Information for Enrolled Students

• Thinking of declaring the major?
• Program Options: majors and minors
• Declaration requirements and procedures
• Information for minors
• Information for declared majors
  • Mid-program checkpoint
  • Special Courses & Opportunities
    • Soc 400-Independent Study
    • Soc 471-Directed Internship
    • Soc 480-Teaching Assistant (T.A.)
    • Soc 492-Senior Thesis
    • Work-Study Positions
  • Applying for graduation?
  • Requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree
• Considering graduate school?
• Need help?

Thinking of Declaring the Major?

Need help deciding whether Sociology is the major you want to declare? You're invited to meet with the Sociology Advisor at any time to ask questions and explore various options.

 

Program Options : Majors and Minors

The department has programs leading to the B.A. and B.S. in Sociology and the B.A. in Education (elementary). We also offer combined majors with Political Science as well as Social Studies, (with an option for certification in secondary education). Three different minors are also available: Sociology (general), Demography, and Criminology/Sociology of Law.

For detailed information about each of these options, see Plans of Study. If you have any questions, or if you need help deciding which option is for you, make an appointment with the Sociology Advisor. Stop by Arntzen Hall 513 and sign up for a time. An appointment schedule is posted outside the door.

Declaration Requirements and Procedures

The number of students admitted to the major is limited as a result of the structure of the sociology curriculum and departmental staffing capabilities. Students wishing to major in Sociology must submit an application to the Department on or before Friday of the 2nd week of fall, winter, spring, or summer quarter. Students will receive notification regarding their admission status during the third week of classes.

Admission to the major is contingent on space available on a quarterly basis.

Applications require the following minimum qualifications:

• Successful completion of at least 45 college-level credits
• Successful completion or current enrollment in Soc 210
• Successful completion of at least 10 credits in Sociology at Western
• A minimum (cumulative) Western gpa of 2.7 (based on at least 12 credits); OR a minimum (average) gpa of 3.0 earned in Sociology courses taken at Western.
• A student who has met the first three criteria but has not attained the minimum GPA requirements may apply for admission to the Department in any quarter. The petitioning student’s admission will be based on a combination of overall GPA, sociology GPA, and available space.

Information for Minors

Three different minors are available: Sociology (general), Demography, and Criminology/Sociology of Law. See Plans of Study. To complete a minor, follow the Plan of Study for the minor of your choice. See classes and registration.

At least two quarters prior to graduation, see the Sociology Advisor for a minor evaluation. When you submit your Degree Application to the Registrar's Office, you'll turn in your minor evaluation along with your major evaluation. In the meantime, if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Information for Declared Majors

Mid-program checkpoint

In order to complete the B.A. degree in Sociology within a four-year time span, you should have completed the following core courses by the end of your junior year.

• Any one introductory course (Soc 110/201, 221, 251, 255, 260, 268, or 269)
• and Soc 210, 215, 310 and 302

The area requirements should be completed during your junior year and early during your senior year. Plan to complete the capstone seminar during your senior year, along with general electives to reach the minimum B.A./B.S. degree requirements. For a review of Western's requirements, see Graduation Requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree.

Special Courses and Opportunities

The Department offers a variety of opportunities for Sociology majors beyond the coverage of class instruction:

• Soc 400-Independent Study (1-15cr) allows students the opportunity to pursue topics not covered in ordinary courses.
• Soc 471-Directed Internship (5cr) provides the opportunity to earn upper division elective credits while gaining work experience in the community (repeatable to maximum of 10cr).
• Soc 480-Learning and Teaching Sociology (2-5cr) offers the opportunity to perform as a teaching assistant (T.A.) for a faculty member.
• Soc 481-Research Assistantship provides the opportunity to assist a faculty member with sociological research.
• Soc 492-Senior Thesis (5cr) is an independent course requiring "a substantial research paper."
• Work-Study Positions are available for students who have been awarded work-study funds through the Center for Student Work Experience.

