Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is offered by the Department of Sociology.

Sociology is the study of human behavior in the context of the groups, organizations, institutions, and societies in which it occurs. The sociology department offers courses covering a wide range of topics, including: contemporary social issues, race and racism, sexuality and gender, health and health care, education, urban life, housing, organizations, family, political life, popular culture, immigration, law, international development and globalization. The sociological perspective pays close attention to diversity in culture, values and human experience.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: LA-SOC-BA

Accelerated Programs

Sociology majors may opt to do a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (or the Health Track option) and apply to earn an accelerated master's degree. Sociology has three programs:

For more information on other master's programs that accept students from any major in CLA, see Accelerated Degree Programs.

Careers Related to Sociology

Majoring in sociology prepares students for many careers and graduate programs by providing both a broad sociological perspective and specific research, statistical and analytic skills. Students gain experience in fieldwork and interviewing; they develop, administer and analyze surveys and statistics; and they write research reports. Sociology provides an excellent background for students planning to begin their careers upon graduation as well as those planning to pursue graduate education. Recent graduates have gone to work and graduate school in the areas of law, medicine, business, non-profits, community planning, social work, market research and education. Students who are interested in a career in the health field can pursue a special sociology major option focused on health-related coursework. The Health Track option prepares students for graduate studies in leading medical, dental, nursing, public health, and physical and occupational therapy programs as well as graduate programs in sociology and related fields.

Student Organizations and Opportunities

Sociology majors and minors are encouraged to participate in the Sociology Undergraduate Majors and Minors Association (SUMMA), which hosts academic, community service and social events throughout the year. The department sponsors an annual student research conference where students can present their work.

Awards

Awards available to sociology majors include the Robert K. Merton Award, the Sociology Prize, the Benjamin and Irma Robboy Award, and the Nelsi Beato Award.

Distinction in Major

Sociology majors graduate with distinction in the major if they have a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the major and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.

Contact Information

Department Office
7th Floor Gladfelter Hall

Dustin Kidd, Chair
709 Gladfelter Hall
dustin.kidd@temple.edu

Matt Wray, Undergraduate Chair
751 Gladfelter Hall
matt.wray@temple.edu

Jessica Brennan, Administrator
208 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-7577
jessica.brennan@temple.edu

Catherine Staples, Coordinator
708 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-1494
cstaples@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2023-2024. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2023 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements

  • MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
  • All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. The specific courses required for this major are SOC 3396 and SOC 4096.
  • Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements

  • Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
  • 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
  • 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
    • For Social Science majors, 6 upper level credits (numbered 2000-4999) must be taken in Humanities Subject Areas: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts, Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
  • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
  • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
  • Professional Development Requirement
    • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors is the appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
  • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements
    • All students must complete or test out of the first and second levels of a foreign language - these courses are numbered 1001 and 1002;
    • All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and
    • All Bachelor of Arts students must complete one of the following options:
      • Third semester of a foreign language;
      • Demonstrated proficiency beyond the third semester in a foreign language (placement exam or certification from the language department);
      • Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Requirements page;
      • Study Abroad at an approved program; or
      • Take a second General Education Global/World Society course.
    • Notes on Foreign Language Study
      • The third level of language is numbered 1003 in French, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects.
      • Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
      • See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.

General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Major Requirements (36 credits)

Required Courses
SOC 1176Introduction to Sociology3
or SOC 1576 Introduction to Sociology for Health Professions
SOC 3201Statistical Methods in Sociology 14
SOC 3261Research Design and Methods 14
SOC 3396Development of Sociological Thought3
SOC 4096Senior Seminar 23
Five Sociology electives at the 2000 level or higher15
Advanced Methods Course
Select one of the following: 34
Qualitative Research
Data Analysis
Total Credit Hours36
1

Students must take SOC 3201 prior to (or concurrently with) SOC 3261.

2

Indicates writing capstone for the major.

3

Students must complete SOC 3201 and SOC 3261 before taking either of the advanced methods courses, SOC 4001 or SOC 4002.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2023-2024 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL
or Honors Writing About Literature
4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ 4
Foreign Language 1001 - first level 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
3
Foreign Language 1002 - second level 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
SOC 1176
Introduction to Sociology
or Introduction to Sociology for Health Professions
3
 Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Sociology 2000-4999 Course 3
Select one of the following: 3
Foreign Language - third level
GenEd Global/World Society Course GG
Internationally Focused Course From Approved List
 Credit Hours15
Spring
CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors 1
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
SOC 3201 Statistical Methods in Sociology 4
CLA/CST 2000+ Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 1
 Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
CLA/CST 2000+ Humanities/CST Course 3
SOC 3396 Development of Sociological Thought 3
SOC 3261 Research Design and Methods 4
Sociology 2000-4999 Course 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
Sociology 2000-4999 Course 3
Sociology 2000-4999 Course 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Humanities/CST Course 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
Sociology 2000-4999 Course 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
Select one of the following Advanced Methods courses: 1 4
Qualitative Research
Data Analysis
 Credit Hours16
Spring
SOC 4096 Senior Seminar 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College 3
One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours123
1

SOC 4001 is only offered in the spring and SOC 4002 only in the fall; plan to take prior to SOC 4096. See advisor for course selection.

Please check prerequisites for all Sociology courses.

