Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Sociology, Bachelor of Arts (775)


Program Coordinator

Amy C. Krull, amy.krull@wku.edu, (270) 745-6363

Department Email: sociology@wku.edu

The program is designed to further awareness and understanding of social life including the social causes and consequences of human behavior in groups, organizations, societies, and various cultures. Completion provides a broad background for students pursuing a variety of careers by helping them develop valuable skills.

Concentrations

  • General (No Concentration)
  • Applied Community Activism/Community and Environment focus (SACE)
  • Applied Community Activism/Social Inequality Focus (SACI)
  • Family, Gender, & Sexuality (SFGS)

Program Requirements (32 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

The major in sociology requires a minimum of 32 credit hours and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. At least half the total semester hours earned must be in upper-division courses (courses numbered 300-499). A minor, certificate, or second major is required. 

Students may choose one of three thematic concentrations or they may choose a general major.

Core Courses

The following courses are required for every sociology major:

A grade of C or better is required in SOCL 300, SOCL 302 and SOCL 304.
SOCL 100Introductory Sociology3
SOCL 199College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology1
or CRIM 199 College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology
SOCL 250Systems of Social Inequality3
SOCL 300Social Statistics3
SOCL 301Social Statistics Lab1
SOCL 302Social Research Methods3
SOCL 304Sociological Theory: Perspectives on Society3
Total Hours17

Additional core requirements and restricted electives depend on the major and/or concentration selected (see below). Non-restricted electives must be chosen from the following courses:

Electives:
CRIM 330Criminology3
CRIM 332Juvenile Delinquency3
CRIM 361Race, Class, and Crime3
CRIM 370Issues in Policing3
CRIM 380Punishment and Society3
CRIM 432Sociology of Criminal Law3
CRIM 434Organized Crime3
CRIM 446Gender, Crime, and Justice3
CRIM 448International Justice and Crime3
CRIM 451White-Collar Crime3
SOCL 210Interaction: Self in Society3
SOCL 220Marriage and Family3
SOCL 240Global Social Problems3
SOCL 245Sociology of Popular Culture3
SOCL 260Race and Ethnic Relations3
SOCL 309Social Deviance3
SOCL 310Behavior in Small Groups3
SOCL 312Collective Behavior and Social Movements3
SOCL 315Public Problem Solving3
SOCL 322Religion in Society3
SOCL 324Sociology of Sport3
SOCL 342Aging in Society3
SOCL 345The Sociology of Popular Music3
SOCL 346Special Topics3
SOCL 352Technology, Work and Society3
SOCL 355Sociology of Gender3
SOCL 359Sexuality and Society3
SOCL 360The Community in Rural and Urban Settings3
SOCL 362Social Institutions: Race, Class, and Gender3
SOCL 363Population, Society, and Development3
SOCL 375Diversity in American Society3
SOCL 376Sociology of Globalization3
SOCL 389Stigma and Society3
SOCL 402Evaluation Research Tech3
SOCL 404Qualitative Research Methods3
SOCL 408Survey Applications3
SOCL 410Socialization: Changes Through Life3
SOCL 435Family Violence3
SOCL 440Sociology of Health and Illness3
SOCL 442Sociology Research Project3
SOCL 450Occupations and Professions3
SOCL 452Social Change3
SOCL 455Theory and Practice of Community Development3
SOCL 466Gender, Family, and Society3
SOCL 470Environmental Sociology3
SOCL 480Sociology of Agri-Food Systems3
SOCL 489Sociology Study Abroad1-6
SOCL 494Internship in Sociology1-6
SOCL 495Directed Study1-3
SOCL 496Directed Study1-3
CSJ 200Introduction to Social Justice3

Not more than 3 hours earned in SOCL 495 / SOCL 496 “Directed Study” in Sociology may be counted toward the first 32 hours required for the major.

General Sociology Major

This major allows students to choose courses from among all sociology electives to design a program of study that best fits their particular needs and interests.

Core Courses
A "C" or better is required in 300, 302 and 304.
SOCL 100Introductory Sociology3
SOCL 199College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology1
or CRIM 199 College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology
SOCL 250Systems of Social Inequality3
SOCL 300Social Statistics3
SOCL 301Social Statistics Lab1
SOCL 302Social Research Methods3
SOCL 304Sociological Theory: Perspectives on Society3
Electives
Select 15 hours from among all approved electives listed above15
Total Hours32

Applied Community Activism: Community and Environment Concentration

This concentration emphasizes the causes, dynamics, and consequences of socioeconomic change for people, how they live in communities, and how they relate to the natural world.

Core Courses
A "C" or better is required in 300, 302 and 304
SOCL 100Introductory Sociology3
SOCL 199College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology1
or CRIM 199 College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology
CSJ 200Introduction to Social Justice3
SOCL 250Systems of Social Inequality3
SOCL 300Social Statistics3
SOCL 301Social Statistics Lab1
SOCL 302Social Research Methods3
SOCL 304Sociological Theory: Perspectives on Society3
SOCL 315Public Problem Solving3
Concentration Courses9
Choose 9 hours from the following
Collective Behavior and Social Movements
Introduction to Environmental Science (Choose 3 from the following)
Global Social Problems
The Community in Rural and Urban Settings
Population, Society, and Development
Causes and Consequences of Human-Wildlife Conflict
Sociology of Globalization
Social Change
Theory and Practice of Community Development
Environmental Sociology
Sociology of Agri-Food Systems
Foodways
Foodways
Food, Culture, and Environment
Internship in Sociology
Total Hours32

Family, Gender, and Sexuality Concentration

This concentration emphasizes the ways in which gender, sexuality, and kinship relations shape individual and group experiences.

