Associate of Arts Degree in Sociology
San Mateo, USA
Associate of Arts
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Jul 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 4,512 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for a 12-unit semester | 376 USD per unit | non-inclusive of miscellaneous fees
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
The Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer will prepare students for transfer into bachelor's degree programs in sociology and similar majors. Students completing this program will be able to identify, discuss, and differentiate the major concepts and theories of sociology; apply sociological theories and tools to a broad range of problems and scenarios at a basic level; and analyze and evaluate the sociological context of at least two specific areas of sociology.
The Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer prepares students for transfer into bachelor's degree programs in sociology and similar areas at a CSU campus and guarantees admission to the CSU system. The AA-T degree also requires completion of 60 transfer semester units, a minimum overall grade point average of 2.0, and completion of the CSU GE-breadth or IGETC.
Major Requirements
| Required Core Courses: 9-10 units | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| SOCI 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 units |
| SOCI 105 | Social Problems | 3 units |
| STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 units |
| OR | ||
| PSYC 121 | Basic Statistical Concepts | 3 units |
| Required Selective Courses: 6 units from Group A: select two courses from the following: | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| SOCI 110 | Courtship, Marriage and the Family | 3 units |
| SOCI 121 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 units |
| SOCI 141 | Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 units |
| SOCI 160 | Sociology of Sex and Gender | 3 units |
| PSYC 300 | Social Psychology | 3 units |
| Required Selective Courses: 3 units from Group B. | Units |
|---|---|
| Any Group A course not used above | 3 units |
Total Required Major Units: 22
General Education: Completion of Cal-GETC (California General Education Transfer Curriculum)
Elective courses: Additional CSU or UC transferable courses needed to meet the minimum 60 CSU transferable units requirement.
Career opportunities in this field include Primary Addiction Counselor/ Supervisor, Case Manager, Program Director, Prevention Educator, Mental Health Dual Diagnosis Counselor, Crisis Intervention Specialist, Incarceration Counselor, and Assessment/Placement Specialist. Other opportunities include working with adolescents, seniors, multicultural populations, and those who have been affected by HIV/AIDS. Persons who are awarded the certificate may be employed by in-patient and out-patient treatment clinics, transitional housing centers, mental health clinics, job training/placement programs, shelters for various homeless populations, detoxification units, crisis intervention centers, incarceration facilities, and education/prevention programs in the schools and community. The certificate program conforms to the Proposed Guidelines for Addiction Studies Programs within Higher Education prepared by the Department of Education and meets the accreditation standards set forth by the California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE).
Students completing this program will be able to:
- Distinguish the different sociological approaches (conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, functionalism, and postmodernism) and their explanation of society.
- Apply critical thinking skills to the examination of social institutions.
- Evaluate US and global-level social stratification and social inequality.
- Identify major methodological approaches to social research.
The San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley (SMCSV) offer more than 50 institutional scholarships each year, and all enrolled students are eligible to apply. Award amounts range from $300 to $7,000, helping make college more affordable. Students can also apply for external scholarships, such as the $1,000 Study in California Scholarship, to further support their educational journey.