Sociology Degree Requirements
Major Degree Requirements
The major in sociology ensures that students are able to acquire a broad understanding of the tenets of social justice with emphases on the sociological perspective, and critical sociological thought and methodology. They develop an understanding of how race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic factors and other differences among people impact our society. Having gained insight into how organizations and social systems work, graduates of the program are well-prepared to be agents of social change.
A major in sociology requires a minimum of 11 units, including:
- SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology
- SOCI 201 Social Inequality
- SOCI 350 Social Theory
- SOCI 351 Qualitative Methods and Analysis
- SOCI 352 Quantitative Methods and Analysis
- SOCI 454 Seminar
Five additional units in sociology, at least 3 of which must be at or above the 300 level. Honors project (SOCI 495, 496, 497) and Independent Study and Research (SOCI 405, 406, 407) may count for the 400 level elective. One HNRS/INQ 260SO may count as a lower-level elective. Three of the following Anthropology courses may count as electives in the Sociology major (but only one 300-level ANTH course): ANTH 101, 212, 261, 310, 361, and 380.
Three of the following Public Health Studies courses may count as electives in the major (only one 200-level PHST course): PHST 201, PHST 202, PHST 301, PHST 405 & 407, PHST 406, PHST 416, PHST 495 & 497, 496.
Sociology 416 (Community Internship) may not be used to satisfy the 300/400 level requirement as it is graded on a pass/fail basis.
Double Majors
To obtain a double major, all requirements for each major must be completed. Recent sociology majors have earned a second major in public health studies, psychology, criminal justice, political science, biology, art, religion, philosophy, Spanish, and business administration.
View the Sociology Major Checksheet
Minor Degree Requirements
The sociology minor allows students to focus some of their studies at Roanoke in the broad areas of the discipline as well as other areas of their choosing. Often students will focus on topics such as deviance, education or political sociology as a way to complement their major.
Although all students are required to complete the requirements of a major, a minor is optional for students. A minor provides students with a broader based liberal arts background by studying a second field in some depth.
A minor in Sociology requires six units, including: SOCI 101; SOCI 201; SOCI 351 or SOCI 352 (or any other social science methods course such as CJUS/I.R./POLI 209, PSYC 202, or PHST 301); and three additional units in Sociology, with at least one at the 300 level or above (excluding 416). One INQ/HNRS 260 SO may count as a 200-level elective. Two of the following Anthropology courses may count as electives in the minor: ANTH 101, ANTH 203, ANTH 212, ANTH 261, ANTH 310, ANTH 361, ANTH 380, ANTH 405 & 407, ANTH 406, and ANTH 416. Two Public Health Studies courses may count as electives in the minor (only one 200-level PHST course; only one elective if PHST 301 substitutes for the SOCI methods course).