Sociology, B.A.

Sociology and Anthropology
615-904-8349
Angela Mertig, program coordinator
Angela.Mertig@mtsu.edu

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. It is an expanding field that addresses challenging issues such as family dynamics, inequality, patterns of behavior, and forces for social change and resistance. Sociologists’ research can be applied to virtually any aspect of social life, from crime to corporate downsizing.

Students must receive at least a C in each required course. Ideally students should take SOC 2980 , SOC 3040 , SOC 3050 , and SOC 3060 early in the academic program, but no later than the junior year and prior to enrolling in SOC 4980 which should be completed during the senior year. In consultation with the student’s advisor, the remaining 12 hours of electives may be organized into an emphasis. Possible emphases include, but are not limited to, social inequalities, deviance and social control, work and family, and health and aging.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Sociology, B.A., Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education	41 hours
Major Requirements	35 hours*
Foreign Language	6 hours
Approved Bachelor of Arts Minor	15-18 hours
Electives	20-23 hours
TOTAL	120 hours

*This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements of the General Education curriculum. If program requirements are also used to fulfill General Education requirements, the number of elective hours will increase.

General Education (41 hours)

General Education requirements include Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Science categories.

The following course required by the program meets General Education requirements:

SOC 1010 (Soc/Beh Sci)
MATH 1530 (Math) (recommended)

Major Requirements (35 hours)

SOC 1010 - Introductory Sociology 3 credit hours (may be counted in General Education)
SOC 2980 - Sociology as a Profession 1 credit hour
SOC 3040 - Research Methods 3 credit hours
SOC 3050 - Data Analysis 4 credit hours
SOC 3060 - Sociological Theory 3 credit hours
SOC 4980 - Senior Seminar in Sociology 3 credit hours
Sociology electives 9 credit hours

Sociology Guided Electives (9 hours)

SOC 3152 - Sociology of Sex/ualities 3 credit hours
SOC 3400 - Gender and Society 3 credit hours
SOC 4011 - Social Inequality 3 credit hours
SOC 4020 - Sociology of Aging 3 credit hours
SOC 4050 - Sociology of Families 3 credit hours
SOC 4100 - Work in the 21st Century 3 credit hours
SOC 4240 - Race and Ethnic Relations 3 credit hours
SOC 4360 - Medical Sociology 3 credit hours
SOC 4450 - Sociology of Emotions 3 credit hours
SOC 4500 - Social Interaction and Identities 3 credit hours
SOC 4511 - Social Movements and Social Change 3 credit hours
SOC 4520 - Population and Society 3 credit hours
SOC 4550 - Sociology of Religion 3 credit hours
SOC 4650 - Sociology of Law 3 credit hours

Foreign Language Requirement (6 hours)

Students must successfully complete 2010 and 2020 or any courses numbered above the 2000 level in a single foreign language.

Minor (15-18 hours)

Approved Bachelor of Arts minor

Electives or Additional Minor (20-23 hours)

Recommended Curriculum: Sociology

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Freshman

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
SOC 1010 - Introductory Sociology 3 credit hours (Soc/Beh Sci recommended) *
Mathematics (MATH 1530 recommended) 3 credit hours
Natural Sciences (2 prefixes) 8 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (2 prefixes) 6 credit hours
SOC elective (lower division) 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 29 Hours

Sophomore

ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
HUM 2610 - World Literatures 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours
SOC 2980 - Sociology as a Profession 1 credit hour
SOC 3040 - Research Methods 3 credit hours *
SOC 3050 - Data Analysis 4 credit hours *
Foreign language 6 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
SOC guided elective 3 credit hours *
Choose 6 hours from:
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours
HIST 2040 - Survey African American History I 3 credit hours
HIST 2050 - Survey African American History II 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 32 Hours

Junior

SOC 3060 - Sociological Theory 3 credit hours *
Foreign language 6 credit hours
Minor courses 9 credit hours
Elective 3 credit hours
SOC elective 3 credit hours
SOC guided electives 6 credit hours *

Sociology, B.A.

Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education (41 hours)

Major Requirements (35 hours)

Sociology Guided Electives (9 hours)

Foreign Language Requirement (6 hours)

Minor (15-18 hours)

Electives or Additional Minor (20-23 hours)

Recommended Curriculum: Sociology

Freshman

Subtotal: 29 Hours

Sophomore

Subtotal: 32 Hours

Junior

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Senior

Subtotal: 29 Hours

NOTE: