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SOCIOLOGY

College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies

• BACHELOR OF ARTS
• MINOR
• MASTER OF ARTS
• CAREER POSSIBILITIES
• FACULTY
• CONTACT
• COMPLETE COURSE LISTING

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Sociology is the study of the groups people build, the makeup of human groups, and changes in their makeup over time. This study of human groups assists students to learn who we are, to get closer to the truth about the social world, and to become aware of ways to achieve desired social ends.

Sociology, like other social science disciplines, does not educate students in specialized skills. Sociology and other liberal arts majors stress the ability to observe, organize, and write clearly, as well as the development of skills in the analysis of data and in collaborating with others.

Organizations that most commonly employ sociologists are advertising agencies, banks, businesses, childcare agencies, community organizations, correctional institutions, governmental agencies, hospitals and health care organizations, personnel departments, and social services.

Special Features

• Special program features include internships in state and local agencies and in the private sector. The Department has also developed a special internship program with the Sacramento State Career Counseling and Placement Center for those students who are interested in an internship in business.
• The Department offers special topics courses that provide a way for faculty, many of whom have international backgrounds, to introduce material not covered in the regular classes.
• Majors learn statistical analysis of social data, computer processing of data and the SPSS computer program. Students are encouraged to learn several computer languages and the use of census data for social and regional planning. Student research projects may be selected for presentation in programs throughout the state.
• Thematic areas of studies include crime and deviance, diversity and inequality, socialization and interaction, globalization, and social change.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

The sociology major and minor have few specific requirements, allowing the student flexibility in selecting courses in the various subject areas covered in the program. The areas covered are 1) social theory and methods of inquiry; 2) social institutions, such as the family, education, politics, work, and religion; 3) thematic areas of: crime and deviance, diversity and inequality, socialization and interaction, globalization, and social change.

In collaboration with the College of Continuing Education, a Certificate of Academic Achievement in Bullying Perspectives and Prevention Strategies is offered.

Requirements - Bachelor of Arts Degree

Units required for Major: 43, includes 22 units of required upper division courses and 15 units of upper division electives (see below)
Minimum total units required for the BA: 120

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

A. Required Lower Division Courses (6 units)

(3)	SOC 1	Principles of Sociology
(3) Select one of the following:
	SOC 3	Social Problems
	SOC 8	Sense and Nonsense in Social Issues and Research
	SOC 10	Issues in Crime and Social Control

B. Required Upper Division Courses (22 units)

(4)	SOC 101	Introduction to Statistics for Sociologists
(4)	SOC 102A	Research Methods in Sociology (SOC 101 or equivalent)
(2)	SOC 102B	Research Methods Lab (SOC 101 or equivalent; SOC 102A)
(3)	SOC 125	Social Inequalities (SOC 1 or equivalent)
(3)	SOC 150	Social Psychology
(3)	SOC 192	Sociological Theory (SOC 1)
(3) Select one of the following Advanced Study:
	SOC 122	Immigration Studies
	SOC 130	Political Sociology (SOC 1 or equivalent)
	SOC 133	Sport in a Global Perspective
	SOC/ENVS 138	Environmental Sociology
	SOC 140	Sociology of Education (SOC 1 or equivalent)
	SOC 166	The Family
	SOC 171	Sociology of Religion

C. Additional Upper Division Requirements (15 Units)

Select fifteen (15) units of any upper division Sociology courses including any Advanced Study course not taken as an Area Division requirement.

Crime and Deviance

(3)	SOC 155	Criminology
(3)	SOC 156	Delinquency
(3)	SOC 157	Issues in Courts and Prisons
(3)	SOC 158	Sociology of Deviance

Diversity and Inequality

(3)	SOC 118	Chicano Community
(3)	SOC 120	Ethnic and Race Relations
(3)	SOC 123	Black Studies in Sociology
(3)	SOC 124	Social Justice in Interdisciplinary Perspective (Sophomore standing or instructor permission)
(3)	SOC 126	Sociology of Gender
(3)	SOC 127	Men, Masculinity and Society
(3)	SOC 160	Asian Societies
(3)	SOC 162	Middle Eastern Societies and Culture
Socialization and Interaction
(3)	SOC 128	Sociology of Sexuality (SOC 1 or instructor permission)
(3)	SOC 134	Sociology of Film
(3)	SOC 135	Sociology of Popular Culture
(3)	SOC 146	Sociology of Aging
(3)	SOC 168	Self and Society (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)
(3)	SOC 170	Sociology of Children and Adolescents
(3)	SOC 190	Sociology of Small Groups (SOC 1 or equivalent)
Globalization and Social Change
(3)	SOC 106	Births, Deaths and Borders
(3)	SOC 110	Urban Life and Problems
(3)	SOC 136	Social Movements (SOC 1 or instructor permission)
(3)	SOC 144	Sociology of Health and Illness (SOC 1 or instructor permission)
(3)	SOC 163	Conflict, Oil and Development in the Middle East
(3)	SOC 164	Sociology of Globalization
(3)	SOC 169	Changing American Family
(3)	SOC 175	Work and Occupations
(3)	SOC 176/LBRS 100	Labor and the American Social Structure (GWAR Certification before Fall 09, or WPJ score of 80+, or C or higher grade in ENGL 109M/W, or C- grade in ENGL 109M/W or WPJ score 70/71 and ENGL 109X co-requisite)

General

(3)	SOC 194	Special Topics in Sociology (SOC 1 or instructor permission)
(1-3)	SOC 195	Internship and Fieldwork (Instructor permission)
(3)	A 196 Series Course	Experimental Offerings in Sociology (Sociology major or instructor permission)
(1-3)	SOC 199	Individual Study Projects

Note: SOC 195 or SOC 199 can be taken for 1-3 units of credit. A maximum of 3 units in SOC 195 or SOC 199 may be counted toward the major. Students may take up to 3 units of upper division courses outside the department in consultation with their undergraduate advisor.

