The program is not oriented to a specific career field, but completion of baccalaureate study in sociology provides background for employment in fields such as human services, criminal justice corrections, sales, public relations, advertising, personnel, applied social research, community organizations, and teaching social science in secondary schools. The program also provides a foundation for graduate or professional study in social work, urban planning, law, criminal justice, social policy, and similar areas. Finally, the degree prepares students to work toward advanced degrees in sociology, which qualify them for college or university teaching and academic, private, and governmental research positions. Undergraduate students majoring in sociology may pursue either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science. Students interested in higher degrees and professional careers in the social sciences are advised to seek the Bachelor of Science.
Departmental requirements are the same for transfer students as for others.
The department requires that transfer students majoring in sociology take at least 12 semester hours in sociology at The University of Iowa. Students must have transferred courses approved by a sociology adviser for credit in the major. Students who wish to obtain teacher licensure in the social sciences while majoring in sociology should contact the Division of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education. The B.A. requires 30-31 semester hours of course work, including the following. Students must take courses in the proper sequence.