SOC 400 -Independent Study (1-15 credits)

Prereq: Sociology core (210, 215, 310, 302); minimum 2.7 g.p.a. for the preceding three quarters; C or better in two 300-level sociology courses currently offered in the substantive area of the special topic; agreement with a faculty member to work with you individually.

About Independent Study: Soc 400 allows students the opportunity to pursue topics not covered in ordinary courses. Students often use this opportunity to do further research in an area introduced by a course. Students may also assist faculty members on current research projects. Students may earn 1-15 credits, graded A/F or S/U. However, a maximum of 5 credits may count toward the major, and the grading must be A/F. Additional credits will be applied as upper division elective credits only .

To register for Soc 400, you must get written permission from the instructor. Be sure you have fulfilled the necessary prerequisites as indicated above. Ask the instructor to sign an Independent Study Registration Permit Card. Cards are available from the Sociology Department Office (AH 510), or from the Sociology Advisor (AH 513). Once this card is completed, turn it in to the Registrar's Office to finalize registration (registration is not completed via RSVP).

SOC 471 -Directed Internship (5 credits)

Prereq: Soc 210, 215, 302 and either Soc 310 or permission of instructor. All interns work at least 10 hours per week at the work site, in the type of work specified in the contract. In addition, students complete several written assignments, including a research paper. This is a 5- credit course, repeatable to a maximum of 10 credits. Both the on-site supervisor and the internship coordinator are responsible for the evaluation of interns at the end of the quarter.

For more information on requirements for Soc 471, pick up an Internship Packet in Arntzen Hall 510, or contact the Sociology Advisor. Our internship coordinator is Dr. Karen Bradley, AH 514, (360) 650-3001.

Program objectives: Students apply sociological concepts and methods to better understand social issues an problems while engaged in on-site work experiences in various settings. Internship experiences provide valuable knowledge about the complexities of professional work, the process by which individuals find jobs, and the interconnection of agencies, organizations, and public policy, among other issues. In addition, internship experiences provide students with valuable information about their own occupational preferences.

How to obtain an internship: Students are responsible for finding their own internship placement. The internship setting should offer the student professional-level work that is related to one of the sub-areas of sociology (for example, criminal justice, social inequality, sociology of family, youth, aging, urban studies, education, etc.). The work should be varied, non-clerical, involve instruction and learning opportunities, and be relevant to the mission of the agency or organization.

Students who are interested in obtaining an internship should call or write to the agency/organization expressing their interest in an internship opportunity, briefly outlining any particular skills or experiences that might be relevant. If you choose to write a letter, it is advisable for you to call first to find out to whom you should direct your request. You should also indicate the number of hours per week that you are interested in committing to the internship. It is advisable for the intern to bring a copy of the Directed Internship information booklet to the interview.

The Career Center has numerous resources available for you to consult concerning writing effective cover letters, as well as suggestions regarding preparation for interviews. Writing cover letters and participating in interviews will be excellent preparation for your job search as you prepare to graduate from Western.

For more information, including ideas on how to find an internship position, see Consider Doing An Internship.

To register for Soc 471, you will need permission from our Internship Coordinator, Dr. Karen Bradley, AH 514, (360) 650-3001.

Soc 480 -(T.A.) Teaching & Learning Sociology (2-5 credits)

Prereq: Completion of the core, or minimum grade of B+ in the course for which the student will be a TA. Permission of the instructor is required. Soc 480 is a variable credit course (2-5 credits), and is repeatable to a maximum of 5 credits.

T.A. Duties: The teaching assistantship is intended to provide students with practical experience in the teaching of sociology at the undergraduate level. To that end, students will get hands-on experience in the various activities associated with teaching a particular course in the department. TA duties may include leading discussion groups, assisting the instructor in preparing lecture material, and assisting students in the class with understanding the course material. A more detailed list of sample activities may be obtained from the Sociology Advisor. The actual duties will vary by course and instructor. Credit is determined by the instructor depending on the actual duties of the teaching assistant. Students earn 2-5 credits, depending upon weekly hours worked--generally 2.5 hours a week per credit.

