School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Sociology, History, and Political Science

Bachelor of Science in Sociology

The Bachelor of Science degree in sociology provides students with a broad exposure to the theories, methods, and substantive areas of the discipline. The program provides training in social theory, research skills, and specialized course work that prepares students for a variety of careers within human and social services but especially provides options for applied and interdisciplinary work as preparation for careers in social and human services. The B.S. degree also serves as a foundation for graduate work in sociology as well as in other professional fields such as social work, public administration, law, and business. Students may select a traditional or applied sociology/human services track within this degree. Specialty concentrations in “Children and Families” and/or “Crime and Society” may also be selected within the sociology electives needed for the degree. It is strongly recommended that I U Kokomo students selecting a major or a minor in sociology complete SOC-S 252, Methods of Sociological Research, at the earliest possible opportunity before taking advanced upper level courses in sociology.

Requirements for the Traditional Track within the B.S. in Sociology (BS-T)

  1. See “Degree Requirements” section under “Humanities and Social Sciences.”
  2. Sociology Major (BS-T) - Students must complete a minimum of 42 credit hours in sociology with a grade of C or higher in each course. The following 15 credit hours of courses are required
    • SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology (counts for general education)* 
    • SOC-S 252 Research Methods 
    • PSY-K 300 Statistics 
    • SOC-S 340 Social Theory 
    • SOC-S 497 Field Experience in Human /Social Services 
    • SOC-S 470 Senior Seminar

*Please note that SOC-S 100 applies to general education core but must be taken for the major

  1. Sociology Elective Courses in Traditional Track for the B.S. in Sociology (BS-T) (9 courses or 27 credit hours from the list below.*
    • SOC-S 302 Organizational Life 
    • SOC-S 314 Social Aspects of Health and Medicine 
    • SOC-S 315 Work and Occupations 
    • SOC-S 316 Family 
    • SOC-S 317 Inequality 
    • SOC-S 325 Juvenile Delinquency 
    • SOC-S 328 Criminology 
    • SOC-S 331 Aging 
    • SOC-S 344 Sociology of Childhood ** 
    • SOC-S 335 Race and Ethnic Relations 
    • SOC-S 338 Gender Roles 
    • SOC-S 360 Topics in Social Policy: Family Violence** 
    • SOC-S 360 Topics in Social Policy: Drugs and Society 
    • SOC-S 375 Issues in Human & Social Service Policy*** (pending approval) 
    • SOC-S 419 Social Movements and Collective Action 
    • SOC-S 420 Topics in Deviance: White Collar Crime/Organized Crime 
    • SOC-S 495 Readings in Sociology
  1. Optional Specialty Concentrations within a Sociology Degree - these tracks can be taken with either a BS or a B.A. and with either the Traditional track or Applied Sociology/Human Services track. See Optional Special Concentrations for all degree options under the BA-T degree.
Requirements for the Applied Sociology/Human Services track within the B.S. in Sociology (BS-AS/HS)
  1. See “Degree Requirements” section under “Humanities and Social Sciences.”
  2. Sociology Major (BS-AS/HS) - Students must complete a minimum of 42 credit hours in sociology with a grade of C or higher in each course. The following 18 credit hours of courses are required:
  • SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology (counts for general education)*
  • SWK-S 141 Introduction to Social Work (or HUMS 101 from Ivy Tech)
  • SOC-S 252 Research Methods
  • PSY-K 300 Statistics
  • SOC-S 340 Social Theory
  • SOC-S 497 Field Experience in Human /Social Services
  • SOC-S 470 Senior Seminar

*Please note that SOC-S 100 applies to general education core but must be taken for the major

3. Sociology Elective Courses in Applied Sociology/Human Services for the B.S. in Sociology (8 courses or 24 credit hours from the list below.*

  • SOC-S 302 Organizational Life
  • SOC-S 314 Social Aspects of Health and Medicine
  • SOC-S 315 Work and Occupations
  • SOC-S 316 Family
  • SOC-S 317 Inequality
  • SOC-S 325 Juvenile Delinquency  
  • SOC-S 328 Criminology
  • SOC-S 331 Aging
  • SOC-S 344 Sociology of Childhood **
  • SOC-S 335 Race and Ethnic Relations
  • SOC-S 338 Gender Roles
  • SOC-S 360 Topics in Social Policy: Family Violence**
  • SOC-S 360 Topics in Social Policy: Drugs and Society
  • SOC-S 375 Issues in Human & Social Service Policy** (pending approval)
  • SOC-S 419 Social Movements and Collective Action
  • SOC-S 420 Topics in Deviance: White Collar Crime/Organized Crime
  • SOC-S 495 Readings in Sociology
*Please note that along with SOC-S 100 or SOC-S 101, SOC-S 252 will now be a new added prerequisite for all upper level sociology courses totally 6.0 credit hours prerequisite. Some courses also have other additional prerequisites.**These courses have 9.0 credit hours as prerequisite (SOC-S 100 or SOC-S 101, SOC-S 252 Research Methods, and SOC-S 316 Family). ***This course is strongly recommended for the Applied Sociology/Human Services Track

Interdisciplinary Electives for the Applied Sociology/Human Services Track in the B.S. in Sociology
(Two courses or 6.0 credit hours)
Students in the AP/HS track will select two of the following courses from an approved list of upper level courses from other disciplines. Those approved courses include: 
  • PSY-P 303 Health Psychology
  • PSY-P 324 Abnormal Psych
  • PSY-P 381 Helping Skills
  • PAHM-V 362 Nonprofit sector*
  • PAHM-V 373 Human Resource Management*
  • PAHM-V 379 Program Evaluation*
  • SPCH-C 380 Organizational Communication*
*Please note that courses taken in Public Management and Health Administration (PMHA) are counted as non-Arts and Science electives but will still count toward the major.

4. Optional Specialty Concentrations within a Sociology Degree - these tracks can be taken with either a BS or a B.A. and with either the Traditional track or Applied Sociology/Human Services track. See Optional Specialty Concentrations for all degree options under the BA-T degree.

PDF Version

Click here for the PDF version.