Sociology Major: Standard Program

Program Requirements

All standard majors require a minor in a second discipline or a second major.

A minimum of 39 credits is required including:

SOC 101Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3)3
SOC 225Self and Society3
SOC 302Sociological Theory3
SOC 310Qualitative Research Methods3
SOC 380Social Inequalities3
SOC 498Capstone3
One of the following:3
PSY 200
Statistics and Data Analysis
SOC 211
Quantitative Research Methods
Select six of the following:14-24
GEOG 340
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
PSY 368
Psychopathology
SOC 150
Environmental Sociology
SOC 168
Social Problems
SOC 259
Introduction to Criminal Justice
SOC 285
Criminology
SOC 303
Contemporary Sociological Theory
SOC 320
The Family
SOC 322
Medical Sociology
SOC 323
Cultural Studies
SOC 340
Social Movements
SOC 349
Law Enforcement
SOC 350
Deviance
SOC 351
Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 355
Drugs and Society
SOC 367
Corrections
SOC 397
Special Topics
SOC 399
Internship in Sociology
SOC 492
Independent Study
Total Credits35-45

Capstone Course Requirement

The following courses in the Sociology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: SOC 498 CAPSTONE or SOC 492 Independent Study , or SOC 399 Internship in Sociology (Criminal Justice Emphasis) with instructor approval.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements. 

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3) 3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
 Credits13
Spring
SOC 225 Self and Society 3
MATH 113 Statistical Thinking (GT-MA1) 3
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
SOC 211 Quantitative Research Methods 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
MINOR Minor of Interest 3
SOC 168
or SOC 259
or SOC 320
or SOC 323
or SOC 340
or SOC 350
or SOC 351
or SOC 355
or SOC 397
or GEOG 340
 Social Problems (SOC ELECTIVE - prereqs may apply)
or Introduction to Criminal Justice
or The Family
or Cultural Studies
or Social Movements
or Deviance
or Juvenile Delinquency
or Drugs and Society
or Special Topics
or Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
 3
 Credits16
Spring
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
MINOR Minor of Interest 3
SOC 150
or SOC 259
or SOC 285
or SOC 322
or SOC 397
or GEOG 340
 Environmental Sociology (SOC ELECTIVE - prereqs may apply)
or Introduction to Criminal Justice
or Criminology
or Medical Sociology
or Special Topics
or Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
 6
 Credits16
Year Three
Fall
Minor should be declared by the beginning of third year.
SOC 302 Sociological Theory 3
SOC 380 Social Inequalities 3
MINOR Minor Course 3
SOC 168
or SOC 259
or SOC 320
or SOC 323
or SOC 340
or SOC 350
or SOC 351
or SOC 355
or SOC 397
or GEOG 340
 Social Problems (SOC ELECTIVE - prereqs may apply)
or Introduction to Criminal Justice
or The Family
or Cultural Studies
or Social Movements
or Deviance
or Juvenile Delinquency
or Drugs and Society
or Special Topics
or Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
 6
 Credits15
Spring
SOC 310 Qualitative Research Methods 3
MINOR Minor Course 3
Elective Elective 6
SOC 150
or SOC 259
or SOC 285
or SOC 322
or SOC 397
or GEOG 340
 Environmental Sociology (SOC ELECTIVE - prereqs may apply)
or Introduction to Criminal Justice
or Criminology
or Medical Sociology
or Special Topics
or Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Fall
MINOR Minor Course 3
Elective Elective 9
SOC 168
or SOC 259
or SOC 320
or SOC 323
or SOC 340
or SOC 350
or SOC 351
or SOC 355
or SOC 397
or GEOG 340
 Social Problems (SOC ELECTIVE - prereqs may apply)
or Introduction to Criminal Justice
or The Family
or Cultural Studies
or Social Movements
or Deviance
or Juvenile Delinquency
or Drugs and Society
or Special Topics
or Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
 3
 Credits15
Spring
SOC 498 Capstone 3
MINOR Minor Course 3
Elective Elective 9
 Credits15
 Total Credits120