Sociology, B.S.

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Are you curious about social problems? Do you have ideas about how to improve society? Are you interested in social policies and their effects? If so, Sociology may be for you. A Sociology degree prepares you for a wide range of careers in the following areas: business and industry, government, community and social services, the legal system, education, and research. Our majors work in nonprofit organizations, government, marketing, urban planning, and human resources. They also work with at-risk youth, senior citizens, and people struggling with substance abuse. Our faculty have areas of specialization in family sociology, medical sociology, immigration, religion, race and ethnic relations, social inequality, complex organizations, nonprofit organizations, and conflict resolution.

University Core Requirements (42 hours)

Communication (6 hours)

WRIT 1301 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 1302 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3

Mathematics (3 hours)

Choose ONE of the following courses.

MATH 1314 - College Algebra Credit Hours: 3
MATH 1332 - Contemporary Mathematics Credit Hours: 3

Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

Choose TWO of the following courses.

ASTR 1303 - Stars and Galaxies Credit Hours: 3
ASTR 1304 - Solar System Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1306 - Biology for Science Majors I Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1307 - Biology for Science Majors II Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1308 - Biology for Non-Science Majors I Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 1309 - Biology for Non-Science Majors II Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 2301 - Anatomy & Physiology I Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 2302 - Anatomy & Physiology II Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 1305 - Introductory Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 1311 - General Chemistry I Credit Hours: 3
CHEM 1312 - General Chemistry II Credit Hours: 3
ENSC 1301 - Environmental Science I Credit Hours: 3
ENSC 1302 - Environmental Science II Credit Hours: 3
GEOL 1303 - Physical Geology Credit Hours: 3
GEOL 1304 - Historical Geology Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 1301 - College Physics I Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 1302 - College Physics II Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 2325 - University Physics I Credit Hours: 3
PHYS 2326 - University Physics II Credit Hours: 3

Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)

Choose ONE of the following courses.

HUMN 1301 - Humanities Credit Hours: 3
LITR 2341 - Literature and Experience Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 1301 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit Hours: 3
WGST 1301 - Gender Matters: Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies Credit Hours: 3

Creative Arts (3 hours)

Social Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

Choose ONE of the following courses.

ANTH 2346 - General Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
CRIM 1301 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Credit Hours: 3
ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit Hours: 3
ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit Hours: 3
GEOG 1303 - World Regional Geography Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 2301 - Introduction to Psychology Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3

Public Speaking (3 hours)

COMM 1315 - Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3

Component Area Options (3 hours)

Two 1-hour Life and Physical Science Labs are required co-requisites for the chosen science courses.

PSYC 1100 - Learning Frameworks Credit Hours: 1

College Core Requirements (3 hours)

48 hours of upper-level credit must be “C” or better.

Core Requirement (3 hours)

Choose ONE of the following courses.

WRIT 3306 - Writing for the Social Sciences Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3307 - Advanced Writing Credit Hours: 3

Major Requirements (54 hours)

Choose ONE of the following courses.

HUMN 3374 - Critical Inquiry Credit Hours: 3
HUMN 3375 - Ideas in Transition Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 3331 - Ethics Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 4314 - The Great Philosophers I Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 4315 - The Great Philosophers II Credit Hours: 3

Diversity Requirement

Choose TWO of the following courses. For ANTH 4341 , the following may be substituted: SOCI 4341 or WGST 4341 For PSYC 4356 , the following may be substituted: SOCI 4356

ANTH 3355 - Topics in Asian Studies Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 3357 - Topics in African Studies Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 3358 - Topics in Middle Eastern Societies Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 4301 - Studies in Cultural Diversity Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 4333 - Peoples of Mexico and Central America Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 4341 - Gender and Sexuality in Global Perspectives Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 4334 - Psychology of Women Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 4356 - The Aging Experience Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 3317 - Religion and Immigration Studies in Houston Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 3352 - Urban Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4316 - Women and the Law Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4317 - Race and the Law Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4355 - Minorities in America Credit Hours: 3
SWRK 3324 - Oppression, Diversity, and Social Justice Credit Hours: 3

Choose ONE of the following courses.

ANTH 3311 - Contemporary Cultural Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 3361 - Anthropology of Food Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 3362 - Medicine, Bodies, and Culture Credit Hours: 3

Choose ONE of the following courses.

PSYC 3331 - Theories of Personality Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 4332 - Psychology of Work Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 4382 - Cognitive Psychology Credit Hours: 3

Choose ONE of the following courses.

SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 1306 - Social Problems Credit Hours: 3

Required Overview courses

SOCI 4312 - Social Structure: Class, Power, and Status Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4322 - Theories of Society Credit Hours: 3

Required Methodology courses

SOCI 4384 - Statistics Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4385 - Research Methods Credit Hours: 3

Additional Information

Both of the required methodology courses should be completed for credit before the end of a student’s junior year. Students are encouraged to take Research Methods (offered in fall) before taking Statistics (offered in spring).

Core Courses

Choose EIGHT of the following courses.

SOCI 2301 - Intro to Social Work Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 2319 - Multi-Cultural Studies Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 3317 - Religion and Immigration Studies in Houston Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 3351 - Political Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 3352 - Urban Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4316 - Women and the Law Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4317 - Race and the Law Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4323 - Religion in Society Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4324 - Organizations in Society Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4328 - Social Conflict and Mediation Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4332 - Sociology of Law Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4335 - Social Change and Social Movements Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4341 - Women in Society Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4355 - Minorities in America Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4357 - Sociology of Family, Work, and Gender Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4358 - Family and Society Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4359 - Family Policy Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4363 - American Immigration and the Immigrant Experience Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4364 - Medical Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4365 - Sociology of Mental Health and Illness Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4367 - Women’s Health and Sexuality Credit Hours: 3

Elective Requirements (21 hours)

Up to 15 hours could be any level electives (any 1300/2300/3300/4300 level courses) 6 hours must be upper-level (any 3300/4300 level courses.)

Sociology Concentration Areas

Sociology students are encouraged to structure their plans of study to reflect concentrations within the discipline. The concentrations below have been developed by the Sociology faculty to help students design degree plans that reflect their career and/or graduate education goals.