Sociology - B.A.

The Sociology 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 will 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 for Sociology - B.A.

Program Description

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 for Sociology - B.A.

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) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. 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's Academic Policies.

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 program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

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 credit hours, 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

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

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Mostly online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • Kent Campus
    • Stark Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Sociology - B.A.

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.

Criminology and Justice Studies - Minor

The Criminology and Justice Studies minor aligns well for students declared in the psychology, sociology, political science and peace and conflict studies majors, as well as for those students interested in forensics. The program provides students with a broad understanding of the functions, roles and critical issues within the components of criminal, juvenile and civil justice.

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Program Information for Criminology and Justice Studies - Minor

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a broad understanding of the functions, roles and critical issues within all the components of criminal, juvenile and civil justice.
  2. Demonstrate the necessary knowledge, insight and sensitivity to occupy positions in public and private criminal justice agencies and encourage further professional development and graduate education.

Admissions for Criminology and Justice Studies - Minor

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements
CRIM 12000INTRODUCTION TO JUSTICE STUDIES 3
CRIM 36702CRIMINOLOGY 3
Criminology and Justice Studies (CRIM) Electives 112
Minimum Total Credit Hours:18
1

Students may apply a maximum 3 credit hours of CRIM 46792 toward minor requirements. CRIM 45093 and CRIM 45096 may not apply as minor electives.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
  • Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
  • Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Fully online
    • Mostly online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • East Liverpool Campus
    • Geauga Campus
    • Kent Campus
    • Salem Campus
    • Stark Campus
    • Trumbull Campus
    • Tuscarawas Campus

Kent State Alumna's Card Design In The Spotlight After Kelce Family Selects It For Holiday Greeting

Megan Cash

There’s a Kent State alumna behind the card Jason and Kylie Kelce selected for their family’s 2023 holiday greeting: Megan Cash, ’13. She designed the festive plaid template “Madras” for design marketplace/online retailer Minted. ...

Specializations

Criminology & Justice Studies prepares its graduates for professional roles in the varied fields of criminal and juvenile justice and for graduate study in the social sciences or law school.  To accomplish that, we offer optional course specializations in the following subjects: 

Combined BA/MA Program

Qualified Kent State undergraduate students can apply for early admission into the Master of Arts in Criminology & Criminal Justice 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.

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