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University Catalog 2012-2013 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Sociology, B.A.
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 Return to: Index of Academic Degrees, Certificates and Programs Listed Alphabetically
The Department of Sociology offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with four options: the General Sociology Option, the Law and Society Option, the Inequalities and Diversity Option, and the Social Gerontology Option.
The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is 180 units, of which 68 units are in the major. Consult with an adviser for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree, including GE and free electives.
Required Advisement
All students desiring to undertake a major or minor in sociology must confer with a department adviser before or during their first quarter in the program and annually thereafter.
Advisement shall occur at these times:
- By the end of the first year in residence to establish a degree plan
- After reaching 90 units (and before 120 units) to review progress toward graduation
- Two quarters before completing degree requirements (and at least 135 units completed) to file a graduation application
Sequence Recommendation
To facilitate scheduling, specific prerequisites have been omitted from most courses. It is highly recommended, however, that suggested sequences be observed, since later coursework will assume familiarity with prior course material.
The following are strongly recommended or required.
Students who transfer without having completed equivalent courses should include SOC 201 and 210 among their first courses at Cal State L.A.
- SOC 310 and SOC 390 should be taken soon after 210;
- Sociology majors should take SOC 412 before 414.
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Requirements for the Major (68 units)
Major requirements combine a common set of 28 units of required coursework with 40 additional units of work relevant to one of the four options: General Sociology, Law and Society, Inequalities and Diversity, and Social Gerontology. Required Courses (28 units)
Internship Opportunities
Sociology majors can earn up to 4 units per quarter up to a maximum of 8 units through the Sociology internships and Service, Learning Course (SOC 405) or Cooperative Education (SOC 398 or 498). Students must arrange a work agreement with any approved agency. See the Sociology internship coordinator or class instructor for specific prerequisites, course requirements, list of approved agencies, workload agreement, and other program details.
Field Experience and Independent Study Opportunities
The Directed Study Course (SOC 499) allows students to expand on their special interests. A directed study is usually in an area that the department’s normal course offerings do not cover. Students meet regularly with their faculty supervisor and earn 1 to 4 units of credit and up to 8 units if the course is repeated. Individual research projects may involve library or field research.
Honors Program in the Sociology Major
The Sociology department sponsors a Senior Honors Program four our top undergraduates. During their final undergraduate year, students undertaking the honors thesis conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member in the Sociology department and write a senior honors thesis. Eligibility criteria are: a sociology student with senior class standing, minimum of 3.5 grade point average, and completion of specific courses required for the major program (SOC 201, SOC 390, SOC 412, at least six upper division courses in the sociology major). Students in the General Option, the Inequalities and Diversity Option, and the Social Gerontology Option register for SOC 493 after obtaining permission to enroll while students in the Law and Society Option register for SOC 496. More details on the Law and Society Honors program are provided under that option. Options (40 units)
The following courses in one of four options are required in addition to the required courses described above..
General Sociology Option (40 units)
Upper Division Electives
Select 40 units in sociology and other fields, in consultation with adviser; a program may include SOC 398 , , SOC 498 , and SOC 499 , But no more than 8 units of any combination of these courses normally may be counted toward the major. With prior approval of adviser, students may select up to 8 units in other fields to complete a comprehensive sociological program with an interdisciplinary emphasis.
Note: may not be used as an elective on the sociology major program. Law and Society Option (40 units)
The Law and Society Option explores a broad range of critical social and scientific issues concerning multiple facets of the law, including crime, deviance, human rights, and legal institutions from a sociological perspective. It prepares students for a wide variety of careers and professional programs and informs them about how social forces influence the legal system and how the law affects society, definitions of deviance and crime, and explanations for why individuals engage in these activities. It is designed for students who wish to pursue advanced study in areas such as sociology, law, graduate law and society programs, public health, criminology, social welfare, education, and business administration; those who wish to do applied research on law-related issues; and those who wish to gain a sociological understanding of law and society before seeking careers in health professions, criminal justice, social work, politics, public policy or policy analysis, public administration, urban and environmental planning, counseling, and other service occupations. Upper Division Required Course (4 units)
Upper Division Law and Society Electives (16 units)
Select 16 units from these courses. These may include up to 8 units of independent work in law and society (internship or directed study) or law-related coursework from other departments with the Law and Society adviser’s approval. Upper Division General Electives (20 units)
Select 20 units in sociology and other fields, in consultation with adviser; a program may include SOC 398, SOC 498, and SOC 499, But no more than 8 units of any combination of these courses normally may be counted toward the major. With prior approval of adviser, students may select up to 8 units in other fields to complete a comprehensive sociological program with an interdisciplinary emphasis.
