The B.A. in Sociology provides a liberal arts background, which teaches students to think critically; conceptualize problems; apply theories and concepts to real-world issues; collect, analyze and interpret data; carry out research projects; and understand issues of diversity. These skills prepare students for a wide variety of careers in fields such as social and human services, research and data analysis, nonprofit and public sector management, social work, education, labor relations, program evaluation, policy analysis, human resources, market research and community organizing. It also provides a foundation for students to pursue graduate education in sociology and related fields. If students choose, they can focus their studies in one of the following concentrations: Social Welfare and Social Justice, Inequality and Diversity, or Social Movements and Political Sociology.

1. Lower division requirements: 7 units

• MATH 140 Introductory Statistics (4)
• SOC 150 Introductory Sociology (3)

2. Core Course requirements: 16 units

• SOC 424/L Statistical Techniques in Social Research and Lab (3/1)
• SOC 430 Theory I - Classical Sociological Theory (4) 
• SOC 468 Theory II - Contemporary Sociological Theory (4)
• SOC 497/L Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods and Lab (3/1)

3. Electives: 21 units

Select 21 units of electives from 200-400 level sociology courses. No more than 3 elective units can be taken at the 200 level. Students may concentrate in one of the areas below, but they are not required to do so for the B.A. in Sociology. Those students who wish to complete a concentration should take 9 of the 21 units in one of the concentrations below. Students who do not want to complete a concentration should take 21 units of electives from 200-400 level sociology courses.

Concentrations

a. Social Welfare and Social Justice (9 units)

• SOC 357 Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice (3)
• SOC 490S/F Supervised Field Seminar and Fieldwork (1/2)

Plus one course from the following:

• SOC 356 Social Welfare Institutions (3)
• SOC 420CSL Mentoring to Overcome Struggles and Inspire Courage (MOSAIC) (3)
• SOC 426 Social Legislation and Social Policy (3)
• SOC 484 Progressive Community Organizing (3)
• SOC 490S/F Supervised Field Seminar and Fieldwork (1/2)
• SOC 492 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3)
• SOC 493 Diversity and Social Justice (3)

b. Inequality and Diversity (9 units)

• SOC 401 Class, Status and Power (3)

Plus two courses from the following:

• SOC 307 Ethnic Diversity in America (3)
• SOC 324 Sociology of Sex and Gender (3)
• SOC 335 Jewish Identity in the U.S. (3)
• SOC 452 Sociology of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities (3)
• SOC 461 Sociology of Immigration (3)

c. Social Movements and Political Sociology (9 units)

• SOC 370 Political Sociology (3) or SOC 476 Social Movements (3)

Plus two courses from the following:

• SOC 370 Political Sociology (3)
• SOC 433 Sociology of Globalization (3) or POLS 480 The Politics of Globalization (3)
• SOC 476 Social Movements (3)
• SOC 484 Progressive Community Organizing (3)

4. General Education (48 units)

• Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in the CSUN Course Catalog.

Total Units in Major: 44

General Education Units: 48

Additional Units: 28

Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120