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Undergraduate Degree Programs and Minors

Department of Sociology Degree Programs

  • In obtaining a Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology you will be exposed to the study of group life and its consequences. As a social science, it combines scientific and humanistic perspectives in the study of urban and rural life, family patterns and relationships, social class, technology and communications, health care and illness, community responses to disasters, social movements, and contemporary social problems. 

    What can I do with a Bachelors of Arts degree? 
    The undergraduate degree in sociology prepares individuals to be competitive in a wide variety of occupations, including those in business, the public sector, and the helping professions. Because students learn how to systematically collect and manage data, they are sought by employers interested in those skills. Employers are also impressed with the sociological understanding of group dynamics that comes from the discipline. Not only is the sociology degree excellent preparation for graduate work in the social sciences and applied fields, but it also combines the classic liberal arts education with practical skills.

  • The core of the Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology major is the Internship Program, which has a prestigious reputation within the business and educational communities of central Texas. Our site supervisors tell us we have the most thorough, well-planned and successful internship program in the area. In addition to an innovative classroom experience, the program provides the opportunity to complete internship hours at an array of professional organizations in San Marcos, Austin, New Braunfels, San Antonio, and surrounding areas. Applied Sociology students are not limited to central Texas, it is also possible to complete an internship in other cities within Texas, the nation, or even internationally with coordinator approval.

    What can I do with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology?

    The internship program gives the students an opportunity to create a professional portfolio of work performed, facilitate professional presentations, participate in a mock job interview, and ultimately sharpen their professional skills while completing a special project for their site. We take pride in our program's ability to help our majors make the transition from the classroom to the work world. Applied Sociology students complete their internship semester in a wide variety of professional fields including, but not limited to, grant writing, politics, government, non-profit administration, human resources, event promotions, public relations, management, social research, or public administration. Interns can also be seen in social services, social media, and social justice initiatives. Our interns gain the professional skills necessary to be competitive in an ever-evolving job market.

  • To enroll in the Applied Sociology Internship course (SOCI 4690), students must successfully complete the following courses (or their equivalent), with a 2.25 GPA:

    • Introduction to Sociology
    • Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
    • Applied Data Analysis
    • Sociological Theory
    • Quantitative Research Methods
    • Qualitative Research Methods
    • and 12 hours of advanced Sociology electives

Department of Sociology Minors

  • Total of 18 hours required.  SOCI 1310 (Intro to Sociology) or SOCI 3300 (Principles of Sociology) required.  For the remainder of the hours comprising the minor, students must choose 15 hours from the list below; and at least 12 of the hours chosen must be advanced classes (3000/4000):
    SOCI 2320, SOCI 3300, SOCI 3304, SOCI 3307, SOCI 3308, SOCI 3309, SOCI 3317, SOCI 3318, SOCI 3319, SOCI 3320, SOCI 3321, SOCI 3324, SOCI 3325, SOCI 3327, SOCI 3328, SOCI 3333, SOCI 3337, SOCI 3338, SOCI 3340, SOCI 3343, SOCI 3344, SOCI 3345, SOCI 3347, SOCI 3348, SOCI 3349, SOCI 3350, SOCI 3353, SOCI 3363, SOCI 3366, SOCI 3370, SOCI 3375, SOCI 3383, SOCI 3384, SOCI 4332.

  • The minor in Studies in Popular Culture requires 18 semester credit hours.  The minor is designed to acquaint students with trends in American popular culture. Techniques of research, social meanings and consequences of popular culture are the major focuses of the minor.

    Courses for the Studies in Popular Culture minor were selected because they deal with significant aspects of everyday life ranging from mass media through the history of cultural trends and phenomenon. The courses selected deal with subjects that both are influenced by and influence popular culture.

    SOCI 3317 (Popular Culture and Society) is the required core course.  Fifteen additional hours (five courses) must then be selected from the following:
    ANTH 3309, ARTH 3303, ARTH 4301, COMM 4307, COMM 4321, COMM 4322, ENG 3309, ENG 3326, ENG 3329, ENG 3331, HIST 3343, HIST 3369I, HIST 4361, MC 3355, MC 4382C, MC 4382I, POSI 4301, SOCI 3324, SOCI 3333, SOCI 3340, SOCI 3366

  • Students who want a minor that may lead to a career studying gerontology or working with people in their various life stages, including their final stage, should select Aging and the Life Course as a minor.
     
