Sociology Major - Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Sociology is the study of human groups and how the group influences social behavior. The field is both a science and a philosophy, seeking to answer questions about human behavior through the use of scientific methods. Sociology gives us new and important knowledge about the social world. The focus of the sociology major is to prepare students with the methodological background and analytical skills necessary for working in today's world, while allowing students to gain a basic understanding of a variety of areas within sociology such as social stratification, criminology, social psychology and comparative sociology.

Every sociology major completes a senior project in one of our three senior capstone courses SOC 405 Quantitative Social Research Seminar, SOC 416 Qualitative Explorations, or SOC 410 Sociology Honors Project. Working closely with faculty, each student designs and completes a semester-long investigation of a sociology-related topic. The senior capstone course provides students with firsthand experience and analytical skills that are valuable in the work world and in graduate study.

(All colleges, excluding teacher certification programs)

36 credits

Core
SOC 110Introduction to Sociology3
or CRIM 115 Criminology and Criminal Justice through the Ages
or SOC 120 Social Problems
SOC 200Foundations of Social Analysis 13
SOC 250Methods of Social Research I 13
SOC 350Methods of Social Research II3
SOC 390Sociological Theory3
Select one of the following:3
SOC 405
Quantitative Social Research Seminar
SOC 410
Sociology Honors Project
SOC 416
Qualitative Explorations
Electives
The remaining 18 credits will consist of sociology or criminology electives to be selected in consultation with a faculty adviser in sociology. Nine of the 18 elective credits must be taken at the 300 level or above.18
Total Credits36
1

To enroll in SOC 200 Foundations of Social Analysis (3 cr.) and SOC 250 Methods of Social Research I (3 cr.), a student must have declared either sociology or criminology as a major. Once a student has declared sociology or criminology as a major, a minimum of four semesters is needed to complete the core required course sequence.

 Double majors in sociology and criminology:

  • Double majors in sociology and criminology may only count SOC 110 or (CRIM 115), and SOC 200, and SOC 250, and SOC 350 and either SOC 405, SOC 416, or CRIM 422 towards the completion of the sociology major.
  • Double majors in sociology and criminology may not count CRIM 322 as an elective for the sociology major.
  • Only six credits of elective courses taken for the criminology major may be applied to the sociology major.
  • Students double majoring in sociology and criminology may not earn a minor in criminal justice. 

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements to qualify for a degree. All enrolled students have access to a degree audit to track all of these requirements. 

College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH/VPA) Bachelor of Arts core requirements

The college core provides opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge by taking courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and/or sciences beyond the Core General Education Requirements (CGER). Students may select from courses offered by the full range of academic departments within the college according to their interests. The college core allows students to build their critical thinking, communication, problem solving, teamwork, and global competencies through in-depth exploration of topics of their choosing.

The following conditions apply:

  1. Students majoring in English (writing and rhetoric or literary and cultural studies emphases only) or in the Department of Global Cultures and Languages must earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Teacher education majors earn a Bachelor of Science degree and follow the School of Education core. Students majoring in other CASSH programs may choose either a B.A. or a B.S. degree.
  2. Language courses (CHI, FRE, GCL, GER, HCK, HMG, JPN, RUS, SPA, or SPE 214) used to fulfill a CGER may also be used to meet the core B.A. language requirement (i.e., the first requirement for each of the B.A. tracks). This course may come from the department of the student's first major.
  3. All other courses completed for the college core cannot overlap with CGER or the student's first major unless otherwise stated. The college core is in addition to those degree requirements. Overlap with a second major, minor, or certificate is allowed.
  4. Courses approved for use in the college core:
    1. Fine arts category: 150-300 level in ART, 100-300 level in MUS or THA.
    2. Humanities category: 100-300 level in CHI, FRE, GCL, JPN, HCK,
      HMG, RUS, or SPA, SPE 207, SPE 214, CST 211, CST 213,
      CST 310, CST 312, CST 315, CST 319, CST 338, CST 410,
      CST 412, CST 413, CST 415, CST 419,
      100-300 level in PHL, 200-300 level in ENG or HIS,
      MS 402, RGS 207, RGS 210, RGS 308, RGS 309, RGS 321, RGS 360,
      RGS 374.
    3. Social science category: 100-300 level in ANT, ARC, CRIM, ENV,
      POL, PUB, or SOC, CST 190, CST 230, CST 260, CST 271,
       CST 280, CST 301, CST 321, CST 322, CST 330,  CST 331, CST 332,
       CST 333, CST 334, CST 336, CST 337, CST 339, CST 350, CST 351,
       CST 353, CST 354, CST 358, CST 360, CST 365, CST 378, CST 380,
       CST 388, PSY 100,100 level in RGS,
       RGS 205, RGS 303, RGS 307, RGS 314, RGS 316, RGS 320, RGS 322,
       RGS 328, RGS 337, RGS 340, RGS 350, RGS 353, RGS 362, RGS 373,
       RGS 377, RGS 409. Students with a declared minor in child/youth
      care or psychology may request additional courses from those programs be applied to the core by contacting the CASSH Academic Services Director.