Note: SOC 330 may not be used as an elective on the sociology major program. Law and Society Field Experience and Independent Study Opportunities
The directed study course (SOC 499) allows students to expand on their special interests in law and society. A directed study is usually in an area that the department’s normal course offerings do not cover. Students meet regularly with their faculty supervisor and earn 1 to 4 units of credit and up to 8 units if the course is repeated. Individual research projects may involve library or field research. Law and Society Internship Opportunities
Students can earn up to 8 units through the Sociology Internships and Service Learning Class (SOC 405) or by enrolling in Cooperative Education (SOC 398 or 498) by arranging a work agreement with an approved agency (such as a government agency, business, or citizen group) and their course instructor or faculty adviser the quarter before enrolling in the course. Honors Program in the Law and Society Option
The Law and Society Option sponsors a senior honors program for our top undergraduates. During their final undergraduate year, students enroll in SOC 496 , conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member in the Sociology department, and write a senior honors thesis. Students who complete the honors program graduate with distinction in the Law and Society Option. Eligibility criteria are: a Law and Society Option student with senior class standing, minimum of 3.5 grade point average, and completion of specific courses required for the major and Law and Society Option (SOC 201 , SOC 488 , at least four upper division courses in the Sociology Major, and at least two additional upper division courses in the Law and Society Option). Diplomas and transcripts of honors program graduates are designated: “Graduated with Departmental Honors in the Law and Society Option in Sociology.” Inequalities and Diversity Option (40 units)
The Inequalities and Diversity Option builds on the strength of CSULA as a diverse, urban institution uniquely positioned to enable students to explore the many aspects of social inequality and diversity confronting our society. The option provides students with concentrated study on topics relevant to various types of social inequalities, thus preparing students for careers in an increasingly diverse, multicultural, and global world. The sociological approach constitutes the core of the option, while courses from other disciplines are used to supplement student understanding of inequalities and diversity. Upper Division Required Course (4 units)
Upper division inequalities/diversity electives (16 units)
Select 16 units from these courses: Upper Division General Electives (8 units)
Select 8 units of upper division courses in sociology in consultation with adviser; a program may include SOC 398 , SOC 498 , and SOC 499 .
Note: SOC 330 may not be used as an elective on the sociology major program. Upper Division Inequalities and Diversity Electives in Ethnic/Area Studies (12 units)
With adviser approval, select 12 units from outside of sociology that relate to the following areas. Courses must be taken from at least 2 different areas.
- Area I: Asian and Asian American Studies
- Area II: Chicano Studies
- Area III: Latin American Studies
- Area IV: Pan-African Studies
Note on theme courses: Courses from departments other than sociology being used to satisfy the GE Theme requirement cannot also be counted on the major. Social Gerontology Option (40 units)
The Social Gerontology Option will provide students with the theoretical and research background in the sociology of aging that they will need to develop social programs for the elderly and to evaluate the effectiveness of those programs. This option is particularly timely because as the baby boomers age, they will create the largest cohort of senior citizens in U.S. History. Population aging will soon be world-wide and will lead to many new career opportunities for students in a variety of fields. Social Gerontology is inherently multidisciplinary; therefore, this option not only examines the social aspects of aging but also the biological, socio-cultural, developmental, and policy aspects. Students will gain an understanding of how aging influences all spheres of self and society. Upper Division Required Course (4 units
Upper Division Social Gerontology Electives (12 units)
Select 12 units from these courses: Upper Division General Electives (12 units)
Select 12 units of upper division courses in sociology in consultation with adviser; a program may include SOC 398, SOC 493, SOC 498, and SOC 499.
Note: SOC 330 may not be used as an elective on the sociology major program. Upper Division Social Gerontology Electives in Related Fields (12 units)
With adviser approval, select 12 units from outside of sociology that relate to the following areas. Courses must be taken from at least 2 different areas.
- Area I: Biological Aspects of Aging
- Area II: Socio-Cultural Aspects of Aging
- Area III: Developmental aspects of aging
- Area IV: Policy Aspects of Aging
Note on theme courses: Courses from departments other than sociology being used to satisfy the GE Theme requirement cannot also be counted on the major.
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