    A minor in Aging and the Life Course requires 18 semester hours including 9 hours from the following core courses: SOCI 3329, 3383, SOWK 4320 and PSY 3313.

    The remaining nine hours shall be selected from the following courses: SOCI 3327, 3329, 3337, 3338, 3358, 3383, 3384, 3395; SOWK 4320, PSY 3330, 3313, 3361; REC 1320. 

    If you have interest in Aging and the Life Course or Social Gerontology and want to know more about the minor or the job market after graduation, please email Dr. Kyong Hee CheeDr. Christopher Johnson, or call the Sociology Advisor (512.245.2113).

  • The undergraduate minor in Latina/o Studies is a multidisciplinary university-wide program. Students learn about the social, political, economic, historical and cultural processes that impact Latina/o communities in the United States. The minor emphasizes applied skills and knowledge, including research skills, for better participating in our diverse society.

    More information ›

    photographs, buttons and other items related to the Latinx community are pinned to the back of a desk for inspiration

    18 Credit Minor

    Two required courses:

    • LATS 2300 — Introduction to Latina/o Studies (WI)

    • LATS 4325 — Latina/o Identities, Communities, and Social Change (WI)

    Full course descriptions and more info about the minor here ›


    Choose four electives from the following selection of courses:

    ARTH 4314 — Art and Politics

    Section 01
    Dr. Gina Tarver

    ARTH 4321O — Colonial Art of Latin America (WI) 

    Section 251 and 01
    Dr. Gina Tarver

    ANTH 3324 — Mexican American Culture

    Section 01 (online)
    Dr. Ana Juarez

    ANTH 3350 — Gender and Sexuality in Cross-Cultural Perspective

    Section 251 and 01
    Dr. Ana Juarez

    CJ 3322 — Race, Ethnicity and Criminal Justice

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Ashley Arnio

    COMM 3318M — Intercultural Communication in the Americas

    Dr. Seokhoon Ahn
    prerequisite: Comm Major or LATS Minor

    CTE 3313C — Entrepreneurship

    Section 251
    Dr. Omar López
    course only offered in Round Rock

    CTE 3315 — Leadership Professional Development

    Section 751
    Dr. Omar López
    course only offered in Round Rock

    FCD 4358 — Latino Youth & Families

    Section 252
    Dr. Edna Alfaro

    GEO 3308 — Latin American Geography

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Sara Blue

    GEO 3349 — Population Geography

    Any section and all instructors 
    Dr. Osvaldo Salari and Dr. Sara Blue
    prerequisite: algebra

    GEO 3353 — American Ethnic Geography

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Lawrence Estaville

    ENG 3341 — Studies in World Literature and Contemporary Culture (WI)

    Section S01
    Dr. Edna Aguirre-Rehbein
    course offered in Round Rock and study abroad

    ENG 3343 — The Work and Career of Sandra Cisneros (WI)

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Geneva Gano

    ENG 3344 — Chicano/a Narrative and Social History (WI)

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Sara Ramirez

    ENG 4325 — Literature of the Southwest: Borderlands Narratives (WI)

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Geneva Gano and Robin Cohen

    HIST 2312 — History of World Civilization from the 17th Century (WI)

    Section 251 and 254
    Dr. Anadelia Romo

    HIST 3369Z — Immigration and Ethnicity

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. John McKiernan-Gonzalez
    Students majoring in fields other than history are advised to begin with HIST 1310 or 1320 before enrolling the advanced History courses

    HIST 3371B — American Health and Illness

    Section 01
    Dr. John McKiernan-Gonzalez
    Students majoring in fields other than history are advised to begin with HIST 1310 or 1320 before enrolling the advanced History courses

    HIST 4372 — Mexican American History

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. John McKiernan-Gonzalez
    Students majoring in fields other than history are advised to begin with HIST 1310 or 1320 before enrolling the advanced History courses

    HIST 4373 — Economic and Social History of the Americas

    Section 01
    Dr. Paul Hart
    Students majoring in fields other than history are advised to begin with HIST 1310 or 1320 before enrolling the advanced History courses

    MC 4319 — Latinas/Latinos and the Media

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Vanessa de Macedo Higgins Joyce

    MKT 3385 — Ethnic and Niche Marketing

    Any section and all instructors
    prerequisite: MKT 3343 and MKT 3350; student must be admitted to McCoy College of Business and have junior standing

    MUSE 3102 — Salsa del Rio

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. John Lopez
    prerequisite: students will be required to audition to qualify to take the class. May be repeated for credit.

