→ Course Descriptions

Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Sociology
Sociology Minor (non-teaching)
Sociology Minor (teaching)
Sociology Concentration
Gerontology Minor
Gerontology Concentration

Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Sociology (128 CR)
General Education (38 cr)

Required Core (15-16 cr)

• SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
• SOC 210 Introduction to Anthropology (3)
• SOC 278 Social Research Methods (3)
• SOC 476 Classical Sociological Theory (3)
• PSY 241 Intro to Statistics (3) or MATH 240 Applied Statistics (4)

Required Courses in Track (8-9 cr) Elect One Track

Track One: General (9 cr)
Social Processes and Social Change (3 cr)
Elect one from the following
• SOC 255 Changing American Family (3)
• SOC 374 Cultural Studies (3)
• SOC 375 Social Change and Development (3)
• SOC 376 or PSY 376 Social Psychology (3)
• SOC 379 Sociology of Aging (3)
Issues in Equality and Social Control (3 cr)
Elect one from the following
• SOC 252 Criminology (3)
• SOC 361 Comparative Ethnic Studies (3)
• SOC 362 Black (African)-American Culture (3)
• SOC 363 Sociology of Gender (3)
• SOC 365 Social Stratification (3)
• SOC 369 Studies in Deviance (3)
Social Institutions and Social Structure (3 cr)
Elect one from the following
• SOC 353 Sociology of Education (3)
• SOC 357 Sociology of Religion (3)
• SOC 451 Political Sociology (3)
• SOC 455 Global Families (3)
• SOC 459 Complex Organizations (3)

Track Two: Criminology (9 cr)
• SOC 252 Criminology (3)
• Elect 6 credits from CJ 300-400 level courses (6)

Track Three: Public Administration (9 cr)
• SOC 459 Complex Organizations (3)
• Elect two from the following (6 cr)
• ECON 411 Public Finance (3)
• POLS 115 American Government (3)
• POLS 116 State and Local Government (3)

Track Four: Ethnic and Gender Studies (8-9 cr)
• SOC 361 Comparative Ethnic Studies (3)
• SOC 363 Sociology of Gender (3)
• Elect one from the following (2-3 cr)
• ART 219 Native American Art (2)
• HIST 261 American Indian History (3)
• HIST 315 History of American Women (3)
• SOC 362 Black (African)-American Culture (3)
• SS 283 Ethnic and Cultural Experience in America (3)

Track Five: Studies in Aging (9 cr)
• SOC 379 Sociology of Aging (3)
• Elect two from the following (6 cr)
• HMS 379 Health and Physiological Aspects of Aging (3)
• PSY 379 Psychology of Adult and Aging (3)
• SWK 379 Aging Practices and Policies (3)

Track Six: Social Psychology (9 cr)
• SOC 376 or PSY 376 Social Psychology (3)
• Elect any two upper-level psychology courses (300-400 level) (6 cr)

Required Capstone (3 cr)
Elect one from the following

• SOC 399 Readings in Sociology (3)
• SOC 401 Research Project (3)
• SOC 497 Practicum/Internship (1-6)

Sociology Electives (200-400 level) (9 cr)

Second Major or Minor and/or Concentration(s) (33-36 cr)

Electives (21-25 cr)

Sociology Minor (Non-Teaching) (21 cr)

Required Core (9 cr)
• SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
• SOC 278 Social Research Methods (3)
• SOC 476 Classical Sociological Theory (3)
Social Processes and Social Change (3 cr)
Elect one from the following
• SOC 255 Changing American Family (3)
• SOC 374 Cultural Studies (3)
• SOC 375 Social Change and Development (3)
• SOC 376 or PSY 376 Social Psychology (3)
• SOC 379 Sociology of Aging (3)
Issues in Equality and Social Control (3 cr)
Elect one from the following
• SOC 252 Criminology (3)
• SOC 361 Comparative Ethnic Studies (3)
• SOC 362 Black (African)-American Culture (3)
• SOC 363 Sociology of Gender (3)
• SOC 365 Social Stratification (3)
• SOC 369 Studies in Deviance (3)
Social Institutions and Social Structure (3 cr)
Elect one from the following
• SOC 353 Sociology of Education (3)
• SOC 357 Sociology of Religion (3)
• SOC 451 Political Sociology (3)
• SOC 455 Global Families (3)
• SOC 459 Complex Organizations (3)

Sociology Electives (200-400 level) (3 cr)

Sociology Minor (Teaching) (24 cr)

Required Core (15 cr)
• SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
• SOC 210 Introduction to Anthropology (3)
• SOC 278 Social Research Methods (3)
• SOC 476 Classical Sociological Theory (3)
• SS 391 Secondary History/Social Science Teaching Methods (3)
Social Processes and Social Change (3 cr)
Elect one from the following
• SOC 255 Changing American Family (3)
• SOC 374 Cultural Studies (3)
• SOC 375 Social Change and Development (3)
• SOC 376 or PSY 376 Social Psychology (3)
• SOC 379 Sociology of Aging (3)
Issues in Equality and Social Control (3 cr)
Elect one from the following
• SOC 252 Criminology (3)
• SOC 361 Comparative Ethnic Studies (3)
• SOC 362 Black (African)-American Culture (3)
• SOC 363 Sociology of Gender (3)
• SOC 365 Social Stratification (3)
• SOC 369 Studies in Deviance (3)
Social Institutions and Social Structure (3 cr)
Elect one from the following
• SOC 353 Sociology of Education (3)
• SOC 357 Sociology of Religion (3)
• SOC 451 Political Sociology (3)
• SOC 455 Global Families (3)
• SOC 459 Complex Organizations (3)

Sociology Concentration (12 cr)

• SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
• SOC electives (200-400 level) (9)

Gerontology Minor (20-21 cr)
Student admitted to the Gerontology minor must already be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at MSU. Minor students must complete 21 credits of course work. The practicum/internship (SOC 497) is recommended. The minor enables students to integrate knowledge of gerontology into their own academic disciplines or areas of professional training.
Required courses (15 cr)

• HMS 279 Death and Dying (3)
• HMS 379 Health and Physiological Aspects of Aging (3)
• PSY 379 Psychology of Adult and Aging (3)
• SOC 379 Sociology of Aging (3)
• SOC 497 Practicum/Internship (3)
• Select two of the following (5-6 cr)
• NUR 321 Gerontological Nursing (3)
• PSY 349 Psychopharmacology (3)
• PSY 344 Dynamics of Addiction (3)
• SWK 340 Social Welfare Policy (3)

Gerontology Concentration (12 cr)
Concentration students must complete 12 credits of course work. The practicum or internship is recommended. The concentration enables students to integrate knowledge of gerontology into their own academic disciplines or areas of professional training.
Required course (3 cr)

• SOC 379 Sociology of Aging (3)
• Select three of the following (9 cr)
• HMS 279 Death and Dying (3)
• HMS 379 Health and Psychological Aspects of Aging (3)
• NURS 323 Gerontology Nursing (3)
• PSY 349 Psychopharmacology (3)
• PSY 344 Dynamics of Addiction (3)
• PSY 379 Psychology of Adults and Aging (3)
• SOC 497 Practicum/Internship (1-6)