Bachelor of Arts Sociology
Major Degree Requirements
The following pages describe the
requirements for the degree in sociology.
At the end of this section, is an advisement checksheet
which is intended to be used by the student as he/she progresses toward
graduation. The check sheet should be updated regularly and is to be used to
plan class schedules for new semesters before meeting with an academic advisor
during priority or open registration periods.
Even though, the student’s academic advisor will also maintain a check
sheet in the student’s advisement file, the student is ultimately responsible
for monitoring his/her progress toward the degree.
Transfer
credit
for students coming into the USC System from other accredited
colleges/universities will be evaluated by the USCA academic unit heads. The chair of the Sociology Department will
review transcripts of sociology course-work completed at other institutions to
determine transferability. A copy of
that evaluation should be in the advisement file at the time of his/her first
advisement session.
In
the section which follows, more specific information is presented about the
course selections in each of the General Education groups and the major.
General Education
Requirements
A. SKILLS
AND COMPETENCIES
1.
English (6 hours)
AEGL 101 and 102 must be
taken for this group. A grade of “C” or
higher is required in each course. A student may not take AEGL 102 without
first earning a C or better in AEGL 101.
Rising Junior Writing
Proficiency Portfolio (RJWPP)
All USC
Aiken students must submit a writing proficiency portfolio. (This is not the same as the Sociology
Major Portfolio, although copies of a particular paper(s) may be included
in both portfolios.) Each student must submit a
writing proficiency portfolio as soon as possible after the completion of sixty
credit hours. Transfer students who have reached the sixty-hour level through
transfer credit from other institutions are allowed 30 hours of residency at
USC Aiken to build their portfolios.
It is important that
students refer the USCA Bulletin and instructions accompanying the
required RJWPP Packet (available in the USCA Bookstore) for details on the
compilation and submission of the writing proficiency portfolio. Writing Room staff are available to answer further questions and to
provide technical assistance.
Those students who have
demonstrated competency in university-level writing will be certified as having
met USC Aiken’s expectations. Those
students whose portfolios do not meet expectations will be required to enroll
in and pass AEGL 201 – Writing in the University with a “C” or better.
2.
Math/Statistics/Logic (6 hours)
Starting
Fall Semester 2007, the mathematics placement test is required for incoming
students who plan to enroll in AMTH 108 (Applied College Algebra) or above
(students who have scored a 3, 4, or 5 on the Educational Testing Service
Calculus Advanced Placement (AP) Exam are exempt). AMTH 108 is a prerequisite
for APSY 225 (Quantitative Analysis in the Behavioral Sciences) is a required course
for sociology majors. If a sociology major chooses not
to take the placement test, her/his initial math course will AMTH 104
(Mathematics for Practical Purposes). Mathematics courses lower than AMTH 108
(e.g., AMTH 104) will count as free elective credit for sociology majors. For
more information on the mathematics placement test, see the relevant section in
the USCA Bulletin.
a.
Sociology majors are required to complete APSY 225 –
Quantitative Analysis in the Behavioral Sciences with a grade of C or better.
Students must satisfy specified prerequisites for the course (typically
completion of AMTH 108 or placement above AMTH 108).
b. A logic (APHY 110) or math course (AMTH 108
or higher*) may be used to fulfill the remaining three hours of this category.
*Important notes: AMTH 108 is a prerequisite for taking APSY 225; AMTH 221 or
AMTH 222 may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
3.
Applied Speech (3 hours) Choose from:
ACOM 201 – Interpersonal
Communications
ACOM 241 – Public Speaking
ACOM 342 – Interviewing
4.
Languages (6-8 hours) Students may choose from French,
German, Italian, Spanish, or other language course sequence that may be
specially offered by the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.
Placement in Languages,
Literatures, and Cultures (French, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish)
Students beginning to
study a new language enroll in 101. Students enrolling in a second language
that they have previously studied whether in high school or college) will be
placed at the appropriate level based on previous second-language courses and grades.
Each student’s advisement folder will contain written information that
specifies the level of the language in which they have been placed. Students
who place in 210 and pass the course with a “C” or better will have completed
USC Aiken’s languages requirement.
