COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Texas State University requires a minimum of 120 credit hours and is designed to build strong analytical, research, and social understanding skills. Students begin with foundational coursework such as Introduction to Sociology and then complete a series of advanced sociology electives, often transferred or aligned with standard course equivalents. A key requirement of the program is completing at least 36 advanced credit hours at the 3000 or 4000 level, ensuring in-depth study within the discipline. In addition, students must complete nine credit hours of writing-intensive courses, which help develop strong research and communication abilities essential for professional and academic success.The core sociology curriculum includes essential courses such as statistics for the behavioral sciences, applied data analysis, sociological theory, and both quantitative and qualitative research methods. These courses provide students with a solid foundation in understanding social patterns, analyzing data, and conducting research. Beyond the core requirements, students must complete an additional 21 credit hours of advanced sociology electives, allowing them to explore specialized topics based on their interests, such as social inequality, health, culture, or public policy. The number of free electives varies depending on how many credits a student needs to reach the total degree requirement or advanced hours threshold. Overall, the program offers flexibility while ensuring students gain both theoretical knowledge and practical research skills, preparing them for careers in research, social services, policy analysis, business, or further graduate study.