COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology requires students to complete a combination of core, upper-division, elective, and general education courses totaling a minimum of 120 credit hours. The major courses focus on building a strong foundation in sociological theory, research, and data analysis, as well as providing students with opportunities to explore specialized areas of interest.The program begins with SOC 12050 Introduction to Sociology, which introduces students to the fundamental concepts and frameworks used to analyze social behavior and structures. Students then progress to intermediate and advanced courses, including SOC 32210 Researching Society, SOC 32220 Data Analysis, and SOC 32221 Data Analysis Laboratory, which provide practical training in sociological research methods and quantitative analysis. SOC 42126 Sociological Theories develops students’ understanding of classical and contemporary theoretical perspectives that underpin sociological inquiry. In addition, students complete 6 credit hours of general sociology electives and 15 credit hours of upper-division sociology electives (30000 or 40000 level), allowing them to tailor their studies to individual interests, such as social inequalities, deviance, family studies, or social change.Beyond the major, students fulfill Kent Core requirements, including composition, mathematics and critical reasoning, humanities and fine arts, social sciences, and basic sciences, ensuring a well-rounded liberal arts education. Students are also required to meet the college’s foreign language requirement, completing 10–16 credit hours of language study to enhance global and cross-cultural competency.Additional components include UC 10001 Flashes 101 and a significant number of general electives to reach the 120-credit-hour graduation threshold, including 39 upper-division credits. These electives give students flexibility to pursue interdisciplinary studies or complementary academic interests.The program’s structure balances rigorous training in sociological research, theory, and applied knowledge with opportunities for specialization, preparing graduates for careers in government, social services, education, community organizing, nonprofit work, and other fields that require critical understanding of social structures, inequalities, and change.