Sociology

  • SOCI

    What is Sociology?

    The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Sociology prepares students to understand and deal with diversity, modernization, and social change ranging from the local to global scale. The core competencies of the program prepare students to enter careers requiring technological facility, communication skills, data gathering and analysis skills, community awareness and involvement, problem-solving, critical thinking, an understanding of the structure and functioning of groups and organizations, greater awareness of their environment, critical self-reflection, and interpersonal and intercultural skills. Besides career preparation, specific concentrations in the major also provide background for graduate study in sociology and other related disciplines.

    Students who graduate with a degree in Sociology would be prepared to work as demographers and data analysts, public survey workers, social research assistants, affirmative action officers, employee specialists, cultural diversity trainers, social services specialists, policy analysts, criminologists in law enforcement and corrections, and numerous other occupations. 

    The program of study offers students both intellectual growth and marketable technical skills. A degree in Sociology is good preparation for graduate study in various disciplines, including Sociology, Public Health, Law, Business, Social Work, and Psychology.

    Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

    Learn more about sociology

    Admission Requirements


    None.

    This program does not have specific admission requirements. Only admission to Kennesaw State University is required to declare this major.

    Concentrations Available


    • Culture and Social Change: Students will acquire a global perspective and the conceptual tools necessary to work in a variety of professional settings and academic positions.
    • Criminology: Students will learn about the causes of crime, how to measure the extent of crime, and how to critically examine the approaches used to prevent, sanction, and change criminal behavior.
    • Medical Sociology: Students will develop a critical understanding of the health care delivery system and its various stakeholders, including patients, organizations, and providers.  Other areas with the medical sociology concentration include aging, mental health, human sexuality, biotechnology and ethical issues, and substance abuse.
    • General Sociology: Students will be able to choose among all Sociology courses to customize a course of study that is specific to their interests and career goals.

    Related Minors or Certificates Available


    • Diversity & Community Engagement Certificate
    • Workplace Interpersonal Relationships Certificate
    • Criminology Minor
    • Gerontology Minor
    • Medical Sociology Minor
    • Sociology Minor

    Sample Classes


    • The primary objective of this course is to understand how race, class, and gender intersect to fundamentally shape social interaction, conditions, and institutions in American society. This course examines the ways in which race, class, and gender are socially constructed and how they interconnect to create and maintain systems of privilege and inequality.

    • This course examines the world of work, the changing nature of work, and the implications of these changes for individuals and families. Key themes include theories of work and labor process, intersections of race, ethnicity, and gender, job satisfaction and motivation, labor unions, technological and global challenges, and the structure of professions and occupations.

    • This course examines drug use and abuse, including alcohol. Specifically, it examines how different drugs affect the body, theories of drug use, the sociological context of drug use, the impact of drug use and abuse on society, drug treatment, drug use policies, drugs and the law, and the extent of drug use in our society and globally.

    • This course examines the social aspects of mental illness. Topics include the history of mental illness, definitions, diagnoses, treatment institutions, and social factors that influence severity and course. The course will consider the characterization of “mental disorders” as “diseases,” the applicability of a resocialization model, and ethical issues.

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