B. METHODS AND HISTORY
OF DISCIPLINES
(32 hours)
1. Humanities (9 hours – at least two
disciplines)
Three humanities courses
in at least two disciplines will satisfy this requirement. Courses may be
selected from specified courses in the following disciplines: literature;
history; art history; music appreciation; philosophy (not APHL 110); theater;
religion; humanities (AHUM); and designated communications and languages
courses.
A listing of courses
that will satisfy the humanities requirement is included in the USCA
Bulletin. Students are to refer to that publication when selecting
coursework which will fulfill the humanities general education requirement.
2.
Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 hours – at least two
disciplines)
Students must
successfully complete three courses in at least two of the following
Social/behavioral sciences: sociology; anthropology; geography; psychology;
political science; and/or economics. ASCY 101 – Introductory Sociology is the
only sociology course that may be counted toward this requirement.
3. History
of Civilization (3 hours)
AHST 101 – Introduction to World Civilizations to
1750 or
AHST 102 – Introduction to World Civilizations Since
1750
4. American
Political Institutions (3 hours)
Choose from:
APLS 201 – American
National Government,
AHST 201 – History of
the
AHST 202 – History of
the
5.
Natural Sciences (8 hours)
Two courses from
biology; chemistry; astronomy; physics; or geology. Both courses must include a lab. The courses
need not be from the same discipline.
Cognate, Minor,
Double Major, or Second Degree
The Cognate (12 hours)
The cognate is a minimum
of 12 semester hours of coursework designed to support the major. The cognate
must be selected from upper-level (300+) humanities, social and behavioral
sciences, natural/physical sciences, mathematics, and/or business courses and
must be approved by the student’s advisor. Cognate courses may be selected from
one or more disciplines, thus the cognate may be comprised of coursework in as
many as four disciplines or in only one discipline.
Each cognate course must
be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
The Minor (usually 18 hours)
In place of a cognate a
student may elect to complete a minor consisting of 18 hours (usually) of
credit in prescribed coursework. The minor is intended to develop a coherent
core of basic preparation in a second area of study. It is different from the
cognate in that the courses must be concentrated in one area. A list of the minors
available at USC Aiken are listed in the USCA Bulletin and the
specific requirements for each minor are listed in that publication under the School
or Department that offers it.
Courses applied toward
general education requirements cannot be applied to the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor
requirements. A grade of “C” or higher is required in each minor course.
Double Major
A number of sociology majors will opt to
complete a double major. A double major consists of the complete fulfillment of
all requirements for one degree and all the major course requirements of a
second. For double majors, the cognate or minor requirement for the degree in
sociology is satisfied by the second major. Depending on the second discipline selected,
it may be possible to complete all requirements for both majors within the 120
credit hour graduation requirement. The USCA Bulletin or an academic
advisor should be consulted for additional information.
Students who wish to
pursue a double major must complete a change of program form at the Office of
Advisement in order that he/she may be assigned an academic advisor in each
major area. Note that a double major is not the same as a “second degree” or a
“dual degree.” See below.
Second Undergraduate Degree
A minimum of 24 hours of
coursework beyond the degree requirements for the first degree are required for
a second baccalaureate degree. In all cases, the student must complete all
requirements for both degrees. In most cases, for students wanting to major in
two areas, it is advisable to opt for the “second major” (discussed above), not
a second undergraduate degree. The USCA
Bulletin and an academic advisor should be contacted for additional
information.
Free Electives (13-27 hours)
Sociology majors are
limited to using no more than six hours of sociology course credit as elective
credit. No more than six hours of activities courses and no more than four
hours for performing in University ensembles may be counted toward the degree.
Students may elect to
take up to eight free elective courses on the Pass/Fail grading program. The
only grades assigned on courses taken under the Pass/Fail option are “S” for
satisfactory and “U” for unsatisfactory.
The student will be given the hour credit for courses in which an “S” is
earned, but it will not be computed into the GPA.