Requirements - Minor

Units required for Minor: 21

(3)	SOC 1	Principles of Sociology
(3) Select one of the following:
	SOC 3	Social Problems
	SOC 8	Sense and Nonsense in Social Issues and Research
	SOC 10	Issues in Crime and Social Control
(15)	Select 15 units of upper division elective courses.

GRADUATE PROGRAM

The Master of Arts Program in Sociology is designed to provide a broad academic foundation for a variety of professional opportunities and community needs such as survey research, evaluation research, social problems analysis, career interest in community organizations, and teaching.

The program offers small seminars and allows for close student-faculty contact. The program encourages students to seek internships, fieldwork, and participate in observation experience among the many government, voluntary, and private agencies in the Sacramento area. Students concentrate on theory and research methods as well as areas of specialization. Following coursework, students write a thesis based on original research.

Some graduates of the program enter Ph.D. programs at a variety of universities throughout the United States and others are employed in many state, local, and city government agencies and private businesses doing evaluation research, systems analysis, social problems analysis, and social impact assessment.

Admission Requirements

Admission as a classified graduate student in Sociology requires:

• a baccalaureate degree;
• a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 units attempted;
• satisfactory completion of a minimum of 18 units of undergraduate work in Sociology, including one course each in theory, statistics, and methodology, with a minimum 3.0 GPA;
• two letters of recommendation from faculty members in Sociology who know the applicant well enough to assess his/her potential for graduate study.

Students who have deficiencies in admission requirements that can be removed by specified additional preparation may be admitted with conditionally classified graduate status. Any such deficiencies will be noted on a written response to the admission application.

Admission Procedures

Applications are accepted as long as room for new students exists. However, students are strongly urged to apply by March 1 for the following fall or October 1 for the following spring in order to allow time for admission before registration. All prospective graduate students, including Sacramento State graduates, must file the following with the Office of Graduate Studies, River Front Center 206, (916) 278-6470:

• an online application for admission;
• two sets of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State; and
• two letters of recommendation from Sociology faculty members to the Graduate Coordinator in the Sociology Department.

Advancement to Candidacy

Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy, indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure should begin as soon as the classified graduate student has:

• removed any deficiencies in admission requirements;
• completed at least 15 units in the graduate program with a minimum 3.0 GPA;
• completed a draft of the thesis prospectus; and
• taken the Writing Placement for Graduate Students (WPG) or taken a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline within the first two semesters of coursework at California State University, Sacramento or secured approval for a WPG waiver.

Advancement to candidacy forms are available in the Department Office. The student fills out the form after planning a degree program in consultation with a Sociology Graduate Advisor. The completed form should be returned to the Office of Graduate Studies for approval.

Requirements - Master of Arts Degree

Units required for the MA: 30
Minimum required GPA: 3.0

Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

A. Required Core Courses (15 units)

(1)	SOC 200A	Orientation to Graduate Studies in Sociology (Classified graduate status)
(2)	SOC 200B	Thesis Prospectus/Project Preparation Seminar (Six hours of graduate study; SOC 214, or concurrent enrollment, recommended)
(3)	SOC 214	Research Methods
(3)	SOC 215	Data Analysis (SOC 101 or equivalent, or instructor permission)
(3)	SOC 235	Social Psychology (Open to classified graduate students in Sociology)
(3)	SOC 240	Seminar: Sociological Theory (Classified graduate status)

B. Electives (9 units)

(9) Select 9 units from the following:
	SOC 210	Urban Sociology (Classified graduate status)
	SOC 220	Seminar: Social Change (Classified graduate status)
	SOC 225	Social Stratification (Classified graduate status)
	SOC 226	Sociology of Gender
	SOC 230	Seminar: Social Organization (Classified graduate status or instructor permission)
	SOC 238	Environmental Sociology
	SOC 255	Social Research in Crime and Deviance
	SOC 260	Contemporary Issues of the Middle East and North Africa
	SOC 265	Race and Ethnic Relations
	SOC 266	Sociology of the Family (Classified graduate status or instructor permission)
	SOC 295*	Internship and Fieldwork (Instructor permission)
	SOC 299*	Special Problems

*No more than 3 units of SOC 295 and SOC 299 may be counted toward the degree.

C. Culminating Experience (6 units)

(6) SOC 500 Thesis or Project (Advancement to candidacy, successful thesis prospectus hearing, and completion of all sociology required and elective seminars with a minimum 3.0 GPA)

Note: A foreign language is not required for the degree. However, students who plan further graduate study are encouraged to study French, German, or Spanish since proficiency in one of these is sometimes required in doctoral programs.

Career Possibilities

Public Health Statistician · Industrial Sociologist · Demographer · Recreational Specialist · Social Worker · Urban Planner · Correctional Counselor · Youth Counselor · Criminologist · Social Ecologist · Public Relations Consultant · Interviewer/Researcher · Statistician · Population Analyst · Public Opinion Analyst · Migration Specialist · Parole/Probation Officer · Employment Counselor · Teacher · Writer/Journalist · Management Analyst · Budget Analyst · Government Research Analyst

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