2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Dec 04, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Sociology (B.A./B.S.)

Location(s): Brookings Main Campus, Online


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Program Coordinator/Contact

Katie Derrick, Professional Advisor
School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies
Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies 110
605-688-6296

Program Information

The world awaits all who have a major in sociology. The mission of the School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies is to provide students with the theoretical and substantive knowledge to participate as skilled professionals within the institutions and organizations that shape our increasingly diverse and global society. Students receive a broad liberal arts education that will qualify them for many different kinds of occupations, such as group work with youth or the elderly, community development, business, college admissions, family planning, criminal justice, and other government jobs.

Course Delivery Format

Coursework for the program is delivered in multiple formats including face-to-face lecture and online courses.

Student Learning Outcomes


In the Sociology major, students will:

  • Apply sociological theories to understand social phenomena.
  • Critically evaluate explanations of human behavior and social phenomena.
  • Apply scientific principles to understand the social world.
  • Evaluate the quality of social scientific methods and data.
  • Rigorously analyze social scientific data.
  • Use sociological knowledge to inform policy debates and promote public understanding.

Academic Requirements


  • A minimum GPA of 2.2.
  • A grade of C or better in all SOC courses.
  • SOC courses applied to the Sociology major requirements (including the required 15 credit core and 18 credit SOC/ANTH electives) may not be applied to the Criminal Justice minor.

Requirements for Sociology Major: 120 Credits


Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements


College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements


  • One declared minor outside of the major discipline OR a second major OR a teaching specialization. The minor may be a traditional minor within one department or school or it may be interdisciplinary involving more than one department or school. The minor can be in a different college. The minor must be declared no later than the student’s third semester of enrollment.
  • Capstone course in the major discipline
  • Upper division coursework Credits: 33

Bachelor of Arts Requirements: 6+

  • Modern Foreign Language Including the 202-Level Credits: 6+ 

Bachelor of Science Requirements: 10+

  • Natural Sciences  Credits: 10+
    • Any two lab sciences.
    • Coursework must include 2 prefixes.
    • MATH and STAT courses do not count toward the science requirement.

System General Education and/or major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences  for additional information about Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science specifications.

Electives


Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120


Summary of Program Requirements


Bachelor of Arts

System General Education Requirements* 30 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements** 6+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements 33 Credit Hours
Electives*** 57 Credit Hours

Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements* 30 Credit Hours
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements** 10+ Credit Hours
Major Requirements 33 Credit Hours
Electives*** 53 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements, Supporting Coursework, and College Requirements.
**System General Education Requirements, Major Requirements, and Supporting Coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements.  
***Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet


The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.