Western Washington University · Bellingham, Washington
Sociology, BS
What is the study of Sociology?
Sociologists examine subjects encompassing a vast array of human behavior: crime and punishment, the formation and dissolution of families, bureaucracy in organizations, conflicts between classes, and global inequalities. Sociology is distinctive in its focus on the way individuals' lives are embedded within multiple social contexts that facilitate and constrain the range of possible actions. These contexts include generation, occupation, gender, religion, sexual orientation, family, health, nation, race and ethnicity among many others.
Why Should I Consider this Major?
Students pursuing the B.S. in Sociology are required to complete a math-intensive course of study. They will also develop an aptitude for critical thinking and improve their writing ability. Students will obtain substantial experience with statistical computing, including programming and data analysis. Majors with a B.S. degree are well positioned to enter graduate school, to become government data analysts, or to conduct market research.
How to Declare:
Admissions: To declare, a student must have completed the following requirements:
- Completion of at least 45 college-level credits
- Completion of at least 5 credits in Sociology with a grade of C- or better
Path 1 (Immediate Declaration):
Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.85 or higher may submit their Admissions paperwork at any time to the Sociology Department Advisor for approval and admission to the major.
Path 2 (Application Review):
Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 2.85 should submit their Admissions paperwork to the Sociology Department on or before Friday of the 2nd week of fall, winter, spring, or summer quarter. These applications will be reviewed and admission to the major will be based on a combination of overall GPA, Sociology GPA, and space available in the program. Students will receive notification regarding their admission status during the third week of classes.
Coursework
Note that certain courses are listed as options in more than one area; however, each of these can be applied to only one area. New course offerings may be added to the curriculum, and may be accepted as area requirements under departmental advisement.
- Any one of the following introductory courses:
- SOC 221 - Introduction to Population Issues
- SOC 251 - Sociology of Deviant Behavior
- SOC 255 - Social Organization of Criminal Justice
- SOC 260 - The Family in Society
- SOC 268 - Gender and Society
- SOC 269 - Race and Ethnic Relations
Core requirements:
- MATH 124 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
- MATH 125 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
- MATH 204 - Elementary Linear Algebra
- SOC 302 - Classical Sociological Theory
- SOC 304 - Statistics for Sociology
- SOC 306 - Sociological Research Methods
- SOC 320 - Computer Applications for Social Science Data
- SOC 400 - Independent Study
- SOC 426 - Advanced Topics in Demography
- SOC 492 - Senior Thesis
- At least 15 credits of elective courses under departmental advisement
GURs:
The courses below satisfy GUR requirements and may also be used to fulfill major requirements.
- QSR: MATH 124, 125; SOC 304
- SSC: SOC 221, 251, 255, 260
- BCGM: SOC 268, 269
Sample Careers
- Business Manager
- Consumer Researcher
- Human Resources Manager
- Advertising Manager
- Data Analyst
- Research Analyst
- Demographic Analyst
Department
Contact
Department Chair:
Mick CunninghamAH 514360-650-4881Mick.Cunningham@wwu.edu
Department Advisor:
Linda Clark
AH 513
360-650-4882
Linda.Clark@wwu.edu