Sociology (SOCY) - Ferris Course Catalog

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Sociology SOCY

Required Courses		Credit Hours
General Education
This degree requires completion of the General Education requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree. Details of these requirements are delineated on the General Education website. Courses listed below as program/major required courses with the indicators: C, S, Z, R, G, may also be used to satisfy some of these general education requirements.

Major: Minimum 30 credits.
SOCY 121	Introductory Sociology	3
SOCY 270	Sociological Theory	3
SOCY 271	Sociological Meth/Qualitative	3
SOCY 371	Sociological Statistics	3
SOCY 480		3
Directed Electives: Select 15 credits from the following
GEOG 311	Social Aspects of GIS	3
SOCY 122	Social Problems	3
SOCY 225	Marriage and the Family	3
SOCY 230	Gender Roles in Society	3
SOCY 242	Sociology Of Deviant Behavior	3
SOCY 340	Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.	3
SOCY 341	Community Studies	3
SOCY 344	World Urban Sociology	3
SOCY 345	The Field of Aging	3
SOCY 347	Sociology of Disasters	3
SOCY 350	Black Images in Pop Culture	3
SOCY 361	Work and Leisure in Society	3
SOCY 373	Health-Illness in Society	3
SOCY 411	Applied Community Research	4
SOCY 443	Soc Stratification-Inequality	3
SOCY 450	Criminology	3
SOCY 491	Sociology Internship	3
B.A. Core		3-15 credits
The BA core consists of one COMM course and proficiency in a foreign language through the 201 level.

Why Choose Sociology?

Sociology, the study of human society, gives students the ability and knowledge to understand social systems and their influence on individuals. It gives students the tools and knowledge they need to do social research, to identify and devise solutions to social problems, to identify group influences, and to understand group dynamics. Above all, it gives students the ability and knowledge they need to understand the complexities of modern life in an ever-changing swirl of economic, political, and cultural dynamics, and to take positive action on behalf of their employer, community, or interests.

Students in the Sociology major complete core courses in social theory and research methods. They also choose from an array of courses dealing with different topics such as marriage and family, minority groups, health and illness, social change, deviant behavior, and urban sociology. Advanced students often participate in undergraduate research projects or internships.

Professional Opportunities

The Sociology major is excellent preparation for a variety of career paths. These include careers in law, government, human services, marketing research, education, health-related systems, management, and the mass media. Many graduates continue their education in graduate or professional school in a variety of fields, while others use their analytic, research, and organizational skills to find immediate employment in a variety of settings.

Admission Requirements

First year student admission is open to high school graduates (or equivalent) who demonstrate academic preparedness, maturity and seriousness of purpose with educational backgrounds appropriate to their chosen program of study. High school courses and grade point average, ACT composite score, and Act reading and mathematics subscores will be considered in the admission and placement process. Transfer students must have at least 12 credits at the time of application with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA including an English and mathematics course, or they must provide their high school records and ACT scores for admission review.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours including the Sociology major, the BA core, an academic minor in another field of study, and all general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree. No grade lower than 'C' will count toward the major.

More Information

ADVISOR: Dr. G. Thomas Behler
OFFICE: 820 Campus Drive / ASC 2088
PHONE: 231-591-3611
E-MAIL: behlert@ferris.edu

Social Sciences Department
Ferris State University
820 Campus Drive/ASC 2108
Big Rapids, MI 49307
Phone: 231-591-2735