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Sociology - B.A.

The Sociology undergraduate major provides you with a deep understanding of the social factors that shape our world. With a focus on critical thinking and problem-solving, you'll gain the skills needed to analyze complex social issues and develop effective solutions. Enroll now and become a change agent in society.

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Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology provides broad training in the theories and methods that sociologists use to understand contemporary social issues and problems. Students are encouraged to think critically as they examine issues ranging from small group behavior to global social movements. The core curriculum focuses on social inequalities, social psychology and health and illness. In addition, the program offers courses on a variety of topics that include urban living, deviant behavior, religion and family.

Sociology students are increasingly interested in courses that prepare them for meaningful careers that change the world (Seemiller and Grace 2016). One only needs to look at Black Lives Matter or the Sunrise Movement to see evidence of this generational disposition. Sociology, as a discipline, provides students with rigorous coursework on social inequality and social change and helps students find careers in government, teaching, community organizing, non-governmental organizations and social work.

Students may work with faculty and advisors to pursue their own individualized specialization in such areas as medical sociology; social inequalities; sociological social psychology; social change and social justice; family and life course sociology; and social problems, deviance and crime.

Sociology students may apply early to the M.A. degree in Sociology and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Describe how sociology is similar to and different from other social sciences.
  2. Show how one’s personal life is shaped by the time and place in which one lives.
  3. Demonstrate how institutions of family, education, religion, medicine and the economy are interrelated.
  4. Understand the interrelationships between social structures and individuals in society.
  5. Distinguish between individualistic, cultural and structural explanations of social events.
Coursework
On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
SOC 12050INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
SOC 32210RESEARCHING SOCIETY (ELR) (WIC) 13
SOC 32220DATA ANALYSIS 23
SOC 32221DATA ANALYSIS LABORATORY 21
SOC 42126SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES 3
Sociology (SOC) Electives 36
Sociology (SOC) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 315
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language (see Foreign Language College Requirement below)14-16
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credits hour, including 39 upper-division credit hours)38
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

Students who have declared majors in both Sociology and Psychology may substitute PSYC 21621 for SOC 32220 and SOC 32221.

3

Students may earn a maximum of 12 credit hours of SOC 42092; however, only 6 credit hours will count toward major requirements.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • To fulfill the diversity requirement, students must take one global diversity course that is not a sociology (SOC) course.

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.1
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options2:

  1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
  2. Elementary I and II of a second language
  3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:
  • Intermediate I of the same language
  • ARAB 21401
  • ASL 19401
  • CHIN 25421
  • MCLS 10001
  • MCLS 20001
  • MCLS 20091
  • MCLS 21417
  • MCLS 21420
  • MCLS 22217
  • MCLS 28403
  • MCLS 28404
1

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

2

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
SOC 12050 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
Sociology (SOC) Elective 3
Foreign Language 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
Sociology (SOC) Elective 3
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
Sociology (SOC) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Foreign Language 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
!SOC 32210 RESEARCHING SOCIETY (ELR) (WIC) 3
Sociology (SOC) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 6
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
!SOC 32220 DATA ANALYSIS 3
!SOC 32221 DATA ANALYSIS LABORATORY 1
Sociology (SOC) Upper-Division Electives (30000 or 40000 level) 6
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours16
Semester Seven
!SOC 42126 SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
General Electives 14
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • Mostly online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • Kent Campus
    • Stark Campus
Sociology Internships

Sociology Internship Program (SOC 42092)

 

 

Studies show that students who complete internships are far more likely than their non-interning counterparts to find jobs in their area of interest after graduation.  It’s never too soon to start thinking about internship! The internship course involves work experience under direction of a supervising faculty member in a government, non-profit, business, or educational setting.   

Top 5 reasons to consider an internship while at KSU:

  1. You will gain important career skills and experience while earning college credit.
  2. You will meet new and important people, enhancing future employment opportunities.
  3. You will have the chance to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to the “real world.”
  4. You will have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of people in our community.
  5. You will likely achieve a sense of accomplishment and personal fulfillment.

Internships can be paid or unpaid.  Note that there are scholarships available to students who qualify.

To be eligible for internship, students should be SOC majors or minors with junior or senior standing; have a 2.0 overall GPA; and receive approval from the course instructor.  Students may register for 1-9 credit hours in a given semester, depending on the nature of the internship, in 3 hour increments.

Sociology majors and minors can choose from a variety of internships (please contact the SOC undergraduate internship coordinator for a comprehensive list).  Most internships fall within one of the broad categories below:

  • Local governmental agencies
  • Homeless and Domestic Violence programs/shelters
  • Health clinics and organizations
  • Local, regional and national parks
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Social change groups/organizations
  • Business/marketing
  • Educational outreach and support (tutoring, mentoring)
  • Drug Prevention and Education

Questions? 

Please consult the Internship Coordinator, Susan Kunkle

Combined BA/MA Program

Qualified Kent State undergraduate students can apply for early admission into the Master of Arts in Sociology program. Students in the combined BA/MA program take up to nine credits of graduate-level coursework as undergraduate students, thus enabling courses to be applied toward both degree programs. Upon completion of undergraduate requirements, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree and continue in the graduate program.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Social science research assistants

5.8%

faster than the average

40,100

number of jobs

$49,210

potential earnings

Sociologists

3.6%

about as fast as the average

3,200

number of jobs

$86,110

potential earnings

Sociology teachers, postsecondary

3.8%

about as fast as the average

17,000

number of jobs

$75,610

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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