Sociology, B.A.
Sociology is the scientific study of human groups and their characteristics, changes, causes and consequences. Through teaching, research and service, sociology reveals a critical understanding of the different ways people relate to one another through the organization of society and how its structures and cultures influence lives.
At Saint Louis University, the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology program’s subject matter ranges from family life to large-scale organizations, from crime to religion, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, from poverty to prosperity, and from the sociology of work to the sociology of sport. Few fields have such a broad and exciting scope.
Curriculum Overview
SLU's sociology B.A. curricula include exciting fieldwork practicum courses and service-learning.
Students may complete the general sociology major or choose to use their sociology electives to pursue one of three concentrations:
Health and Medicine Concentration
The health and medicine concentration focuses on the interplay of interactions, inequality and institutions that shape health and illness, both locally and globally. Students preparing for health-related fields find this area of concentration relevant.
Law, Crime and Deviance Concentration
The law, crime and deviance concentration allows students to develop their sociological expertise on the making, breaking and enforcement of social norms. Students considering careers in law, forensic science and progressive law enforcement will be interested in this concentration.
Urbanization, Immigration and Demography Concentration
The urbanization, immigration and demography concentration allows students to explore urban and community change and social justice. This concentration provides opportunities in careers in consulting, government, human services, social welfare, geoinformatics and geospatial statistics.
Fieldwork and Research Opportunities
SLU's Department of Sociology has many connections with social agencies throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Fieldwork practicums are available for sociology majors, including working at neighborhood centers in St. Louis or performing social research projects. Fieldwork practicums also provide an opportunity for students to be involved in agencies and organizations. Students meet with the department internship director for assistance in applying to any of the numerous local employment opportunities in St. Louis.
St. Louis boasts an excellent research laboratory for how social behavior is determined by social structure and physical environment, how community is a major factor in shaping human behavior and how humans adapt to their community. The sociology major provides a strong background in social science education that combines theory and empirical analysis methods with an emphasis on social inequality and institutions. Students’ learning experiences may be enhanced through practical fieldwork experiences with St. Louis nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies.
Careers
Graduates of SLU's sociology program are involved in diverse careers. They have occupied such positions as president of a management consulting firm, methodologist for a health organization, and directors of community centers.
Graduates of the sociology program can also continue with graduate work in sociology or a wide range of programs, such as social work, law and health service fields.
Admission Requirements
Begin Your Application
Saint Louis University also accepts the Common Application.
Freshman
All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory coursework is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.
To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, applicants must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test.
Transfer
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED.
Students who have attempted fewer than 24 semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must follow the above freshmen admission requirements. Students who have completed 24 or more semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit must submit transcripts from all previously attended college(s).
In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the Office of Admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University. Where applicable, transfer students will be evaluated on any courses outlined in the continuation standards of their preferred major.
International Applicants
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
- Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
- Proof of financial support must include:
- A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
- A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
- Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
- Financial Aid: Financial aid is provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit www.slu.edu/financial-aid.
- Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of issues related to diversity, inequality, and social justice. Specifically:
-
identify examples of cross-cultural diversity in beliefs and customs,
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identify examples of stratification by race/ethnicity, gender, and social class, and explain how inequality affects life chances, especially for marginalized others, and
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does the student describe policies or practices that can help promote or impede social justice in local, national, or global contexts
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- Graduates will understand the role of theory in social analysis. Specifically:
- describe the role of theory in building sociological knowledge,
- compare and contrast basic theoretical orientations; or, identify assumptions in analyses and arguments, and
- apply theories to examples or situations
- Graduates will understand the role of qualitative and quantitative research methods in sociology. Specifically:
- compare and contrast methodological approaches for gathering data,
- design a small study, and
- critically assess a published research report
- Graduates will communicate effectively in written and oral forms. Specifically:
- write a clear and convincing sociological analysis of an event, issue, or problem,
- make an oral presentation that is succinct, clear, convincing, and professional,
- use computerized and online resources to find information (e.g., databases, reputable internet websites, government statistics, etc.), and
- evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of information sources, and assess which references are appropriate for academic research
Sociology students must complete a minimum of 30 credits for the major.
- A maximum of two anthropology courses may count toward the sociology major.
