USF 2004-2005 Undergraduate Catalog - Page 116
Course Descriptions - Faculty - Printable Degree Requirements
Sociology is the study of social life and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies. Because all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from intimate families to hostile mobs; from crime to religion; from the divisions of race, gender, and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture; from the sociology of work to the sociology of emotions.
The Sociology major is designed to provide students with a broad liberal arts education and a greater understanding and insight into the social systems and processes that bear upon everyday lives. Opportunities for students with Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology are quite varied. Some go on to work for human service agencies; others work in personnel, criminal justice, and urban planning; others enter graduate programs in sociology, education, law, medicine, or social work. Toward these ends, all students are encouraged to become skilled in the use of computers and libraries.
Prerequisites (State Mandated Common Prerequisites)
Students wishing to transfer to USF should complete the A.A. degree at the community college. Some courses required for the major may also meet General Education Requirements thereby transferring maximum hours to the university. If students transfer with fewer than 60 semester hours of acceptable credit, the students must meet the university’s entering freshman requirements including ACT or SAT test scores, GPA, and course requirements.
The transfer student should also be aware of the immunization, foreign language, and continuous enrollment policies of the university.
Students should complete two lower level introductory courses in Sociology prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at the community college, they must be completed before the degree is granted. A grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable grade. Students are encouraged to take the following prerequisites, or major, support, or elective courses, if available, during the program of study at the community college, and when feasible in General Education/Gordon Rule courses.
Specific Coursework in the Sociology Major
The major consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours of Sociology coursework plus ISS STA 2122: “Social Science Statistics” or its equivalent. All university wide regulations regarding transfer credits and credits needed for graduation apply, at least 27 of the 36 hours of coursework in Sociology must be USF credits. Only courses in which a grade of “C” or better is attained will count toward the minimum hours although lower grades are included in calculating the major GPA.
The minimum of 36 credit hours in Sociology must include the following four core courses (12 hours):
The remaining 24 hours of sociology coursework may be comprised of any of the courses offered by the Sociology department with the exception of SYG 2412, “Marriage.” This course counts toward the total number of hours needed to graduate but it does not count toward the minimum number of sociology hours needed for the major. No more than three hours of SYA4910, Individual Research may count toward the 36 hour minimum
Students are encouraged to make an appointment to talk with the Sociology Department Undergraduate Advisor when they have questions about major requirements or about which electives offered each semester would best meet their educational and career goals.
A minor in Sociology consists of a minimum of 18 credit hours in Sociology, at least 12 of which must be USF credits. Minors must take SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology and SYA 3010 Classical Theory. No more than three hours of SYA 4910 “Individual Research” may count toward the 18 hour minimum; SYG 2412 “Marriage” does not count toward the total number of minimum hours for the minor. Only courses in which a grade of “C” or better is attained will count toward the minimum hours.
While students do not declare a Sociology minor until application for graduation, they are encouraged to make an appointment with the Sociology Department Undergraduate Advisor if they wish to discuss which Sociology electives offered each semester would best meet their educational and career goals.
Through the Undergraduate Honors Program, the Department of Sociology provides its outstanding students with opportunities to work closely with faculty and graduate students with shared interests in specific areas of social experience. Students accepted into the program select a faculty mentor with expertise in the area of study of interest to the student. Under the supervision of this mentor, honors students conduct sociological research in their area of interest culminating in the preparation of an honors thesis. Students apply to the Honors Program in the Spring Semester during their junior year for admission for the following Fall. Admission to the program is competitive. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements:
Completion Requirements:
Applications for the Undergraduate Honors Program in Sociology are available in the Sociology Department (CPR 209).
Please send questions or comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webcat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 2004
http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0405/soc.htm