Students have until the
last day to withdraw from a course to elect the Pass/Fail option. Those who are
interested in taking course on this grading system should ask the professor
teaching the course what numerical value (or other criteria) will be used to
assign a satisfactory (“S”) grade. For example, some professors may consider 65
percent satisfactory performance while other professors, at their discretion,
may require a 70 percent or higher to be “satisfactory.”
Approval to elect the
Pass/Fail option must be obtained from the student’s academic advisor and
department chair. Students whose
semester or cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 are not eligible to elect the
Pass/Fail option. Other specific information
about this grading option can be found in the USCA Bulletin.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (32-35 hours)
All major courses must
be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
A “C” or better in ASCY 101 is a prerequisite for all upper-level
sociology courses. Major courses may be
repeated only once. Prerequisites for ASCY 310 and ASCY 497 include the
successful completion of the Rising Jr. Writing Proficiency Portfolio or AEGL
201. Sociology majors are required to
choose one of three options: Criminology and Criminal Justice, Human Services,
or General.
Sociology core
requirements for all majors include ASCY 101—Introduction to Sociology (offered
every major semester and usually in the summer), ASCY 310—Social Demography
(offered every Fall semesters, occasionally in the Spring), ASCY 320—Individual
and Society (offered every Fall semester and usually in the Spring), and ASCY
497—Sociological Research Methods (offered every Spring semester, occasionally
in the fall). It is important that
students recognize when these courses are typically offered when developing
their degree plan:
Semester
Offered
|
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
|
|
ASCY 101 Introduction to Sociology |
Yes |
Yes |
Usually |
|
ASCY 310 Social Demography |
Yes |
Often |
No |
|
ASCY 320 Individual and Society |
Yes |
Usually |
No |
|
ASCY 497 Sociological Research Methods |
Often |
Yes |
No |
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Option
(35 hours)
Core Requirements
ASCY 101 – Introductory Sociology
ASCY 310 – Social Demography
ASCY 320 – Individual and Society
ASCY 497 – Sociological Research Methods
Concentration
Requirements
a) ACRJ 171 – Introduction to Criminal Justice
b) Five of the following
sociology courses, including at least two 500-level courses and ASCY 350 or
ASCY 353 or both.
ASCY 308 – Community
Organization
ASCY 350 – Sociology of
Delinquent Youth Behavior
ASCY 351 – Urban Sociology
ASCY 353 – Sociology of
Crime
ASCY 354 – Crime: Myths
and Misconceptions
ASCY 355 – Minority
Group Relations
ASCY 356 – Sociology of
Law
ASCY 358 – Sociology of
Corrections
ASCY 359 – Police and
Society
ASCY 400 – Internship in
a Criminal Justice Agency
ASCY 496 – Sociological
Theory
ASCY 504 – Social
Stratification
ASCY 507 – Sociology of Social Control
ASCY 523 – Sociology of Deviance
ASCY 540 – Criminological Theory
c)
One
additional 300, 400, or 500 level sociology course.
Human Services Option (35 hours)
Core Requirements
ASCY 101 – Introductory Sociology
ASCY 310 – Social Demography
ASCY 320 – Individual and Society
ASCY 497 – Sociological Research Methods
Concentration
Requirements
a) ASHS 201 – Introduction to Human Services
b) Five of the following
sociology courses, at least two 500-level courses
ASCY 301 – Sociology of
Gender Roles
ASCY 305 – Sociology of
the Family
ASCY 308 – Community
Organization
ASCY 351 – Urban Sociology
ASCY 355 – Minority
Group Relations
ASCY 360 – Sociology of
Medicine and Health
ASCY 400 – Internship in
a Human Services agency
ASCY 460 – Sociology of
Mental Health
ASCY 496 – Sociological
Theory
ASCY 504 – Social
Stratification
ASCY 506 – Social Organizations
ASCY 523 – Sociology of Deviance
ASCY 528 – Family Diversity
d) One additional 300, 400,
or 500 level sociology course.
The General Sociology Option (32 hours)
Core Requirements
ASCY 101 – Introductory Sociology
ASCY 310 – Social Demography
ASCY 320 – Individual and Society
ASCY 497 – Sociological Research Methods
Concentration
Requirements
Six additional sociology courses, 300-level or
above, including at least two 500 level courses.