Academics
Undergraduate Programs
Undergraduate Programs
Sociology, B.A.
About the Program
The B.A. degree in sociology presents a general program to prepare students for a wide variety of positions in business, industry, government, health-related services, or social services. It is also designed to prepare undergraduate students for graduate work in sociology, law, public administration, demography, or other social science disciplines. Its emphasis upon scholarly research culminates in the senior seminar, in which students experience the atmosphere and types of academic tasks prevalent in graduate work. The freedom of choice in selection of sociology courses permits students to develop a particular specialty within sociology, either to meet special career interests, or graduate program requirements. Although this program does not require either applied computer courses or internship experience, students are strongly advised to consider these courses in the selection of sociology electives.
About the Sociology Department
B307 Classroom Building
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-5411
Fax: (716) 878-4009
www.buffalostate.edu/sociology/
Contact Faculty and Staff in the Sociology Department
Career Information
Sociology majors are prepared for careers in community organizations, criminal justice units, and government agencies as advisers, internal or external consultants, and counselors. Students who attend graduate school usually pursue sociology, education, business, or law.
Graduates have been hired as site managers for social service agencies, college admissions counselors, research assistants, counselors, police officers, case workers, and skills-development specialists for the developmentally disabled. Typical hiring firms include social service agencies, nonprofit advocacy organizations, and businesses requiring individuals with analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Recent graduates have been hired by companies and agencies such as Ingram Micro, U.S. Customs Service, Crisis Services, Niagara Mohawk, People Inc., KidsPeace, Niagara County Department of Social Services, Gateway-Longview, Research Institute on Addictions, Compass House, Buffalo Urban League, Stepping Stones Learning Center, and Bailey Delavan Community Services.
Program Requirements
Intellectual Foundations Requirements 39–66 cr
Total Required Credit Hours in Sociology 40 cr
A. Required Courses (22 cr)
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
SOC 300W Methods in Social Research
SOC 301 Social Statistics (4)
SOC 330 Social Psychology
OR
SOC 350 Power, Class, and Inequality
SOC 400W Foundations of Sociological Thought
SOC 408W Contemporary Sociological Theory
SOC 490 Seminar in Sociology
B. At Least One Course from Each of Three Clusters (9 cr)
Social Institutions Cluster
SOC 320 Sociology of the Family
SOC 323 Sociology of Education
SOC 360 Sociology of Work
SOC 362 Sociology of Organizations
Social Structure and Development Cluster
SOC 310 Sociology of Sex and Gender
SOC 333 Social Movements
SOC 340 Sociology of the City
SOC 351 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
Deviance Cluster
SOC 370 Sociology of Deviant Behavior
SOC 380 Sociology of Crime
SOC 382 Sociology of Law
SOC 390 Juvenile Delinquency
C. Sociology Electives (9 cr)
At least three additional courses in sociology.
All College Electives 14–41 cr
Total Required Credit Hours 120 cr
