College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Sociology and Criminology
www.kent.edu/sociology

About This Program

The Sociology undergraduate major provides you with a deep understanding of the social factors that shape our world. With a focus on critical thinking and problem-solving, you'll gain the skills needed to analyze complex social issues and develop effective solutions. Enroll now and become a change agent in society. Read more...

Contact Information

• Program Coordinator: Tiffany Taylor | ttaylo36@kent.edu | 330-672-9474
• Speak with an Advisor
  • Ashtabula Campus
  • Kent Campus
  • Stark Campus
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor: Kent Campus | Regional Campuses

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • Mostly online
  • In person
• Location:
  • Ashtabula Campus
  • Kent Campus
  • Stark Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

Students who have declared majors in both Sociology and Psychology may substitute PSYC 21621 for SOC 32220 and SOC 32221.

³

Students may earn a maximum of 12 credit hours of SOC 42092; however, only 6 credit hours will count toward major requirements.

Graduation Requirements

• To fulfill the diversity requirement, students must take one global diversity course that is not a sociology (SOC) course.

Foreign Language College Requirement, B.A.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete 14-16 credit hours of foreign language.¹
To complete the requirement, students need the equivalent of Elementary I and II in any language, plus one of the following options²:

1. Intermediate I and II of the same language
2. Elementary I and II of a second language
3. Any combination of two courses from the following list:

• Intermediate I of the same language
• ARAB 21401
• ASL 19401
• CHIN 25421
• MCLS 10001
• MCLS 20001
• MCLS 20091
• MCLS 21417
• MCLS 21420
• MCLS 22217
• MCLS 28403
• MCLS 28404

¹

All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may start beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by (1) passing a course beyond Elementary I through Intermediate II level; (2) receiving credit through one of the alternative credit programs offered by Kent State University; or (3) demonstrating language proficiency comparable to Elementary II of a foreign language. When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete remaining credit hours with general electives.

²

Certain majors, concentrations and minors may require specific languages, limit the languages from which a student may choose or require coursework through Intermediate II. Students who plan to pursue graduate study may need particular language coursework.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Describe how sociology is similar to and different from other social sciences.
2. Show how one’s personal life is shaped by the time and place in which one lives.
3. Demonstrate how institutions of family, education, religion, medicine and the economy are interrelated.
4. Understand the interrelationships between social structures and individuals in society.
5. Distinguish between individualistic, cultural and structural explanations of social events.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology provides broad training in the theories and methods that sociologists use to understand contemporary social issues and problems. Students are encouraged to think critically as they examine issues ranging from small group behavior to global social movements. The core curriculum focuses on social inequalities, social psychology and health and illness. In addition, the program offers courses on a variety of topics that include urban living, deviant behavior, religion and family.

Sociology students are increasingly interested in courses that prepare them for meaningful careers that change the world (Seemiller and Grace 2016). One only needs to look at Black Lives Matter or the Sunrise Movement to see evidence of this generational disposition. Sociology, as a discipline, provides students with rigorous coursework on social inequality and social change and helps students find careers in government, teaching, community organizing, non-governmental organizations and social work.

Students may work with faculty and advisors to pursue their own individualized specialization in such areas as medical sociology; social inequalities; sociological social psychology; social change and social justice; family and life course sociology; and social problems, deviance and crime.

Sociology students may apply early to the M.A. degree in Sociology and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.