DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor of Arts
• Minor
• Concentrations

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Students majoring in sociology are required to complete a minimum of 36 units of course work in sociology. Included within the 36 units are 15 units of courses required of all majors and 24 units of adviser approved electives tailored to each student's career objectives. In addition to the minimum of 36 units, students must satisfy the 3 unit writing requirement listed below. At least 27 units must be upper division. A total of nine adviser-approved units may be transferred from a community college.

Required Courses (15 units)
Sociology 101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
Sociology 302 Social Research Methods (3)
Sociology 303 Statistics for the Social Sciences (3)
Sociology 309 Computers in sociology (3) **
Sociology 410 Theories of Social Behavior (3)

Writing Requirement (3 units)
Sociology 308 Writing for Sociology Students (3)
English 301 Advanced College Writing (3)
English 360 Scientific & Technical Report Writing (3)
English 365 Legal Writing (3)
or an adviser-approved upper-division writing course.

Electives (24 units)
Students are to select a minimum of 24 units of elective course work in sociology consistent with their career objectives.

**Sociology 309 is required of Sociology Majors who started their college career in Fall 2001or later. Such students are required to take only 21 units of electives in Sociology.

NOTE: All courses counting toward the major must be taken for a letter grade. Students under Fall 1991 and later catalogs must pass required core courses and the writing requirement with a grade of ``C'' (2.0) or better.

For more information please contact Dr. Tony Bell or Dr. Hilla Israely (Sociology undergraduate advisors).

[top]

MINOR

Required Courses (9 units)
Sociology 101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
Sociology 302 Social Research Methods (3)
Sociology 410 Theories of Social Behavior (3)

Elective Courses (12 units)
Students select 12 units of upper-division course work in sociology.

For more information please contact Dr. Tony Bell or Dr. Hilla Israely (Sociology undergraduate advisors).

[top]

CONCENTRATIONS

Sociology majors have the option of selecting one of the following concentrations in consultation with a faculty member; sociology majors also have the option of not selecting a concentration and continuing the current practice.

A concentration consists of twelve units selected from the courses listed within each concentration below. Students must take the required course (or one of the required courses) as one of the four courses. Each concentration shall include a capstone experience which is described below.

Family Concentration

Required Course (3 units)
Sociology 351 Sociology of Families (3)

Electives (9 units)
Choose nine units from the following:
353 Child in America in Society
354 Sex Roles and Gender
355 Women in Contemporary Society
381 Sociology of Human Sexuality
385 Family Violence
459 Sociology of Marital Dissolution
495 Internship

Gerontology Concentration

Required Course (3 units)
Sociology 133 Introduction to Gerontology (3)

Electives (9 units)
Choose nine units from the following:
333 Sociology of Aging
351 Sociology of Families
360 Sociology of Death and Dying
433 Aging and Social Services
495 Internship

Social Work Concentration

Required Course (3 units)
Sociology 305 Techniques of Social Welfare (3)

Electives (9 units)
Choose nine units from the following:
300 Introduction to Social Welfare
333 Sociology of Aging
385 Family Violence
408 Sexual Abuse in American Society
416 Sociology of Alcoholism
459 Sociology of Marital Dissolution
495 Internship

Education Concentration

Required Course (3 units)
Sociology 352 Sociology of Education (3)

Electives (9 units)
Choose nine units from the following:
341 Social Interaction
350 Social Relations and Emotions
351 Sociology of Families
353 Child in American Society
413 Juvenile Delinquency
495 Internship

Concentration in Deviance and Socio-Legal Studies

Required Course(s) 3-6 units)
Sociology 411 Criminology (3) and/or Sociology 413 Juvenile Delinquency (3)

Electives (6-9 units)
Choose from the following:
365 Law and Society
385 Family Violence
408 Sexual Abuse in American Society
415 Corrections
466 Deviant Behavior
495 Internship

Concentration in the Sociology of Class, Race and Gender

Required Course(s) (3-9 units)
Sociology 357 Minority Group Relations (3) and/or Sociology 336 Sociology Inequality (3) and/or Sociology 354 Sex Roles and Gender (3)

Electives (3-9 units)
Choose from the following:
333 Sociology of Aging
355 Women in Contemporary Society
381 Sociology of Human Sexuality
495 Internship

THE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE

Students selecting a concentration in one of the six areas of emphasis in Sociology need to complete a CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE. The intent of this experience is for students to utilize appropriate course content from their concentration and integrate and synthesize their focus with appropriate conceptual frameworks and concerns. Students will choose and complete this project under the mentorship of any faculty member who is willing to be a mentor. The capstone experience itself must be arranged with the mentor ahead of time and before beginning the capstone experience. The specific capstone experience will consist of any one of the following options:

1. A poster presentation to be shown in a class or other appropriate setting
2. A library research paper
3. A written report based on field observations*
4. An oral report based on field observations
5. A power point presentation on a specified and limited topic (may be one that is covered or has been covered in a class in the concentration)
6. A written or oral report on a service learning assignment in area appropriate to the concentration
7. A written or oral report on an Independent Study in the area of concentration
8. A written or oral report on an Internship in an area of concentration
10. A written portfolio (see below)

The satisfactory completion of the capstone project has to be certified by the faculty mentor and an undergraduate advisor, before a graduation check can be completed.

*A field observation consists of observation made in any social setting e.g. a work setting, a recreational setting, a religious setting, a volunteer setting etc.

The Written Portfolio should begin with your name, your address, your email, telephone number, age, sex, and student I.D. number. It should also address each of the following areas (where relevant):

1. Education - past and present: List degrees, diplomas, certificates already received as well as majors, minors, and concentration in progress. Future Educational Aspirations (Describe in a couple of paragraphs what are your aspirations regarding further education, if any.)

2. Future Educational Aspirations: Describe your post graduate educational aspirations such as degrees, credentials, certificates.

3. Past/Current Occupations: Describe full-time, part-time, and/or temporary jobs.

4. Future Occupational Aspirations: Describe aspirations regarding your future career/occupation.

5. Statement of Motivation: Describe your desires to pursue a particular path in the future as if you were writing a statement for graduate school, a professional school or a potential employer. Share experiences that influenced your direction in life.

6. Volunteer work in organizations: Describe your involvement in various formal organization; your volunteer experiences before and during your college attendance, including internships and service-learning practicum. For example, volunteering in the March of Dimes organization, Women Transitional Living Center for abused women, internships, etc.

7. Volunteer work in the community: Describe your participation in various informal activities and groups in your community, like coaching Little League, mentoring a high-school student from your neighborhood, service learning experiences, etc.

8. Involvement in academic, political and/or other associations: List and describe the groups you have belonged to and the activities of these groups, for example, Sociology Students Association, Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honor Society, Students for Political Awareness, Save the Whales Society, etc. Indicate positions of leadership held.

9. Involvement in Sports: Indicate which sports and at what point in your life 10. List and explain any honors, awards, scholarships, grants or special recognitions whether for academic or other efforts.

11. Travel undertaken and foreign languages spoken

12. With reference to all the areas above, use sociological perspectives/conceptual
frameworks to describe what implications these have had on you to make your
world-view unique.

For more information please contact Dr. Tony Bell or Dr. Hilla Israely (Sociology undergraduate advisors).

[top]