Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires department approval. 

University Requirements

• A total of 120 credit hours 
• 6 credit hours of college writing 
• 3 credit hours of college mathematics or the equivalent by examination 

General Education Requirements

• A total of ten courses, consisting of one foundation course and one second-level course in an approved sequence from each of the five curricular areas 
• No more than 6 credit hours may be taken in the same discipline 

Major Requirements

• 43 credit hours with grades of C or better; no more than 13 credit hours may be at the 100 or 200 level 

Course Requirements

• SOCY-150 Global Sociology 4:1 (3) 
• SOCY-315 Major Social Theorists (3) 
• SOCY-320 Introduction to Social Research (3) 
• SOCY-491 Internship (3) 

or 

SOCY-392 Cooperative Education Field Experience (3) 

or an approved equivalent experience 

• SOCY-492 Major Research Seminar (3) 
• 3 credit hours of advanced theory from the following: 

SOCY-415 Current Issues in Social Theory (3) 

SOCY-515 Models of Societal Development (3) 

• 3 credit hours of advanced research methods from the following: 

SOCY-525 Social Advocacy and Change (3) 

SOCY-580 Social Policy Analysis (3) 

or other methods course approved by the advisor 

• STAT-202 Basic Statistics (4) 
• 18 credit hours in sociology electives, with no more than  two courses at the 100 or 200 level, and at least one course at the 500 level. Students should take at least one course from four of the following concentrations:  

Race, Gender, and Social Justice 

Global Sociology/Regional Studies 

Social Inequality 

Gender and Family 

Applied Sociology/Social Policy 

University Honors Program

All University Honors students must complete at least 12 credit hours of advanced-level (300-level and above) Honors courses including a 3 to 6 credit hour Honors Senior Capstone Project. Students may graduate with University Honors in the major if they complete at least 12 advanced-level Honors courses including the Senior Capstone Project in the department. Each department has three levels of University Honors requirements: Level I Options (100-200-level Honors classes); Level II Options (300-level and above Honors classes); and Level III Options (Honors Senior Capstone). The department Honors coordinator advises students in the University Honors Program regarding departmental options. For more information, go to www.american.edu/academic.depts/honors/ . 

Combined B.A. and M.A. in Sociology

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs. Undergraduate students may complete up to 3 credits for every 9 credits required for the graduate degree that may be applied to the requirements for both degree programs. The department that oversees the graduate program the student enters will determine if the courses the undergraduate student completes will satisfy master’s degree requirements. Bachelor’s/master’s students must complete at least 18 in-residence credit hours at the graduate level after the bachelor’s degree is earned and maintain continuous, sequential enrollment in the two programs. 

This program enables qualified students to earn, in a continuous plan of study, both the B.A. and M.A. in Sociology. 

Requirements

• Students should apply for this program in the second semester of the junior year. Students must have a minimum overall 3.00 grade point average. Admissions decisions to the combined program follow the same procedures and standards used to evaluate graduate applicants to the M.A. Students interested in applying to this combined program should consult with their advisor and other faculty members before formal application is begun. 
• All requirements for the B.A. in Sociology 

Undergraduate students may apply up to 12  credit hours of approved graduate-level course work in sociology, including STAT-514 Statistical Methods, to satisfy the requirements of both degrees. 

• All requirements for the M.A. in Sociology, including a minimum of 18 credit hours completed in residence in graduate status after the undergraduate degree has been awarded. Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program.