Any major who enrolls in an upper division course must have formally applied and been approved for permission to enroll. It seeks to explain social institutions, standards, cultures, and the factors that operate in social change. The sociology option is designed to prepare the student for employment when a sociology background is desirable or required, or for further study in sociology at the graduate level. Sociologists may find employment with nonprofit and for profit business and agricultural organizations or governmental agencies, as well as academic institutions. The fields of labor relations, personnel administration, market analysis, and various types of industrial research employ trained sociologists.
Many graduates enter the social services.
The maximum number of Sociology transfer credits accepted is 18. The Justice Studies Option provides sociology students the opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary, critical examination of justice theories and practices. This examination involves a variety of perspectives, including sociology, criminology, ethical theory, legal studies, and political philosophy. Faculty recognize that criminal justice issues are complex, and cannot be separated from broader social justice issues. Students in this option have the opportunity to learn about theories of justice, crime and criminology, comparative justice, law, punishment theories and practices, adolescents and justice, and differential institutional and socio-economic treatment of populations based on gender, race, class, and ethnic identities.