Future Students

Academics

Sociology

College of Liberal Arts


 

QUICK JUMP
  Sociology
  Study Options
  Requirements and Core Courses
  Minor in Sociology
  Careers in Sociology
  Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation
  Scholarships and Financial Aid
  Campus Organizations and Activities
  Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You
  Contact Information

Sociology

Sociology is the study of social life, social changes, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists study a wide range of topics including families, workplaces, cultures, races, gender and social classes, and the physical environment.
• Offered at WSU: Bachelor of arts, minor, master of arts, doctorate
• Available at: Pullman

Study Options

The program offers eight specialized study emphasis areas from which students can pursue a program suited to their personal interests and goals. Each of these is an excellent preparation for graduate study in sociology, social work, and related social science disciplines. These options also prepare for professional training in law, medicine, education, and business.
• General Sociology centers on the study of society and its effect on individual behavior.
• Business and the Economy focuses on sociological aspects of professions and occupations, public opinion, social inequality, population trends, and minority cultural groups.
• Personnel and Human Relations provides an understanding of how such areas as family relationships, social psychology, gender and minority issues, aging, health and medical care, and alcohol and drug abuse influence the worker and the work environment.
• Law and Social Control is designed primarily for students interested in attending law school, doing research, or finding employment in public and private criminal justice or law enforcement agencies.
• The Family focuses on the family as an institution, the social structure in which families are embedded, and the social dynamics of family life.
• Society, Environment, and Technology centers on the social problems, political debates and public policy issues tied to concerns about the physical environment.
• Social Research and Data Analysis offers preparation for jobs requiring research skills and data analysis techniques.

Requirements and Core Courses

—Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

The bachelor of arts in sociology requires a minimum of 31 credit hours of sociology coursework. Three credit hours can be non-graded, allowing participation in independent study or internships.

All students must maintain at least a C average in their sociology courses. Also, 24 credit hours of related field courses are required. Related field courses include but are not limited to courses in anthropology, comparative American cultures, criminal justice, human development, political science, psychology, and women’s studies. At least 12 related field course credits must be at the 300-400 level.

Students are encouraged to select sociology courses related to their option area to complete the 31 credit hour requirement.

CORE COURSES
All sociology majors are required to take the following courses:
Soc 101—Introduction to Sociology
Soc 320—Introduction to Social Research
Soc 321—Quantitative Techniques in Sociology I
Soc 410—Development of Social Theory

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED COURSES
The following courses are required for completion of degree requirements in specific option areas:

• BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY
Soc 343—Sociology of Professions and Occupations
     or Soc 442—Political Sociology

• PERSONNEL AND HUMAN RELATIONS
Soc 350—Social Psychology

• LAW AND SOCIAL CONTROL
Soc 360—Theories of Deviance

• FAMILY
Soc 150—Marital and Sexual Life Styles
Soc 351—Sociology of the Family

• SOCIETY, ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
Two of the following four courses are required:
Soc 331—Population, Resources, and the Future
Soc 375—Sustainable Development
Soc 415—Ecology of Human Societies
Soc 430—Society and Technology

• SOCIAL RESEARCH and DATA ANALYSIS
Soc 420—Sociological Methods and Techniques
     or Soc 421—Quantitative Techniques in Sociology II

• GENERAL SOCIOLOGY
No additional courses are required.

NOTE: Students should consult the General Catalog for course planning and must meet course requirements as outlined in the General Catalog in order to graduate.

Minor in Sociology

A minor in sociology may be certified upon completing 60 credit hours. The minor requires a minimum of 18 credit hours of sociology coursework, which must include Soc 101, Soc 320, and at least nine additional graded credit hours of 300-400 level courses(excluding Soc 366).                             

Careers in Sociology

Careers abound for graduates with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology. Employment options include:
• Business and the computer industry, as a personnel and human relations manager, business administrator, or marketing specialist
• Community work, as a community organizer, child-care worker, or social justice advocate
• Criminal or juvenile justice, as a probation officer, corrections officer, or criminal justice advocate
• Local, state, and federal government positions in housing, planning, substance use, and environmental justice
• Health and human services, as a social worker, case manager, health educator, or hospital administrator
• Higher education, as a professional in admissions or student services
• Teaching at elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels

A bachelor of arts in sociology also offers preparation for graduate or professional school toward becoming a professor, researcher, lawyer, or other professional.

Suggested Strengths, Interests, and Preparation

• Enjoy thinking about things that people do
• A sociological imagination

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The department offers several scholarships for undergraduate sociology majors, including the Paul and Bessie Landis, Roberta Cline Frasier Anderson, Susan and Sarah Dolan Memorial, Ruth Magnuson Roberts, and alumni awards. There is also an award given to an exceptional senior who has earned the highest grade point average among all eligible sociology undergraduates. Also, sociology majors may be eligible for general scholarships from Washington State University and the College of Liberal Arts, as well as federal or state financial assistance.

Campus Organizations and Activities

• All sociology majors automatically become members of the Sociology Club upon certifying in the major. The Sociology Club is a registered student organization that provides undergraduate students with opportunities in leadership, academic, career, and social activities both on and off campus.
• The department’s chapter of the Alpha Kappa Delta national honor society recognizes students’ academic achievements and provides a valuable national and international network with students and scholars.

Related Fields of Study That Might Interest You

• Criminal Justice
• Human Development
• Human Resources and Personnel
• Psychology

Contact Information
Department of Sociology
Wilson Hall 204
Washington State University
PO Box 644020
Pullman, WA 99164-4020
soc@wsu.edu
509-335-4597
 

Strengths of the Program

  • WSU offers one of the leading sociology departments in the nation and world. It is ranked among the top in program quality by all independent evaluations.
  • Learn from faculty who utilize state-of-the-art techniques and are nationally and internationally recognized for their scholarly excellence.
  • Work in leading-edge computer labs with easy access to equipment and software.
  • Conduct studies in two fully equipped observation labs for small group research.
  • Acquire valuable career skills in writing, critical thinking, research and statistical analysis, and in understanding the complexities of human social behavior.
Office of Enrollment Management, PO Box 641067, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1067, 888-GO TO WSU (888-468-6978), Contact Us