T.A. Vacancy Pool: Instructors often invite especially strong students to be T.A.'s. Students may also approach instructors with an interest in a certain class. The Sociology Advisor also maintains a "Vacancy Pool"--a list of students who indicate an interest, so that as positions become available we can easily match students with faculty who need assistance in various courses. To find out more about this opportunity, contact Linda Clark before registration starts for the next quarter.

To register: Once you have established a T.A. position with an instructor, contact the Sociology Advisor for override permission.

Soc 481-Research Assistantship (2-5credits)

Prereq: Permission of instructor.

This course is structured consistent with the apprenticeship model. Students will be working closely with one faculty member, assisting her/him with sociological research. The actual activities will vary from assistantship to assistantship, dependent upon the nature and stage of the research project. Responsibilities may include data set construction and/or analysis, interviewing and interview transcription, and library searches. Students will be required to submit a report or project journal to the supervising instructor in a format that will be mutually agreed upon at the start of the assistantship. Variable credit to a maximum of 5 credits in any one quarter, repeatable to a maximum of 10 credits.

Soc 492 -Senior Thesis (5 credits)

Prereq: Sociology core (Soc 210, 215, 310, 302), and 5 credits of SOC 400 (Directed Independent Study) undertaken with the student's senior thesis faculty advisor prior to and in preparation for the senior thesis. The student is required to complete a Senior Thesis Contract in consultation with her/his senior thesis faculty advisor prior to taking the SOC 400-492 sequence.

About the Senior Thesis: A senior thesis is supervised independent research on an advanced topic, leading to a substantial research paper. Completing a senior thesis can be especially challenging and is excellent preparation for graduate school.

To register, override permission is required from the instructor.

Work-Study Positions

The Sociology Department has 4-5 positions available each year for students who have been awarded Work-Study funds through the Center for Student Work Experience. Majors, as well as non-majors, may work in the Sociology Department Office and assist faculty in the preparation of teaching materials, or perform as research assistants for various projects. Work-Study offers the opportunity to 1) gain work experience and improve marketable skills, and 2) meet a new set of contacts who may eventually become valuable references for future employment.

For more information about eligibility for work-study funds, contact the Center for Student Work Experience. To find out about positions available in the Sociology Department, contact Laurie Caskey-Schreiber, Administrative Services Manager; AH 512; (360) 650-3610; email lrc@cc.wwu.edu; or contact Linda Clark, Program Supervisor for the Office of Survey Research, AH 513; (360) 650-4882; email Linda.Clark@wwu.edu.

Applying for Graduation

When to apply for graduation

Plan to apply for graduation two quarters prior to your final quarter. For example, if you're graduating at the end of Spring Quarter, you'll need to apply for graduation during Fall Quarter.

How to apply for graduation

Make an appointment with the Sociology Advisor to do your major evaluation. Drop by and sign up for an appointment--a schedule is posted outside the door--Arntzen Hall 513. The final step will be to turn in your Major Evaluation, along with a Degree Application, to the Registrar's Office. Degree Application packets are available at the Registrar's Office, Old Main 230, or on their website.

Graduation Requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree

Sociology students must meet the graduation requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences. Here are the requirements for the Baccalaureate Degree:

• Complete all requirements for the major in Sociology (or combined major) according to
  your Plan of Study. All courses must be completed with a C- or better.

• Complete a minimum of 180 total credits. This includes all GURs (or a direct
  transfer A.A. degree from a community college). Note: English 101 must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

• Complete a minimum of 60 upper division credits (300/400 level). (That is, 60 credits of the 180 total required must be upper division).

• Complete a minimum of 45 credits in residence at WWU (correspondence coursework does not apply).

• Your final quarter must be in residence--i.e. you must be registered for at least one Western course in the quarter in which degree is to be awarded. Correspondence courses are allowed only by exception.

• Your cumulative GPA at Western must be at least 2.00.

• For the B.A. Education degree, complete the professional education sequence.

• Submit an application for the degree no later than the last day of classes two quarters prior to quarter of intended graduation.

Considering Graduate School?

For information, see Considering Graduate School in the Career Options section of this site.

Need Help?

If you have any questions, contact the Sociology Advisor.