Department of Sociology
Concentration in Law and Society (Bachelor of Arts in Sociology)
Students on Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Spring 2026 requirements LAWSOCCON
Requirements
The concentration requires at least 12 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- Concentration Core. One (1) course:
- SOC-S 101 Social Problems and Policies
SOC-S 101 Social Problems and Policies
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduces sociology through in-depth study of a major social problem; examines research on the problem; and explores alternative policies. Problems treated vary by section. Examples include the environment; women, men, and work; medicine in America; the sociology of sport; alcohol and drug use.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 15 credit hours. May be counted only once in the major toward departmental requirements.
- Spring 2026CASE SHcourseFall 2025CASE SHcourse
- Concentration Electives. Three (3) courses:
- SOC-S 320 Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control
- SOC-S 325 Criminology
- SOC-S 326 Law and Society
- SOC-S 360 Topics in Social Policy
- SOC-S 410 Topics in Social Organization (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
SOC-S 320 Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Analysis of deviance in relation to formal and informal social processes. Emphasis on deviance and respectability as functions of social reactions, characteristics of rules, and power and conflict.
- Spring 2026CASE SHcourseFall 2025CASE SHcourse
SOC-S 325 Criminology
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- A study of the patterns of crime, strategies for control, and theories of crime causation.
- Spring 2026CASE SHcourseFall 2025CASE SHcourse
SOC-S 326 Law and Society
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Social origins of social bases of legal decision-making, and social consequences of the application of law.
- Spring 2026CASE SHcourseFall 2025CASE SHcourse
SOC-S 360 Topics in Social Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Specific topics announced each semester; examples include environmental affairs, urban problems, poverty, and population problems.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated four times for credit with a different topic.
- Spring 2026CASE SHcourseFall 2025CASE SHcourse
SOC-S 410 Topics in Social Organization
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- At least junior standing
- Description
- Specific topics announced each semester, e.g., social stratification, formal organizations, urban social organization, education, religion, politics, demography, social power, social conflict, social change, comparative social systems.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated three times for credit with a different topic.
- Spring 2026CASE SHcourseFall 2025CASE SHcourse
- Concentration GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Concentration GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the concentration—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
- Concentration Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the concentration.
- Concentration Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the concentration must be completed at the 300–499 level.
Concentration Area Courses
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Courses that may apply toward the Credit Hours and GPA requirements in this academic program include all courses listed on the requirement course lists at the time the course was taken as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent.
Exceptions to and substitutions for concentration requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.