The purpose of this program is to provide Sociology students with greater depth of knowledge in Sociology as a science and more development of research skills than currently provided by the Sociology B.A. program, which provides a more generalized education in Sociology.

Mission/Vision Statement

The mission of the sociology department is to teach our students to think sociologically, by applying the sociological theories and methods to social issues in the community, the nation and the world.

Student Learning Goals

1. Sociology students should demonstrate a working knowledge of key concepts in sociology (by defining, mastering the characteristics of, and being able to apply the concept to an example).
2. Sociology students should demonstrate a working knowledge of the major theories in sociology, the role of theory in building knowledge, and for a given social phenomena, construct a reasoned argument based on a theoretical perspective.
3. Sociology should demonstrate a working knowledge of research methods in sociology; including recognizing how the scientific method is used; applying the proper statistical procedure to data; and interpreting the data appropriately.
4. Sociology students should demonstrate a working knowledge of cultural diversity including recognizing the significance of race, ethnicity, gender, class, and sexuality both within U.S. society and in the global community.
5. Students will be able to explain how Sociology is a "social science," with attention to the ways that sociology applies the scientific method to understand sociol concerns and refine theory.
6. Students will be able to present social data for a public audience (eg. fact sheets, research briefs, policy briefs, op-eds).
7. Students will have functional skills in one or more of the following:
   • Geographic Information Systems (mapping social and economic data from public data sources)
   • Spreadsheet Applications
   • Database management
   • Marketing
   • Discussion and Group Methods
   • Interviewing Principles and Practices
   • Public Relations
8. Students will be able to locate public data sources for information on our service region (i.e. social, economic, agriculture and industry, and health related data).
9. Students will demonstrate the ability to use publicly available data to understand the social context of the IU Southeast service region (i.e. download, use in statistical analyses, make charts in Excel, and present findings through graphic, written and oral presentation).
10. Students will recognize the social and political issues that shape the use of social research in public contexts (i.e. government, community organizing, nonprofit organizations, marketing, and public relations).
11. Students will have an understanding of professional ethics in public sociology.
12. Students will be able to identify jobs and career paths that utilize their sociological imagination as well as their research and communication skills.

Degree/Certificate Requirements

See “General Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees at IU Southeast” and “General Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree.”

General Education Component

Note: This is not a re-statement of the University’s General Education Requirement but a list of specific General Education courses which are also requirements or pre-requisites for course work in the school/major.

B.S. Distribution Component

*Note: Must take at least one life science and one physical science.

Sociology Core

The B.S. in Sociology requires a minimum of 37 credit hours in sociology.  Specific requirements are listed below.

Choose one of the following courses: "Sociology as an Applied Science"

Choose three of the following courses: "Social Groups, Institutions, and Society" or "Sociology as an Applied Science"

Electives

In addition to the sociology core and sociology electives, students must choose two of the following elective courses.

Capstone