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Department of Sociology

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirements SOCBA

The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology acquaints students with basic principles, methods, and findings in sociology—the scientific study of society and human social interaction as organized in systems of social relationships, organizations, and institutions. It seeks to explain the order, disorder, and change that characterize social life as well as their implications for individuals. Major subfields offered by the Department of Sociology include social psychology; deviance; social inequality; medical sociology; and the study of the family, schools, gender roles, ethnic and racial groups, and social classes. Provision is made for students who wish to acquire a general background as well as for those who wish to develop particular interests in a subfield of sociology. The major provides a foundation for careers in many professional fields, such as law, social service administration, and business, as well as for graduate training as professional sociologists in government, business, community agencies, research organizations, or universities.

Requirements

The major requires at least 30 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Introductory Course. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology
  2. Introductory Elective. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 101 Social Problems and Policies
    • SOC-S 105 Sociology Laboratory
    • SOC-S 110 Charts, Graphs, and Tables
    • SOC-S 122 Envisioning the City
    • SOC-S 201 Social Problems
    • SOC-S 210 Economic Sociology
    • SOC-S 215 Social Change
    • SOC-S 217 Social Inequality
    • SOC-S 220 Culture and Society
    • SOC-S 230 Society and the Individual
  3. Social Theory. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 340 Social Theory
  4. Research Methods in Sociology. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 370 Research Methods in Sociology
  5. Statistics in Sociology. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 371 Statistics in Sociology
  6. Capstone. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 410 Topics in Social Organization
    • SOC-S 431 Topics in Social Psychology
    • SOC-S 498 Honors Thesis Seminar I
    • SOC-S 499 Honors Thesis Seminar II
  7. Advanced Electives. Nine (9) additional credit hours:
    • SOC-S 302 Organizations in Society
    • SOC-S 305 Population
    • SOC-S 308 Global Society
    • SOC-S 309 The Community
    • SOC-S 311 Politics and Society
    • SOC-S 312 Education and Society
    • SOC-S 313 Religion and Society
    • SOC-S 315 Work in the New Economy
    • SOC-S 316 Sociology of Families
    • SOC-S 317 Social Stratification
    • SOC-S 319 Science, Technology, and Society
    • SOC-S 320 Deviance, Conformity, and Social Control
    • SOC-S 321 Sexual Diversity
    • SOC-S 324 Sociology of Mental Illness
    • SOC-S 325 Criminology
    • SOC-S 326 Law and Society
    • SOC-S 329 Women and Deviance
    • SOC-S 335 Race and Ethnic Relations
    • SOC-S 338 Sociology of Gender
    • SOC-S 339 The Sociology of Media
    • SOC-S 342 Asian American Communities and Identities
    • SOC-S 344 Sociology of Childhood
    • SOC-S 346 Topics in Cross-Cultural Sociology
    • SOC-S 358 Social Inequalities in Health and Health Care
    • SOC-S 360 Topics in Social Policy
    • SOC-S 365 Health and Society: Sociology for Health Professionals
    • SOC-S 377 Digital Society
    • SOC-S 410 Topics in Social Organization
    • SOC-S 413 Gender and Society
    • SOC-S 419 Social Movements and Collective Action
    • SOC-S 422 Constructing Sexuality
    • SOC-S 431 Topics in Social Psychology
    • SOC-S 450 Topics in Methods and Measurement
    • SOC-S 493 Professional Strategies for Sociology Majors
    • SOC-S 498 Honors Thesis Seminar I
    • SOC-S 499 Honors Thesis Seminar II
    • SOC-X 371 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship
    • SOC-X 373 Internship in Professional Practice
    • SOC-X 477 Field Experience in Sociology
    • SOC-X 490 Individual Readings in Sociology
    • SOC-X 498 Sociological Research I
    • SOC-X 499 Sociological Research II
  8. Additional Elective(s). Additional courses, as needed, to fulfill remaining requirements.
  9. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major 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 major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100–499 level with the SOC subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
Restrictions

The following restrictions apply to the minimum credit hours required in the major:

  • No more than 9 combined credit hours of the following may count toward the major:
    • SOC-X 371 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship when taken Summer 2024 or later
    • SOC-X 373 Internship in Professional Practice
    • SOC-X 477 Field Experience in Sociology
    • SOC-X 490 Individual Readings in Sociology

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Bachelor of Arts in African American and African Diaspora Studies and Sociology (AAADSOCBA)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and African American and African Diaspora Studies (SOCAAADBA)
  • Certificate in Social Research in Health and Medicine (SOCRHMACRT)
  • Minor in Social Science and Medicine (SSMEDMIN)
  • Minor in Sociology (SOCMIN)
  • Minor in Sociology of Work and Business (SOCWKBSMIN)
  • [Name unavailable] (SOCTSBA)

Exceptions to and substitutions for major 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.