Diversity course requirement

All students in CASSH must complete at least one diversity course from within CASSH. This course can overlap with CGER, major, minor, or other degree requirements. Select from the 100-400 level in ANT, ARC, CHI, CRIM, FRE, GCL, GER, HCK, HMG, JPN, RUS, SOC, SPA, or RGS; or from the following:
 ART 215, ART 251, ART 301, ART 331, ART 332, ART 335, CST 271,
 CST 332, CST 337, CST 419, ENG 207, ENG 208, ENG 210, ENG 212,
 ENG 215, ENG 220, ENG 336, ENG 357, ENG 360, ENV 350, ENV 351,
 ENV 352, ENV 353, ENV 354, HIS 195, HIS 220, HIS 230, HIS 250,
 HIS 260, HIS 285, HIS 310, HIS 319, HIS 327, HIS 328, HIS 329,
 HIS 330, HIS 333, HIS 335, HIS 336, HIS 338, HIS 345, HIS 357,
 HIS 359, HIS 360, HIS 362, HIS 363, HIS 377, HIS 383, HIS 386,
 HIS 389, HIS 390, INS 494, MUS 205, MUS 209, MUS 377, PHL 212,
 PHL 335, PHL 336, PHL 349, POL 130, POL 140, POL 202, POL 205,
 POL 309, POL 325, POL 330, POL 332, POL 335, POL 336, POL 340,
 POL 341, POL 344, POL 345, POL 346, POL 355, PUB 210, PSY 282,
 PSY 283, PSY 318, PSY 319, PSY 325, PSY 360, THA 130, THA 351. 

Bachelor of Arts track requirement

Bachelor of Arts students must declare a Language, Humanities, or Fine Arts track. This can be done through the UWL Change of Major Form. Students select one of the below tracks.

A. Language Track

  1. Native speakers of English complete:
    Select one of the following:
    CHI 202
    		Chinese Language and Culture in Action II
    FRE 202
    		French Language and Cultures in Action II
    GCL 202
    		Intermediate Languages II
    GER 202
    		German Language and Cultures in Action II
    HCK 202
    		Hoocak Language and Culture IV
    HMG 204
    		Hmong Heritage Language: Intermediate
    HMG 304
    		Hmong Heritage Language: Advanced
    JPN 202
    		Intermediate Japanese II
    RUS 202
    		Russian Language and Cultures in Action II
    SPA 202
    		Spanish Language and Cultures in Action II
    or SPA 221
    		 Introduction to Spanish for the Health Professions
    Non-native speakers of English: provide English proficiency evidence acceptable for admission to UWL as a degree seeking student to the CASSH Academic Services Director.
  2. Two additional courses from different categories selected from the college core fine arts, humanities, and social science categories.

B. Humanities Track

  1. One global language course at the 102-level or higher (including SPE 214); and
  2. Two additional courses from different departments (course prefixes within GCL are considered different for this requirement) selected from the college core humanities; and
  3. One course from the college core fine arts or social science categories.

C. Fine Arts Track

  1. One global language course at the 102-level or higher (including SPE 214); and
  2. Two additional courses from different departments selected from the college core fine arts; and
  3. One course from the college core humanities or social science categories.

Second major, minor, certificates, or individualized option requirement

In addition to all other College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities core requirements, all students in CASSH must complete one of the following:

  1. Complete a second major outside of the student's major program; or
  2. Complete a minor outside of the student's major program, consisting of at least 18 credits; or
  3. Complete two certificates outside of the student's major program with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400 level; of

  4. Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits that are in addition to the minimum credits required in the CGER. At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400-level outside the major department. The remaining six credits may consist of:

    1. 100-level or higher courses outside the major; or

    2. 300/400-level courses inside the major department not being used to fulfill major requirements.

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the Core General Education Requirements (CGER).
  2. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  3. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  4. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  5. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  6. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  7. Submit an application for graduation via the "Submit Intent to Graduate" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use their degree audit and work closely with their advisor(s) and college dean's office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

Core General Education Program

The Core General Education Requirement (CGER) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include CGER placeholders to ensure completion of the core general education requirements. The CGER category listed in parentheses indicated the recommended course to help complete CGER and the program requirements. Transferred courses may alter the plan. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. CGER courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the Core General Education Requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take The Eagle Advantage for College Success (UWL 100, 2 cr.) or FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CST 110 (CGER CL-SL Communication & Literacy: Spoken Literacy)3SOC Elective3
SOC 110 (CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies)3ENG 110 (CGER CL-WL Communication & Literacy: Written Literacy)3
SOC 225 (CGER CP-CU Civics & Perspective: Communities of the United States)3UWL 100 or FYS 100 (CGER SBS-FS Social & Behavioral Science: Social Foundation for Success)2
CGER NSWL-ES Natural Science & Wellness: Experiential Science4CGER NSW-MBP Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet3
CGER HA-PDU Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us3CGER MQR-QR Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative Reasoning3
 16 14
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC 2003SOC Elective3
SOC 2503CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics2
CGER CP-CW Civics & Perspective: Cultures of Our World/CASSH Core Language13Minor Course3
CASSH Core Course3CASSH Core Course3
University Elective3University Elective3
 15 14
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC 3503SOC 3903
CASSH Core Course3SOC Advanced Elective Course3
Minor Course3CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics1
University Elective3Minor Course3
University Elective3University Elective3
 University Elective3
 15 16
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC Advanced Elective Course3SOC 405 or 41623
Minor Course3SOC Advanced Elective Course3
Minor Course3CGER CL-SWT Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell3
University Elective3CASSH Core Diversity Course3
University Elective3Minor Course3
 15 15
Total Credits: 120
1

CASSH Core Humanities and Fine Arts Tracks require 102+ level language. CASSH Core Language Track requires 202 level language. Students unprepared for 202 level will need to complete prerequisite course work.

2

Honors students take SOC 410.