Select Page

Sociology Curriculum

The Sociology program at UWO includes a high-impact major that focuses on helping students develop strong critical thinking, research skills, understanding of how to effect social change, and preparedness for a variety of careers in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors; a highly flexible minor that pairs well with and accentuates virtually any major; and a certificate in Social Equity & Diversity (SE&D) that is open to UWO students of all majors who seek to better understand and relate to people of diverse backgrounds, a requirement for being a productive employee and citizen in the 21st century. Learn more below!

Sociology Major Requirements

The Sociology major is made up of 33 total credits, consisting of 18 total credits of core classes and 15 credits of elective credits. Majors may also choose to take on an emphasis for further focus of their Sociology education.

A Sociology major consists of both of the following:

 

Core Classes (18 total credits)

  • 200-level Foundations of Sociology, Applied Sociology, Social Statistics
  • 300-level Classical & Contemporary Theory and Social Research Methods
  • 400-level Senior Seminar capstone (major research project)

Electives (15 total credits)

Students can choose to complete their electives through an optional emphasis. With four related electives and an internship students can earn an emphasis in one of these four areas:

1. Organization, Community, and Environment

2. Social Control, Deviance, and Criminology

3. Social Equity and Diversity

4. Public Administration

Any Sociology major who has not declared an emphasis is required to take 5 electives, with at least one in each emphasis category.

Sociology Minor Requirements

A minor in Sociology is a good addition for many disciplines within the natural and physical sciences, social sciences or humanities.

A minimum of 21 Sociology credits are required for Sociology minors.

A Sociology minor consists of both of the following:

 

Core Class (3 total credits)

  • Sociology 101 – Orientation to the sociological perspective. Basic sociological concepts, research procedures, processes of human interaction, and social institutions.

 

Additional Courses (18 total credits)

  • Sufficient credits from Sociology to meet the 21 credits required for the minor (includes both core and elective classes).
  • Sociology Minors can choose to complete their electives through one of the optional emphases discussed above.

Social Equity & Diversity Certificate Requirements

This certificate is a great for students interested in areas such as social services, organizational leadership, human resources, management, community organizing, health fields, population studies, teaching, and public administration who are seeking to further develop their intercultural knowledge and competency.

A minimum of nine sociology credits are required for the certificate, and consists of the following:

 

Core Class (3 total credits)

  • Sociology 359 – Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. 

Electives (6 total credits)

6 credits from the following:

  • SOC/AAS 311 – Sociology of the Modern City
  • SOC/ES 313 – Rural Sociology
  • SOC/ES 315 – Population Problems
  • SOC/SJ 317 – Sociology of Health & Illness
  • SOC 325 – Collective Behavior and Social Movements
  • SOC/SJ 331 – Social Stratification
  • SOC/WGS 339 – Sociology of the Family
  • SOC 347 – World Systems and Global Inequality
  • SOC 367 – Sex & Sexualities (formerly 360)
  • SOC/WGS/SJ 368 – Sociology of Gender
  • SOC 373 – Sociology of Law

Prerequisite: SOC 101, or SOC 151, or SOC 203, or consent of instructor

The Sociology program at UWO is highly collaborative and has partnerships with a variety of other people and programs. Our new 4+1, Sociology to MPA dual-degree pathway allows sociology students to take graduate classes that count both towards their undergraduate degree and a Master of Public Administration with our departmental colleagues who run this outstanding program! Because there was a good deal of complementarity and cross-listing already with the Criminal Justice and Environmental Studies programs, we developed streamlined double majors with both, allowing students to pair Sociology with one of these other outstanding majors and still graduate on time. We also worked with a number of other programs to develop the interdisciplinary Health, Humanities, & Society minor (HHS) to help students understand health from a variety of lenses beyond solely the biomedical model. Finally, there are other programs that prominently feature Sociology courses in their curriculum. Learn more below!

4+1 Dual Degree Pathway

double majors

Explore a streamlined double major in Environmental Studies or Criminal Justice

Contact: Paul Van Auken, Ph.D., Sociology Department Chair | vanaukep@uwosh.edu 

Health, Humanities & Society Minor Requirements

The HHS minor is an interdisciplinary program for students interested in public health, medicine, nursing, population studies, health administration, and others who seek to develop their health-related education through perspectives beyond the traditional, biomedical lens.

A minimum of 21 credits are required for the HHS minor.

The HHS minor consists of both of the following: 

 

Core Classes (6 total credits)

  • Philosophy 231 – Biomedical Ethics
  • Sociology 317 – Sociology of Health & Illness

Electives (15 total credits)

15 credits across at least three disciplines from the following list.

  • Anthropology 220 – Culture and Health
  • Art 313 – Italian Renaissance Art & Architecture
  • Art 314 – Northern Renaissance Art
  • Biology/WGS 310 – Biology of Gender
  • Economics 319 – Emerging Economies
  • English 359 – Literature & Science
  • Hmong Studies 230 – Memory & Trauma
  • Philosophy 205 – Ethical Issues in Diverse Society
  • Philosophy 335 – Philosophy of Sex
  • Psychology 320 – Health Psychology
  • Social Justice 101 or 102 – Intro to Social Justice
  • Sociology/ES 315 – Population Problems
  • Sociology 367 – Sex & Sexualities (formerly 360)

Checklists

Every explorer needs a map… consider these checklists your guides to the Sociology program. Refer to them early and often to stay on track. Please note; these do not replace meeting with an academic or faculty advisor, so don’t forget to schedule your advising appointments!

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH
Department of Sociology & Public Administration

(920) 424-2030
sociology@uwosh.edu
Sage Hall, Room 3464 and 4461

About Us

Advising

Curriculum

News

Contact Us