- A maximum of two anthropology, sociology and/or forensic science courses may count toward both the anthropology and sociology majors.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Undergraduate Core | 32-35 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Introduction Requirements | ||
| SOC 1100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or SOC 1110 | Introduction to Sociology: Diversity Emphasis | |
| or SOC 1120 | Introduction to Sociology: Diversity and Health Emphasis | |
| Methods Requirement | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
ANTH 4710 | Field Recovery Methods | |
SOC 2000 | Research Methods | |
SOC 4015 | Quantitative Research Methods | |
SOC 4025 | Qualitative Research | |
| Theory Requirement | ||
| SOC 3150 | Theory of the Social Sciences | 3 |
| Research Requirement | ||
| SOC 4015 | Quantitative Research Methods | 3 |
| or SOC 4025 | Qualitative Research | |
| Senior Experience | ||
| SOC 4840 | Sociology Capstone | 3 |
| or SOC 4990 | Departmental Honors Thesis | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select 15 credits from the following: | 15 | |
ANTH 1200 | Introduction to Anthropology | |
ANTH 2080 | Urban Issues: Poverty and Unemployment | |
ANTH 2200 | Cultural Anthropology | |
ANTH 2210 & ANTH 2215 | Biological Anthropology and Biological Anthropology Lab | |
ANTH 2460 | Global Mental Health | |
ANTH 2470 | Medical Anthropology | |
ANTH 3240 | Anthropology of Sex & Gender | |
ANTH 3270 | Climate Change & Environmental Futures | |
ANTH 4530 | Urban Ethnography: Cities in a Global Perspective | |
SOC 1180 | World Geography | |
SOC 1500 | The Urban Community: Race, Class, and Spatial Justice | |
SOC 2110 | Sociology of Sport | |
SOC 2360 | Health Inequalities in the U.S. | |
SOC 2480 | Drugs and Society: Legal and Medical Implications of the "War on Drugs" | |
SOC 2490 | Sociology of Medicine | |
SOC 2630 | Religion and Social Sciences: Theoretical and Empirical Reflections on Religion | |
SOC 3180 | Immigration | |
SOC 3220 | Urban Sociology | |
SOC 3230 | Gender and Society | |
SOC 3360 | Racial and Ethnic Relations | |
SOC 3370 | Violence in America | |
SOC 3430 | Marriage and the Family | |
SOC 3490 | Sociology of Mental Health | |
SOC 3510 | The Structure of Poverty: Globally and Locally | |
SOC 3570 | Sociological Theories of Crime | |
SOC 3580 | Deviant Behavior: Drugs, Alcohol and Addiction | |
SOC 3590 | Law and Society | |
SOC 3700 | Health and the Social Sciences | |
SOC 3840 | African-American Religious Traditions | |
SOC 4640 | Demography: Measuring and Modeling Population Process | |
SOC 4650 | Introduction to GIS | |
SOC 4660 | Intermediate Geographic Information Systems | |
SOC 4670 | Spatial Demography: Applied Statistics for Spatial Data | |
SOC 4800 | Research Activity: Supervised | |
SOC 4980 | Advanced Independent Study | |
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 12 | |
| General Electives | 43-46 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Concentrations
Health and Medicine Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select 12 credits from the following: | 12 | |
ANTH 2210 & ANTH 2215 | Biological Anthropology and Biological Anthropology Lab | |
ANTH 2460 | Global Mental Health | |
ANTH 2470 | Medical Anthropology | |
ANTH 3270 | Climate Change & Environmental Futures | |
SOC 1120 | Introduction to Sociology: Diversity and Health Emphasis | |
SOC 2360 | Health Inequalities in the U.S. | |
SOC 2480 | Drugs and Society: Legal and Medical Implications of the "War on Drugs" | |
SOC 2490 | Sociology of Medicine | |
SOC 3490 | Sociology of Mental Health | |
SOC 3700 | Health and the Social Sciences | |
SOC 4640 | Demography: Measuring and Modeling Population Process | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Law, Crime and Deviance Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
SOC 2480 | Drugs and Society: Legal and Medical Implications of the "War on Drugs" | |
SOC 3220 | Urban Sociology | |
SOC 3525 | Elite and White Collar Deviance | |
SOC 3370 | Violence in America | |
SOC 3570 | Sociological Theories of Crime | |
SOC 3580 | Deviant Behavior: Drugs, Alcohol and Addiction | |
SOC 3590 | Law and Society | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Urbanization, Immigration and Demography Concentration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
ANTH 2080 | Urban Issues: Poverty and Unemployment | |
ANTH 4080 | Urban Issues: Advanced Seminar | |
ANTH 4530 | Urban Ethnography: Cities in a Global Perspective | |
ANTH 4540 | Environmental Impact | |
SOC 1550 | The Ignatian City: Social Suffering, Urban Marginality, and Social Justice | |
SOC 1180 | World Geography | |
