Susquehanna University
BA in Sociology

Selinsgrove, USA

DEGREE TYPE

DURATION

4 years

LANGUAGES

English

PACE

Full time

APPLICATION DEADLINE

EARLIEST START DATE

STUDY FORMAT

On-Campus

* November 1 — Early Action 1. November 15 — Early Decision. December 1 — Early Action 2. February 1 — Regular Decision admission application deadline; late applications welcome as space permits. March 1 — International Students

Key Summary

About : The BA in Sociology provides students with an understanding of social behavior, institutions, and societies. This program encourages critical thinking and analytical skills, allowing students to explore topics such as culture, identity, and social inequality. Students can expect coursework that includes both theoretical perspectives and practical applications.

Career Outcomes : Graduates of the BA in Sociology can pursue various career paths, including roles in social research, community development, public policy, and education. Opportunities also exist in non-profit organizations, government agencies, and corporate social responsibility positions, making this degree versatile and relevant in today’s job market.

Delve into the world of human interaction

Explore society at every level — small groups, subcultures, cultures, organizations, and institutions — and study how people interact.

When you study sociology here, you’ll learn to think critically about how race, class, gender, sexuality, law, culture, social media, social movements, and the state impact individual lived experience.

In and out of the classroom

In classes like Crime and Justice, you’ll examine the dimensions, causes, and costs of crime in the U.S. and consider the uses and limitations of our justice system in dealing with them.

Your learning isn’t limited to the classroom. Explore social justice through our Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society, or put your knowledge to work in internships with local government, criminal justice, and social welfare agencies.

Cap off your studies with a semester or year-long research project you select guided by a dedicated faculty advisor.

Develop useful and competitive skills

Studying sociology builds critical thinking skills and the ability to examine complex questions — skills valued by employers in all fields. You’ll learn there are multiple ways to approach any given problem.

You will design research projects, analyze data and identify useful ways to investigate questions about public policy, public health, community development, globalization, education, and the law.

Adding one of our interdisciplinary minors, like international studies and public policy, helps you gain a better understanding of important topics in today’s world.

Our graduates thrive in government and social policy, business, social welfare, and education careers. They also pursue advanced graduate degrees and law school.

Requirements for Major

When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.

Requirements for Degrees

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology offers a major in sociology, a major in anthropology, a minor in sociology, and a minor in anthropology. It also offers, in collaboration with the Department of Education, a course of study that leads to social studies teacher certification.

Students in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology may, with the approval of the adviser and/or department head, complete more than one major and/or minor in the department.

Requirements for a Major in Sociology

A sociology major must complete 44 semester hours of required courses in sociology and anthropology and receive grades of C- or better. All majors must achieve at minimum a cumulative GPA of 2.00 in courses offered in the major. There are five compulsory courses. At least 12 of the remaining 24 hours must be taken at the 300 level or higher. In consultation with a department adviser, a sociology major may fulfill some of the major requirements by taking anthropology courses. The department recommends that SOCI- 235/ANTH-235 Qualitative Research Methods, SOCI-245/ANTH-245 Quantitative Research Methods, and SOCI-311 Sociological Theory be completed by the end of the junior year. The capstone requirement for a major in sociology is met by taking SOCI-500/ANTH-500 Seminar or, with the permission of the department chair, by taking SOCI- 501/ANTH-501 Independent Research, which requires the production of a research paper.

20 Compulsory Courses for Sociology Major

4 SOCI-101 Principles of Sociology
4 SOCI-235 Qualitative Research Methods
4 SOCI-245 Quantitative Research Methods
4 SOCI-311 Sociological Theory
4 SOCI-500 Seminar

24 Electives

Of the 24 remaining semester hours, at least 12 must be taken at the 300 level or higher.

Teaching Certification

Coursework required by the state of Pennsylvania for admission to the teacher certification program includes successful completion of ENGL-100 Writing and Thinking or equivalent course, at least 3 semester hours in British or American literature, at least 6 semester hours of mathematics coursework (or other courses which satisfy the Central Curriculum Analytic Thought requirement), and at least one 40-hour externship.

Education course requirements for secondary education are EDUC-101 Introduction to Education and Society, EDUC-250 Educational Psychology, EDUC-260 Introduction to Special Education, EDUC-270 Instruction of Exceptional Students, EDUC-330 Technology in Education, EDUC-350 English Language Learners: Theory and Instruction, EDUC-380 Instructional Design, EDUC- 479 Principles of Learning and Teaching in Secondary Education, EDUC-483 Differentiated Instruction and Classroom Management in Secondary Education, and the EDUC-500 Student Teaching package (EDUC-501, EDUC-502, EDUC-503, and EDUC-600).

Sociology students who seek secondary education certification in social studies must take the following additional courses outside the Department of Sociology and Anthropology: EDUC-425 Methods of Curriculum Instruction and Assessment in Teaching Social Studies, ECON-105 Elements of Economics, POLI-111 American Government and Politics, POLI-121 Comparative Government and Politics, PSYC-101 Principles of Psychology, HIST-322 Pennsylvania History or HIST-324 Pennsylvania’s Pasts and Their Publics, and 1 course in U. S. history (HIST-111, HIST-112 or HIST-115).

Secondary education sociology students must also take the following courses within the Department of Sociology and Anthropology: ANTH-162 Introduction to Anthropology, SOCI-101 Principles of Sociology, SOCI-235 Qualitative Research Methods, SOCI-245 Quantitative Research Methods, SOCI-311 Sociological Theory, SOCI-333 Development, Globalization, and Society or ANTH-310 National, Transnational and Diasporic Communities, SOCI-341 Family and Kinship, SOCI-413 Race, Ethnicity, and Minorities, SOCI-500 Seminar or SOCI-501 Independent Research, and 8 semester hours in sociology electives (student teaching may be substituted for the electives requirement).

Honors

The departmental honors program recognizes outstanding academic performance in the major with departmental honors. To graduate with departmental honors in sociology or anthropology, candidates must:

Have a GPA of 3.50 or above in the major and 3.25 or above overall,
Secure the recommendation of the department faculty to pursue honors,
Write a senior thesis or equivalent paper based on departmental seminars, and
Sit for an oral honors examination.

Requirements for Minor

Requirements for a Minor in Sociology

Students must complete 24 semester hours of required courses in sociology and receive grades of C- or better. All minors must achieve at minimum a cumulative GPA of 2.00 in courses credited toward the minor. Required courses include SOCI-101 Principles of Sociology, SOCI-235/ANTH-235 Qualitative Research Methods or SOCI-245/ANTH-245 Quantitative Research Methods, and SOCI-311 Sociological Theory. At least eight of the remaining 12 semester hours must be taken from courses offered at the 200 level or higher. Credit received for practica courses is not included in the 24 semester hours required of sociology minors.