Undergraduate Programs
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As a Sociology major at ECU, you will study social life and social change in a variety of settings. Sociologists explore the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and people’s interactions in these contexts. The subject matter of Sociology includes, but is not limited to, families, work settings, sports, the law and criminal justice system, medicine, economics, politics, and the dimensions of race, gender, sexuality, social class, and aging.
B.A. in Sociology
If you wish to develop a broad liberal arts perspective on social interaction, groups, and the consequences for individuals, then the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology degree at ECU is designed for you.
Sociological insights and skills are applicable to every job setting and to all of the major problems we encounter in society.
Sociological theories and research skills are eminently useful in our diverse, data-driven, contemporary world.
Course Requirements for the B.A.
B.A. students choose a minor in another discipline and take a foreign language of their choice. For degree requirements, including course descriptions, see the ECU Undergraduate Catalog.
Your advisor can help you pair the ideal minor, including an interdisciplinary minor. Students interested in a medical school can craft a minor that includes all the course entrance requirements for medical school, dental school, or a physicians’ assistant degree.
If you would like further information regarding the B.A. program, please e-mail Undergraduate Sociology.
B.S. Applied Sociology
If you are pursuing a career path that requires a strong background in oral and written communication skills, critical reasoning, and computer applications, we recommend the B.S. in Sociology.
In addition to fulfilling the requirements of the major, you will choose either a minor from another department or one of the following career path concentrations:
- Marriage & Family
Analyze and understand social trends, issues, and challenges involving families. Students interested in working with programs that serve the needs of children, adolescents, couples, families, and the elderly are encouraged to pursue this concentration. - Crime, Law and Society
Develop a strong background for the legal profession and the creation and application of law. Students preparing for law school or for careers involving knowledge of the law and the criminal justice system are encouraged to pursue this area of study.
Sociology Major Requirements for the B.S.
For degree requirements, including course descriptions, see the ECU Undergraduate Catalog.
If you would like further information regarding the B.S. Program, please e-mail Undergraduate Sociology.
Sociology Minors
The Department of Sociology offers three minors. These can be combines with virtually any major the University offers.
For example, in addition to other options, if your major is:
- Business Administration
You might choose to take SOCI 3500 (Economy and Society); - Psychology
You might choose SOCI 3234 (The Individual in Society) and/or SOCI 3325 (Sociology of Human Sexuality); - Criminal Justice
You might choose to take SOCI 3220 (Sociology of Deviant Behavior) and/or SOCI 4330 (Criminology); or - Premed, in Allied Health professions, or Nursing
You might choose to take SOCI 3100 (Sociology of Aging) and/or SOCI 3327 (Introductory Medical Sociology).
Sociology Minor
The Sociology minor exposes students to core concepts in Sociology but also allows enormous flexibility in choosing additional Sociology coursework so that the student may design the minor around their own interests.
Medical Sociology Minor
The Medical Sociology minor is designed to provide pre-health professionals and other students pursuing careers in medical and health services a needed background and understanding of the social causes and consequences of health and illness.
Crime, Law & Deviance Minor
The Crime, Law, and Deviance Minor provides a sociological analysis of the patterns and explanations for crime and deviance – a broader category of behavior, identities, and attitudes perceived to violate social norms – as well as legal behavior. It explores how the experience and interpretation of crime and deviance varies across diverse populations and contexts. The courses in the minor will help students critically evaluate the societal causes, consequences, and responses to crime and deviance, including the importance of power dynamics, cultural expectations, and social inequalities which can undermine the objectivity of legal systems.
Gender Studies Minor
The Gender Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary academic program with courses designed to complement and enrich students’ work in their major fields.
Requirements for Sociology Minors
For requirements, including course descriptions, see the ECU Undergraduate Catalog.
If you would like further information regarding any Sociology minor, please contact the Sociology minor advisor, Dr. Melinda Kane.
Accelerated Masters Program
Qualified students can work toward their Masters in Sociology while completing either a BA in Sociology or a BS in Applied Sociology, so that they finish their Bachelors and Masters degrees in less time overall. This accelerated program is initiated while undergraduates are completing the bachelor’s degree and is intended for outstanding undergraduates. Eligible students accepted into the program may double-count up to 12 semester hours of approved graduate coursework towards completion of both the bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) and the master of arts (MA) degrees. Students are formally admitted to the master’s program after all requirements for the undergraduate degree are completed.
- For more information on the Accelerated BA/MA in Sociology, see the ECU Catalog
- For more information on the Accelerated BS in Applied Sociology/MA in Sociology, see the ECU Catalog
Sociology Honors
The sociology honors program allows outstanding sociology majors who wish additional challenge and recognition in pursuing scholarly or service work in an area of sociology. Students enroll in SOCI 4550, SOCI 4551 in consecutive semesters. To qualify for the program, you must be a senior, have the approval of the Chair, and have a minimum cumulative and major 3.5 GPA. For more information, please see the ECU Undergraduate Catalog.
Internship Program
SOCI 4950: Practicum in Sociology allows you to earn credit for 140 hours of internship work with a community agency.
Eligibility
To be eligible, students must be Sociology majors who have completed at least 15 semester units in Sociology and have a GPA of 2.5. All internships must be approved by the Internship Coordinator, the Undergraduate Director, and the Chair of the Department of Sociology.
Course Requirements for the Practicum
Students must complete a total of 140 hours, which averages 10 hours per week (not including Spring Break), complete all written assignments, attend all class meetings (4 per semester), and write a final paper.
If you would like further information regarding the B.A. or B.S. programs, please contact the undergraduate program director, Dr. Melinda Kane.