SOC 1500 | The Urban Community: Race, Class, and Spatial Justice | |
SOC 3180 | Immigration | |
SOC 3220 | Urban Sociology | |
SOC 3360 | Racial and Ethnic Relations | |
SOC 4640 | Demography: Measuring and Modeling Population Process | |
SOC 4650 | Introduction to GIS | |
SOC 4660 | Intermediate Geographic Information Systems | |
SOC 4670 | Spatial Demography: Applied Statistics for Spatial Data | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Continuation Standards
Students must have a GPA of 2.00 in Sociology major coursework to be retained in the major.
Graduation Requirements
- Complete a minimum of 120 credits (excluding pre-college level courses numbered below 1000).
- Complete the University Undergraduate Core curriculum requirements.
- Complete major requirements: minimum 30 credits required.
- Complete remaining credits with a second major, minor, certificate and/or electives to reach the minimum of 120 credits required for graduation.
- Achieve at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average, a 2.00 grade point average in the major(s) and a 2.00 grade point average in the minor/certificate, or related elective credits.
- Complete department-/program-specific academic and performance requirements.
- Complete at least 50% of the coursework for the major and 75% for the minor/certificate through Saint Louis University or an approved study abroad program.
- Complete 30 of the final 36 credits through Saint Louis University or an approved study abroad program.
- Complete an online degree application by the required University deadline.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CORE 1000 | Ignite First Year Seminar (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) | 2-3 |
| CORE 1500 | Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community (Must be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes / Must be taken at SLU) | 1 |
| CORE 1900 | Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication (Should be taken in first 36 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) | 3 |
| SOC 1100 or SOC 1110 or SOC 1120 |
Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Sociology: Diversity Emphasis or Introduction to Sociology: Diversity and Health Emphasis |
3 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CORE 3200 | Ways of Thinking: Quantitative Reasoning (Should be taken in first 45 credit hours at SLU) | 3 |
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| SOC 2000 | Research Methods | 3 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 1200 | Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication (Should be taken in first 60 credit hours at SLU / Cannot carry attributes) | 3 |
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| SOC 4015 or SOC 4025 or STAT 1300 |
Quantitative Research Methods or Qualitative Research or Elementary Statistics with Computers |
3 |
| SOC Elective | This elective may be selected from any Sociology course or approved Anthropology courses | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CORE 3800 | Ways of Thinking: Natural and Applied Sciences (taken any time) | 3 |
| CORE 2500 | Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation (Cannot carry attributes) | 0 |
| SOC 3150 | Theory of the Social Sciences | 3 |
| SOC Elective | If you are completing a concentration, this course should be one of the electives in that concentration | 3 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 2800 | Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression | 2-3 |
| CORE 3400 | Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture | 3 |
| SOC Elective | If you are completing a concentration, this course should be one of the electives in that concentration | 3 |
| General Electives | 7 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CORE 3600 | Ways of Thinking: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| CORE 4000 | Collaborative Inquiry (Pre-req: 60 earned credits, including CORE 1000, CORE 1500, and a minimum of 17 additional Core credit hours (total of 21 Core credits)) | 2-3 |
| SOC Elective | If you are completing a concentration, this course should be one of the electives in that concentration | 3 |
| General Electives | 7 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| CORE 3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World (May be added to a capstone for the major / Cannot carry attributes) | 1 |
| SOC Elective | If you are completing a concentration, this course should be one of the electives in that concentration | 3 |
| General Electives | 11 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOC 4840 | Sociology Capstone | 3 |
| General Electives | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |