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University Catalog 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Sociology, B.A.
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Sociology is the scientific study of the changing groups and institutions shaping human experience throughout people’s lives. It is a social science that links all studies of humankind, including communications, economics, history, and psychology.
The Department of Sociology offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with four options: the General Sociology Option, the Inequalities and Diversity Option, the Law and Society Option, and the Social Gerontology Option.
120 units are required for the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, 45 of which are in the major. The 45 major program units are distributed as follows:
24 units of core courses
21 units of option courses
Consult with an NSS adviser for the specific number of units required in all other areas of the degree, including GE and free electives.
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Honors Program in the Sociology Major
The Sociology Department sponsors a Senior Honors Program for our top undergraduate sociology majors. During their final undergraduate year, sociology honors program students conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a Sociology Department faculty member and write a senior honors thesis.
Those who successfully complete the Honors Program will receive the following statement on their diplomas and transcripts: Graduated with Departmental Honors in the [Option] in Sociology.
Honors Program Basic Eligibility Criteria
- Senior class standing
- Minimum GPA of 3.5
- Completion of these three core requirements: SOC 2010 , SOC 3900 or SOC 3910 , and SOC 4120
- Completion of at least six other upper-division courses in the Sociology Major
Option-Specific Eligibility Criteria
- Completion of option-specific required course: SOC 4600 for Inequalities and Diversity; SOC 4880 for Law and Society; SOC 4500 for Social Gerontology (this can count as one of your six upper-division courses in the above criteria).
- Registration in the option-specific honors thesis course (after obtaining permission to enroll): SOC 4500 for Law and Society; SOC 4930 for all other options.
Independent Study
Sociology majors can earn up to 1-3 units per semester up to a maximum of 6 units through Undergraduate Directed Study, SOC 4990, which allows students to expand on their special interests in an area that is more specialized than the department’s normal course offerings. Students meet regularly with their faculty supervisor. Individual research projects may involve library research, case studies, or field research.
Independent Study Criteria for all Options:
- Senior class standing
- 2.75 GPA
- Students must have approval from the supervising sociology professor and the Department Chair prior to enrollment. Approval is partly contingent on demonstrating that the experience cannot be gained through normal course offerings.
Course Sequence
Sociology 2010, Introduction to Sociology, is the prerequisite for all 4000-level sociology coursework. It is also highly recommended that suggested sequences be observed, since later coursework will assume students have some of the skills taught in 2010, 2100, 3100, 3900, and 3910.
The following are strongly recommended or required.
SOC 2010 and SOC 2100 should be among the first courses taken at Cal State L.A. by entering first year students and those who are transferring in without having completed equivalent courses. SOC 3100 should be taken soon after its prerequisite, SOC 2100; SOC 2100 is prerequisite for SOC 3900 . Recommendations include taking SOC 3900 and SOC 3910 before 4000-level coursework.
Requirements for the Major (45 units)
Major requirements combine a common set of 24 units of required coursework with 21 additional units of work relevant to one of the four options: General Sociology, Inequalities and Diversity, Law and Society, and Social Gerontology.
General Sociology Option (21 units)
Sociology explores a broad range of critical social and scientific issues concerning multiple facets of society. It prepares students for a wide variety of careers and professional programs and informs them about how social forces influence individuals, groups, and institutions. It provides the basis for those who wish to do applied research and those who wish to gain an overall understanding of society before seeking careers related to social agency, public policy, public administration, urban planning, counseling, and other service occupations. The General Sociology Option is designed for students who wish to pursue these ideas broadly without focusing on one particular area.
Directed Electives (21 units)
- 15 units upper-division courses in Sociology, NOT including independent supervision, or coursework from other departments.
- 6 units additional upper-division courses. These may include any combination of the following: more upper-division sociology electives; approved relevant upper-division courses from other disciplines - NOTE: The approved list is available through the Department and automated on GET; individual supervision coursework.
Refer to Degree Planner for specific approved courses to satisfy these requirements.
Inequalities and Diversity Option (21- Units)
The Inequalities and Diversity Option builds on the strength of Cal State LA as a diverse, urban institution uniquely positioned to enable students to explore the many aspects of social inequality and diversity confronting our society. The sociological approach constitutes the core of the option. The option-specific courses provide 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 society.
Required Course (3 units)
Directed Elective Courses (9 units)
Select 9 units from the list below:
Additional Upper-Division Elective Courses (9 units)
These may include any Sociology electives, including additional option-specific electives. They may also include up to 6 units of independently supervised coursework.
Refer to Degree Planner for specific approved courses to satisfy these requirements.
Law and Society Option (21 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.
Required Course (3 units)
Directed Elective courses (9 -18 units)
Additional Upper-Division Elective Courses. (0-9 units)
These may include any SOC elective courses, including additional Directed electives. They may also include up to 6 units of independently supervised coursework.
*Up to 6 of these 18 units may include approved relevant upper-division courses from related departments. (The approved list of relevant UD courses is available through the Department and automated on GET).
Refer to Degree Planner for specific approved courses to satisfy these requirements.
Social Gerontology Option (21 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 aging baby boomers created the largest cohort of senior citizens in U.S. history; yet, they will be outnumbered as later cohorts age. Population aging will soon be worldwide 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.
Required Course (3 units)
Elective courses (9 -18 units)
Select from the list below:
Additional Upper-Division Elective Courses (0- 9 units)
These may include any SOC elective courses, including additional option-specific electives. They may also include up to 6 units of independently supervised coursework.
*Up to 6 of these 18 units may include approved relevant upper-division courses from related departments. (The approved list of relevant UD courses is available through the Department and automated on GET).
Refer to Degree Planner for specific approved courses to satisfy these requirements.
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