Sociology

College: Social Sciences & Public Policy
Degree: BA or BS
Specialized Admission: No

Description of Major

*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available ONLY at the main campus in Tallahassee, FL. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*

Simply stated, Sociology may be defined as the study of human groups and social life, ranging from the nuclear family to different types of society, from crime to religion, from the division of race and class to the integrating symbols of culture, from the sociology of occupations to the sociology of sport. At Florida State courses are offered and research is carried out in diverse areas such as gender, race relations, social change, addiction, family interaction, and the political system. Few fields, in fact, have such broad scope, interest, and relevance.

Prerequisite Coursework

Prerequisite Coursework: (6 hours)
Sociology majors should complete two lower-level courses (6 hrs) with the prefixes SYA, SYD, SYG, SYO, or SYP, each completed with a final grade of C minus or higher. These courses should be completed in the freshman/sophomore years and may also apply toward Liberal Studies and/or major coursework.

Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .

Requirements for Progression to the Upper-Division Major
Students must complete at least 52 hours of credit with a minimum FSU GPA of 2.00 and most of the General Education requirements, including freshman English composition and mathematics, or have an A.A. Degree.

Requirements

Major Program of Studies at FSU: (30 hours)
SYG 1000, General Sociology, is recommended before taking other Sociology courses.

Transfer students must earn a minimum of 15 hours in Sociology at FSU; transfer of required upper-level courses (SYA 4300, 4010, 4400) is subject to approval of the chairperson. A grade of C minus or higher must be earned in each course.

Required coursework (9 hours)
SYA 4010 (3) Sociological Theory
SYA 4300 (3) Methods of Social Research
SYA 4400 (3) Social Statistics

Additional Sociology coursework (21 hours)
Additional coursework should be selected in consultation with an advisor.

Minor Coursework: (12 hours minimum)
Sociology majors must complete a minor in an approved department or interdisciplinary program, meeting the requirements set forth by that department. A minor will normally range from 12-18 credit hours. Completing a second major may be substituted for this requirement.

Digital Literacy: (3 hours)
CGS 2060 (3) or CGS 2100 (3) or other University-approved course will meet the requirement for this major.

Oral Communication Competency: (3 hours)
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly. This requirement may be met with an approved college-level course.

Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Min. Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
Major Coursework 30*
Minor Coursework 12
Digital Literacy 3
Oral Competency 3
Electives to bring total hours to 120

*Some Sociology courses may be applied to both General Education requirements (or the AA degree) and the major.

Mapping

Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/.

Remarks

1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
4. Students who plan to earn the B. A. degree must complete both a foreign language through the intermediate (2200 or equivalent) level and nine additional hours in the fields of history and humanities.

Employment Information

Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Counselor, Industrial Sociologist, Management Trainee, Criminologist, Rehabilitation Counselor, Securities Broker, Community Organizer, Reporter, Salesperson, Corrections Officer, Social Worker, Urban Planner, Statistician. Market Research Analyst, Administrator, Interviewer, Caseworker for Child Welfare, Personnel Recruiter.

Representative Employers: Colleges & Universities, Governmental Agencies, Mental Health Agencies, Court Systems, Welfare Agencies, Large Corporations, Community organizations, Financial Institutions.