344, PAS 372, WGST 201, WGST 303, WGST 395, WGST 522, WGST 523, or WGST 538. 

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This elective must be chosen from among the following: SOC 415, SOC 420, SOC 425, SOC 450 (if the topic is related to sociology of culture), SOC 454, SOC 455, SOC 464, SOC 470, or SOC 472. Other electives may be substituted with approval from the undergraduate advisor. 

Track in Diversity and Inequality

Academic Plan Code: SOC_BA_DIN, SOC_BA_DIO

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This elective must be chosen from one of the following: SOC 305, SOC 306, SOC 315, SOC 325​, SOC 327, SOC 329, SOC 334, SOC 343, SOC 346, SOC 350 (if the topic is related to diversity and inequality), SOC 374, or SOC 392. Other electives may be substituted with approval from the undergraduate advisor. 

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This elective must be selected from one of the following: ANTH 309, ANTH 310, ANTH 318, ANTH 320, ANTH 321, ANTH 331, ANTH 339,  CJ 352, CJ 360, CJ 375, CJ 405, CJ 430, CJ 440, COMM 325, COMM 326, ECON 331, GEOG 324, GEOG 340, HIST 313, HIST 319, HIST 320, HIST 322, HIST 324, HIST 326, PAS 205, PAS 247, PAS 305, PAS 324, PAS 325, PAS 327, PAS 333, PAS 335, PAS 338, PAS 339, PAS 344, PAS 364, PAS 374, PEAC 325, POLS 315, POLS 316, POLS 318, POLS 323, POLS 324, POLS 327, or WGST 349. 

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This elective must be chosen from one of the following: SOC 410, SOC 415, SOC 417, SOC 420, SOC 425, SOC 442, SOC 450 (if the topic is related to diversity and inequality), SOC 454, SOC 456, SOC 460, SOC 464, SOC 470, or SOC 472. Other electives may be substituted with approval from the undergraduate advisor. 

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.