Program: Sociology, B.A. - Georgia State University

Apr 05, 2025

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Sociology is the study of society, including identities, cultures, and institutions, and particularly the power dynamics that animate societal structures, social interactions, as well as social and economic change. Sociology majors will learn to think critically, analyze social behaviors, communicate sociological knowledge effectively, suggest innovative solutions to social problems, and become active agents of social justice.

Sociology uses data and theory to analyze the causes, processes, and consequences of social ideologies, social behaviors, institutional discourses, and institutional practices. Undergraduate students in our courses critically explore topics like race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, urbanization, health, illness, wealth, deviance, social problems, inequality and activism.

The broad knowledge gained from sociology can be applied to various career paths, including social work, market research, social media, technology government, education, journalism, and business.

Degree Requirements (120 Hours)

Program Degree Regulations

In addition to the Program Degree Requirements, students must fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements (see 3000 College of Arts and Sciences ) and the University Degree Requirements (see 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation ).

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in the Major and Additional Courses areas to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See 1460 GPA Requirement for additional information.)

Field of Study Area (18 Hours)

Required Courses (6 Hours)

SOCI 1101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Credit Hours (if not taken in the Social Sciences Area) (SOCI 1101 is a prerequisite for many upper-level courses, including SOCI 3030 - Sociological Theory.)
World language at the 1002 level or higher 3 Hours
See “World Language Requirement for B.A. and B.I.S. Majors,” previously described.)

Field Electives

Select additional elective courses from the following to complete 18 hours in the Field of Study Area:

AAS 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
or
HIST 1141 - Introduction to African and African American History to 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 1142 - Introduction to African American History Since 1865 3 Credit Hours
or
HIST 1142 - Introduction to African American History Since 1865 3 Credit Hours
AAS 2010 - Introduction to Africana Studies 3 Credit Hours
AL 2021 - Introduction to English Linguistics 3 Credit Hours
AL 2102 - Languages of the World 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 1102 - Introduction to Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 2020 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
CRJU 2200 - Social Science and the American Crime Problem 3 Credit Hours
CSC 1010 - Computers and Applications 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2100 - Global Economics 3 Credit Hours
ECON 2105 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Credit Hours
EDUC 2120 - Exploring Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Diversity in Educational Contexts 3 Credit Hours
EDUC 2152 - Birth and Parenthood 3 Credit Hours
EPY 2050 - Human Growth and Development 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 1101 - Introduction to Human Geography 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1111 - Survey of World History to 1500 3 Credit Hours
HIST 1112 - Survey of World History since 1500 3 Credit Hours
HIST 2110 - Survey of United States History 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1111 - College Algebra 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1401 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 1010 - Critical Thinking 2 Credit Hours
PHIL 2010 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 Credit Hours
POLS 1101 - Introduction to American Government 3 Credit Hours
POLS 2101 - Introduction to Political Science 3 Credit Hours
POLS 2401 - Global Issues 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 1101 - Introduction to General Psychology 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 2070 - Introduction to Human Sexuality 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 2103 - Introduction to Human Development 3 Credit Hours
RELS 2001 - Introduction to World Religions 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 1160 - Introduction to Social Problems 3 Credit Hours
SW 2000 - Introduction to Social Work 3 Credit Hours
WGSS 2010 - Introduction to Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies 3 Credit Hours
World language 1001, 2001, 2002

Major Area (30 Hours)

30 credit hours of 3000-4000 level courses are required for the general program.

Major Requirements (15 Hours)

SOCI 3010 - Social Statistics 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3020 - Social Research Methods-CTW 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3030 - Sociological Theory 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3201 - Wealth, Power, and Inequality 3 Credit Hours
or
SOCI 3212 - Race and Ethnic Relations 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4990 - Capstone 3 Credit Hours
or
SOCI 4980 - Internship 3 Credit Hours
or
SOCI 3160 - Sociological Domestic Field School 3 Credit Hours (when offered)

Notes

Students who decide to major in Sociology after completing PSYC 3510 may use it for credit toward SOCI 3010 .
Students must take SOCI 3010 and SOCI 3020 in sequence, beginning with SOCI 3010 , and may not take these courses during the same term.
SOCI 3020 * cannot be replaced with a research methods course from another discipline.
- *You can take SOCI 3020 in the same semester as SOCI 4980 or SOCI 4990 .
Students must be a senior (or advanced junior with permission from the instructor) to take SOCI 4980 (Internship) or SOCI 4990 (Capstone Class).

Major Electives (15 Hours)

Select an additional 15 hours in sociology courses from the following:

SOCI 3040 - Cognition and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3101 - Families and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3110 - Identity, Self, and Social Interaction 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3124 - Diversity and Aging 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3130 - Sociology of Food 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3152 - Birth and Parenthood 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3156 - Sexuality and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3160 - Sociological Domestic Field School 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3180 - Housing and Inequality 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3212 - Race and Ethnic Relations 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3213 - Immigration 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3216 - Gender and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3220 - Activism, Protest, and Revolution 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3222 - Deviant Behavior 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3224 - Crime and Punishment 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3350 - Social Change and the Future 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3352 - Mental Illness in the United States 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3354 - Sociology of Popular Culture 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3356 - Queer Studies 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 3390 - Selected Topics 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4116 - Aging and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4119 - Global Aging and Families 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4218 - Power and Politics 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4226 - Urban Sociology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4230 - Sociology of Health and Illness 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4310 - Issues in the African-American Community 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4311 - African American Relationships 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4312 - African-American Women in the United States 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4315 - Girls 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4320 - Sport and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4330 - Music and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4360 - Religion and Society 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4380 - Educational Sociology 3 Credit Hours
SOCI 4880 - Honors Thesis II 1 to 6 Credit Hours
SOCI 4980 - Internship 3 Credit Hours *
SOCI 4990 - Capstone 3 Credit Hours *
SOCI 4999 - Directed Readings

Notes

SOCI 4980 - Internship credit may be applied toward degree completion in Area G or Area H if the student took SOCI 4990 .
SOCI 3160 - Sociological Domestic Field School courses can be taken more than once.
SOCI 3390 - Selected Topics can be taken more than once.

Additional Courses Area

Students majoring in sociology are not required to take a minor.
Additional courses not in the major must be taken as electives to complete a minimum of 120 semester hours.

Additional Opportunities

Sociology Club and Honor Society

The department sponsors a Sociology Club, which is an academic, social, and service organization. Interested students can find additional information on the university student organization website (https://studentorganizations.gsu.edu/).

Graduation with Distinction in the Major

This program offers undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn the designation of graduation with distinction in the major. Please contact the Undergraduate Studies Director for criteria for this honor.