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Sociology, Bachelor of Arts


Modality: This program is fully online.

 

Sociology, Bachelor of Arts (775)


  • Undergraduate
  • AB
  • Arts & Letters
  • Society, Culture, Crime, and Justice Studies

Overview

The program is designed to further awareness and understanding of social life including the social causes and consequences of human behavior in groups, organizations, societies, and various cultures. Completion provides a broad background for students pursuing a variety of careers by helping them develop valuable skills.

Program Requirements (32 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

The major in sociology requires a minimum of 32 credit hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least half the total semester hours earned must be in upper-division courses (courses numbered 300-499). A minor, certificate, or second major is required. 

Core Courses

The following courses are required for every sociology major:

Course List
SOCL 100Introductory Sociology3
SOCL 199College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology1
or CRIM 199 College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology
SOCL 250Systems of Social Inequality3
SOCL 300Social Statistics3
SOCL 301Social Statistics Lab1
SOCL 302Social Research Methods3
SOCL 304Sociological Theory: Perspectives on Society3
Total Hours17

Non-restricted electives must be chosen from the following courses. No more than two of the following courses may be used as electives for the Sociology major: Socl 309; Socl 359; Socl 389; Crim 330; Crim 332;  Crim 361;Crim 370; Crim 380; Crim 432; Crim 434; Crim 446;  Crim 448; Crim 451

Course List
15 credit hours selected from the following:15
Electives:
CRIM 330Criminology3
CRIM 332Juvenile Delinquency3
CRIM 361Race, Class, and Crime3
CRIM 370Issues in Policing3
CRIM 380Punishment and Society3
CRIM 432Sociology of Criminal Law3
CRIM 434Organized Crime3
CRIM 446Gender, Crime, and Justice3
CRIM 448International Justice and Crime3
CRIM 451White-Collar Crime3
CSJ 200Introduction to Social Justice3
SOCL 1@
SOCL 2@
SOCL 3@
SOCL 4@
ANTH 120Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
ANTH 399Field Methods in Ethnography3
FLK 280Cultural Diversity in the U S3
PS 311Public Policy3

Not more than 3 hours earned in SOCL 495 / SOCL 496 “Directed Study” in Sociology may be counted toward the first 32 hours required for the major.

Finish in Four Plans

General

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003ENG 2003
SOCL 1003SOCL 2503
SOCL 199 or CRIM 1991SOCL 3043
MATH 183 (or other Colonnade math)3General Elective3
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science with Lab3
General Elective-- consider CSJ 2003 
 16 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SOCL 3023SOCL 3003
SOCL Elective3SOCL 301Should be taken the same semester as SOCL 3001
HIST 101 or HIST 1023Sociology Elective3
COMM 1453Colonnade: Connections13
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science32nd Major/Minor Course3
 General Elective3
 15 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 3003Any Sociology Elective3
Colonnade: Connections23Any Sociology Elective3
Any Sociology Elective3Colonnade: Connections33
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Any 300-400 level SOCL Elective3General Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course3Any 300-400 level SOCL Elective (suggested SOCL 494)3
General Elective3General Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Total Hours 122

Since so much that humans do is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob, from crime to religion, from divisions by race, gender, and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, from the sociology of work to the sociology of popular music. Indeed sociology seems to offer something for everyone, and its career potential is becoming increasingly recognized by today’s students.

We offer coursework for those who are pursuing a variety of careers. Our students have practice in many of the skills most desired by today’s employers, including the ability to communicate effectively and promote teamwork, to frame and solve problems realistically, to plan and evaluate projects and programs, to prepare clear and concise reports and manuals, and to speak effectively in varied group situations.

 

 

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Data source: Economic Modeling, LLC (Emsi) / www.economicmodeling.com

The information provided through this website are based in part on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data that is licensed by Western Kentucky University from Emsi. While Western Kentucky University believes this data to be reliable as a whole, some of the data is based on estimates made by Emsi, when actual data is not available. 

Western Kentucky University does not guarantee a job to graduates upon completion of any program.

 


 

 

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 Last Modified 7/30/26