Core Courses
A "C" or better is required in 300, 302 and 304
SOCL 100Introductory Sociology3
SOCL 199College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology1
or CRIM 199 College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology
SOCL 220Marriage and Family3
SOCL 250Systems of Social Inequality3
SOCL 300Social Statistics3
SOCL 301Social Statistics Lab1
SOCL 302Social Research Methods3
SOCL 304Sociological Theory: Perspectives on Society3
Concentration Courses
Select 12 hours from the following:12
Introduction to Social Justice
Public Problem Solving
Gender, Crime, and Justice
Aging in Society
Sociology of Gender
Sexuality and Society
Social Institutions: Race, Class, and Gender
Socialization: Changes Through Life
Family Violence
Gender, Family, and Society
Internship in Sociology
Total Hours32

Applied Community Activism: Social Inequality Concentration

This concentration emphasizes inequalities, such as those of race, class, and sex, the manner in which such inequalities become structurally rooted in society, and the ways in which individuals and groups seek to reverse inequalities.

Core Courses
A "C" or better is required in 300, 302 and 304
SOCL 100Introductory Sociology3
SOCL 199College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology1
or CRIM 199 College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology
CSJ 200Introduction to Social Justice3
SOCL 250Systems of Social Inequality3
SOCL 300Social Statistics3
SOCL 301Social Statistics Lab1
SOCL 302Social Research Methods3
SOCL 304Sociological Theory: Perspectives on Society3
SOCL 315Public Problem Solving3
Concentration Courses
Chose 9 hours from the following9
Aging in Society
Race, Class, and Crime
Issues in Policing
Gender, Crime, and Justice
Global Social Problems
Sociology of Gender
Social Institutions: Race, Class, and Gender
Diversity in American Society
Sociology of Globalization
Sociology of Health and Illness
Social Change
Gender, Family, and Society
Internship in Sociology
Total Hours32

Finish in Four Plans

General, No Concentration

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003ENG 2003
SOCL 1003SOCL 2503
SOCL 199 or CRIM 1991SOCL 3043
MATH 183 (or other Colonnade math)3General Elective3
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science with Lab3
General Elective-- consider CSJ 2003 
 16 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SOCL 3023SOCL 3003
SOCL Elective3SOCL 301Should be taken the same semester as SOCL 3001
HIST 101 or HIST 1023Sociology Elective3
COMM 1453Colonnade: Connections13
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science32nd Major/Minor Course3
 General Elective3
 15 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 3003Any Sociology Elective3
Colonnade: Connections23Any Sociology Elective3
Any Sociology Elective3Colonnade: Connections33
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Any 300-400 level SOCL Elective3General Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course3Any 300-400 level SOCL Elective (suggested SOCL 494)3
General Elective3General Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
General Elective3General Elective3
 15 15
Total Hours 122

Applied Community Activism: Community and Environment Concentration (SACE)

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003ENG 2003
SOCL 1003SOCL 2503
SOCL 199 or CRIM 1991SOCL 3043
MATH 183 (or other Colonnade math)3General Elective3
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science with Lab3
CSJ 2003 
 16 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SOCL 3023SOCL 3003
SOCL 3153SOCL 301 (to be taken same semester as SOCL 300)1
COMM 1453Colonnade: Connections13
HIST 101 or HIST 10232nd Major/Minor Course3
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science3General Elective3
 General Elective3
 15 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 3003Approved SOCL concentration course3
Approved SOCL concentration course3Colonnade: Connections33
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course3General Elective3
Colonnade: Connections23General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Approved SOCL concentration course3General Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course3Any 300-400 level SOCL Elective (suggested SOCL 494)3
General Elective32nd Major/Minor Course3
 15 15
Total Hours 122

Applied Community Activism: Social Inequality Concentration (SACI)

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003ENG 2003
SOCL 1003SOCL 2503
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3SOCL 3043
MATH 183 (or other colonnade math)3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science with Lab3
CSJ 2003General Elective3
SOCL 199 or CRIM 1991 
 16 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SOCL 3023SOCL 3003
COMM 1453SOCL 3011
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences3Colonnade: Connections13
HIST 101 or HIST 10232nd Major/Minor Course3
SOCL 3153General Elective3
 General Elective3
 15 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 30032nd Major/Minor Course3
Approved SOCL concentration course3Approved SOCL concentration course3
2nd Major/Minor Course3Colonnade: Connections33
Colonnade: Connections23General Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Approved SOCL concentration course3General Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3Any 300-400 level SOCL Elective (suggested SOCL 494)3
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
 15 15
Total Hours 122

Family, Gender & Sexuality (FGS)

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003ENG 2003
SOCL 1003SOCL 2503
SOCL 199 or CRIM 1991SOCL 3043
MATH 183 (Or other Colonnade Math)3Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science with Lab3
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities3General Elective3
General Elective-- consider CSJ 2003 
 16 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
SOCL 3023SOCL 3003
SOCL 2203SOCL 3011
COMM 1453Colonnade: Connections13
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences32nd Major/Minor Course3
HIST 101 or HIST 1023General Elective3
 General Elective3
 15 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 3003Approved SOCL concentration course3
Approved SOCL concentration course32nd Major/Minor Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course32nd Major/Minor Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course3Colonnade: Connections33
Colonnade: Connections23General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
Approved SOCL concentration course3General Elective3
2nd Major/Minor Course3General Elective3
General Elective3Approved SOCL concentration course3
General Elective32nd Major/Minor Course3
2nd Major/Minor Course3Any 300-400 level SOCL Elective (suggested SOCL 494)3
 15 15
Total Hours 122