    MUSE 3103 — Texas State Mariachi: Mariachi Nueva Generación & Mariachi Lince de Oro

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. John Lopez
    prerequisite: students will be required to audition to qualify to take the class. May be repeated for credit.

    MUSE 3108 — Orquesta del Rio

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. John Lopez
    prerequisite: students will be required to audition to qualify to take the class. May be repeated for credit.

    PHIL 4372 — Latin American Philosophy (WI)

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Alejandro Barcenas Pardo
    prerequisite: PHIL 1305 (Philosophy and Critical Thinking) or permission of the instructor

    POSI 4323 — Latina/o Politics (WI)

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Tomas Longoria
    New course starting Spring 2019
    Hybrid (in-person and online) course

    POSI 4358 — United States-Latin American Relations (WI)

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Edward Milhalkanin

    PSY 3334 — Psychology of Human Diversity (WI)

    Section 1 and 251
    Dr. Roque Mendez
    prerequisite: PSY 1300

    SOCI 3320 — Population Dynamics

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Debarun Majumdar

    SOCI 3322 — Latinos and Immigration

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Beatriz Aldana Marquez and Dr. Gloria P. Martinez

    SOCI 3327 — Multicultural Relations (Sociology of Race and Ethnicity)

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Gloria P. Martinez and Ms. Lisa Lamb

    SOCI 3333 — The Sociology of Popular Music

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Joseph Kotarba

    SOCI 3375K — Latinos and Aging

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Gloria P. Martinez

    SPAN 3308 — Advanced Composition (WI)

    Any section and all instructors
    prerequisite: a grade of C or higher in Spanish 2310 and 2320
    Section 7 Spanish for Spanish speakers

    SPAN 4312 — Contemporary Hispanic Linguistics

    Section 1
    Dr. Yasmine Beale-Rivaya
    prerequisite: grade of C or higher in SPAN 3308

    SPAN 4370 — Hispanic Literature of the Southwest: Space and Images (WI)

    Any section and all instructors
    Dr. Sergio Martinez
    prerequisite: grade of C or higher in Spanish 3309 and/or a co-requisite 3308 or equivalent

    TH 4303 — Ethnic Theatre Workshop (formerly TH 4330S)

    Any section and all instructors


    More information about the Latina/o Studies Minor ›

  • The minor requires 18 semester credit hours. Sustainability Studies examines the human dimensions of the environment and sustainability in an interdisciplinary context.  The program goals include providing students with an opportunity to explore the connections between social and physical systems, developing skills consistent with critical analysis and interdisciplinary knowledge for students who seek careers in sustainability, and a mechanism for students to learn about sustainability and to apply that knowledge to real-world problems.

    Course List
    Code Title Hours
    Required Courses  
    PHIL 3323 Environmental Ethics 3
    SOCI 3365 Society and Environment 3
    Society and Sustainability  
    Choose 6 hours from the following: 6

    GEO 3310

    Urban Geography  

    GEO 3320

    Community and Regional Planning  

    GEO 3349

    World Population  

    GEO 4323

    Conservation Leadership  

    GEO 4326

    Parks and Protected Places  

    PHIL 4360C

    Philosophy, Nonviolence, Sustainability, and Social Change  

    PH 2340

    Community Health  

    PH 3301

    Environmental Health  

    SOCI 3320

    Population Dynamics  

    SOCI 3330

    Globalization and Development  

    SOCI 3353

    Urban Society  

    SOCI 3367

    Sustainable Cities  

    SOCI 3372

    Food and Society  

    SOCI 3323

    Sociology of Consumption  

    SOCI 3390

    Technology and Society  
    Ecology and Sustainability  
    Choose 6 hours from the following: 6

    ANTH 3306

    World Prehistory  

    ANTH 3307

    History of Evolutionary Thought  

    ANTH 3311

    Disease and Society  

    ANTH 3348

    Rainforest Ecology  

    BIO 1321

    Ecology, Evolution and Society  

    BIO 4304

    Wildlife and Recreation: Impact, Policy, and Management  

    BIO 4331

    Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation  

    GEO 2310

    Global Environmental Change  

    GEO 3313

    Natural Resource Use and Management  

    GEO 3351

    Geography of Health  
    Total Hours 18

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