Undergraduate Degree Programs and Minors
Department of Sociology Degree Programs
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Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
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. -
Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology
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.
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Internship Program Prerequisites
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
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Sociology Minor
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. -
Studies in Popular Culture Minor
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 -
Minor in Aging and the Life Course
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 Chee, Dr. Christopher Johnson, or call the Sociology Advisor (512.245.2113).
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Minor in Latina/o Studies
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.
18 Credit Minor
Two required courses:
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LATS 2300 — Introduction to Latina/o Studies (WI)
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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 TarverARTH 4321O — Colonial Art of Latin America (WI)
Section 251 and 01
Dr. Gina TarverANTH 3324 — Mexican American Culture
Section 01 (online)
Dr. Ana JuarezANTH 3350 — Gender and Sexuality in Cross-Cultural Perspective
Section 251 and 01
Dr. Ana JuarezCJ 3322 — Race, Ethnicity and Criminal Justice
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Ashley ArnioCOMM 3318M — Intercultural Communication in the Americas
Dr. Seokhoon Ahn
prerequisite: Comm Major or LATS MinorCTE 3313C — Entrepreneurship
Section 251
Dr. Omar López
course only offered in Round RockCTE 3315 — Leadership Professional Development
Section 751
Dr. Omar López
course only offered in Round RockFCD 4358 — Latino Youth & Families
Section 252
Dr. Edna AlfaroGEO 3308 — Latin American Geography
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Sara BlueGEO 3349 — Population Geography
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Osvaldo Salari and Dr. Sara Blue
prerequisite: algebraGEO 3353 — American Ethnic Geography
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Lawrence EstavilleENG 3341 — Studies in World Literature and Contemporary Culture (WI)
Section S01
Dr. Edna Aguirre-Rehbein
course offered in Round Rock and study abroadENG 3343 — The Work and Career of Sandra Cisneros (WI)
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Geneva GanoENG 3344 — Chicano/a Narrative and Social History (WI)
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Sara RamirezENG 4325 — Literature of the Southwest: Borderlands Narratives (WI)
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Geneva Gano and Robin CohenHIST 2312 — History of World Civilization from the 17th Century (WI)
Section 251 and 254
Dr. Anadelia RomoHIST 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 coursesHIST 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 coursesHIST 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 coursesHIST 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 coursesMC 4319 — Latinas/Latinos and the Media
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Vanessa de Macedo Higgins JoyceMKT 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 standingMUSE 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 instructorPOSI 4323 — Latina/o Politics (WI)
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Tomas Longoria
New course starting Spring 2019
Hybrid (in-person and online) coursePOSI 4358 — United States-Latin American Relations (WI)
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Edward MilhalkaninPSY 3334 — Psychology of Human Diversity (WI)
Section 1 and 251
Dr. Roque Mendez
prerequisite: PSY 1300SOCI 3320 — Population Dynamics
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Debarun MajumdarSOCI 3322 — Latinos and Immigration
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Beatriz Aldana Marquez and Dr. Gloria P. MartinezSOCI 3327 — Multicultural Relations (Sociology of Race and Ethnicity)
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Gloria P. Martinez and Ms. Lisa LambSOCI 3333 — The Sociology of Popular Music
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Joseph KotarbaSOCI 3375K — Latinos and Aging
Any section and all instructors
Dr. Gloria P. MartinezSPAN 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 speakersSPAN 4312 — Contemporary Hispanic Linguistics
Section 1
Dr. Yasmine Beale-Rivaya
prerequisite: grade of C or higher in SPAN 3308SPAN 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 equivalentTH 4303 — Ethnic Theatre Workshop (formerly TH 4330S)
Any section and all instructors
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Minor in Sustainability Studies
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 Urban Geography Community and Regional Planning World Population Conservation Leadership Parks and Protected Places Philosophy, Nonviolence, Sustainability, and Social Change Community Health Environmental Health Population Dynamics Globalization and Development Urban Society Sustainable Cities Food and Society Sociology of Consumption Technology and Society Ecology and Sustainability Choose 6 hours from the following: 6 World Prehistory History of Evolutionary Thought Disease and Society Rainforest Ecology Ecology, Evolution and Society Wildlife and Recreation: Impact, Policy, and Management Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Global Environmental Change Natural Resource Use and Management Geography of Health Total Hours 18