Health Track Option

Sociology students who are interested in a career in the health field can follow the Health Track option which focuses on health-related coursework. This option prepares students for graduate studies in leading medical, dental, nursing, public health, and physical and occupational therapy programs as well as graduate programs in sociology and related fields.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2023-2024. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2023 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Degree Requirements

University Requirements

  • MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement testing.
  • All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. SOC 3396 and SOC 4096 fulfill this requirement for this major.
  • Students must complete requirements of the General Education (GenEd) Program. See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more details.

College of Liberal Arts Requirements

  • Completion of a minimum of 123 credits, including:
    • 90 credits in CLA/CST courses;
    • 45 credits of which must be at the upper level (numbered 2000-4999).
      • For Social Science majors, 6 upper level credits (numbered 2000-4999) must be taken in Humanities Subject Areas: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek (Ancient), Greek and Roman Classics, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Philosophy, Religion, Russian, and Spanish in the College of Liberal Arts, Art History in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, or any department in the College of Science and Technology.
    • A minimum GPA of 2.0, cumulatively, in CLA/CST coursework, and in the major.
    • Only courses in which a student receives a grade of at least C- can satisfy GenEd, major, minor, or CLA Foreign Language and Global Studies requirements.
    • Professional Development Requirement
      • All students in the College of Liberal Arts are required to take a 1 credit seminar in professional development. CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors is the appropriate course option for this major. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CLA College Requirements page. Only one course in this category may count towards graduation.
    • Foreign Language/Global Studies Requirements
      • All students must complete or test out of the first and second levels of a foreign language - these courses are numbered 1001 and 1002;
      • All students must complete at least one course from the GenEd Global/World Society category; and
      • All Bachelor of Arts students must complete one of the following options:
        • Third semester of a foreign language;
        • Demonstrated proficiency beyond the third semester in a foreign language (placement exam or certification from the language department);
        • Take one Global Studies course from the list on the CLA College Requirements page;
        • Study Abroad at an approved program; or
        • Take a second General Education Global/World Society course.
      • Notes on Foreign Language Study
        • The third level of language is numbered 1003 in French, Spanish, and Portuguese and numbered 2001 in all other foreign language subjects.
        • Students are strongly encouraged to take the third level of a foreign language as it is the minimum required for election to the prestigious honor society Phi Beta Kappa. (Taking the course does not guarantee admission but not taking it guarantees exclusion.)
        • See the College of Liberal Arts Policies section of this Bulletin for more information on the Foreign Language Placement, Regression in Coursework, and guidelines for students' other experiences with language.

General Electives are typically one-third of a student's program of study and can be focused on a second major, a minor, or towards some other personal enrichment or professional goals. See an academic advisor for assistance in developing an academic plan for these courses.

Major Requirements for Health Track Option (36 credits)

Required Courses
SOC 1176Introduction to Sociology3
or SOC 1576 Introduction to Sociology for Health Professions
SOC 3201Statistical Methods in Sociology 14
SOC 3261Research Design and Methods 14
SOC 3396Development of Sociological Thought3
SOC 4096Senior Seminar 23
Five Sociology electives at the 2000 level or higher (three must be selected from the Health-related course list below)15
Advanced Methods Course
Select one of the following: 34
Qualitative Research
Data Analysis
Health-related Courses
Health and Disease in American Society
Selected Topics in Medical Sociology
Sociology of the Self
Food for Thought: Sociological Thinking About Food
Sociology on Drugs
Race, Science, Health, and Medicine
Sex & Society
Science, Technology & Society
Environmental Sociology: The End of the World as We Know It?
Urban Health
Selected Topics in Medical Sociology
Health and Reproduction
Sociology of the Body
Population Studies
Independent Study in Medical Sociology
Total Credit Hours36
1

Students must take SOC 3201 prior to or concurrently with SOC 3261.

2

Indicates writing capstone for major.

3

Students must complete SOC 3201 and SOC 3261 before taking either of the advanced methods courses, SOC 4001 or SOC 4002.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology: Health Track Option

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2023-2024 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL
or Honors Writing About Literature
4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ 4
Foreign Language 1001 - first level 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life
3
Foreign Language 1002 - second level 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Select one of the following: 3
Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Sociology for Health Professions
 Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Sociology 2000-4999 Course 3
Select one of the following: 3
Foreign Language - third level
GenEd Global/World Society Course GG
Internationally Focused Course From Approved List
 Credit Hours15
Spring
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
SOC 3201 Statistical Methods in Sociology 4
CLA 1002 Professional Development for Liberal Arts Majors 1
CLA/CST 2000+ Course 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 2
 Credit Hours16
Year 3
Fall
CLA/CST 2000+ Humanities/CST Course 3
SOC 3396 Development of Sociological Thought 3
SOC 3261 Research Design and Methods 4
Sociology 2000-4999 Health Track Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
CLA/CST 2000+ Humanities/CST Course 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Elective 3
Sociology 2000-4999 Health Track Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
Sociology 2000-4999 Health Track Elective 3
CLA/CST 2000+ Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
Select one of the following Advanced Methods courses: 1 4
Qualitative Research
Data Analysis
 Credit Hours16
Spring
SOC 4096 Senior Seminar 3
Sociology 2000-4999 Course 3
CLA/CST 0800-4999 Elective 3
One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College 3
One 0800-4999 Elective in Any School or College 2
 Credit Hours14
 Total Credit Hours123
1

SOC 4001 is only offered in the spring and SOC 4002 only in the fall; plan to complete prior to taking SOC 4096. See advisor for course selection.

Please check prerequisites for all Sociology courses.