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Sociology

Sociology is the scientific study of social structure, social inequality, social change, and social interaction that comprise societies. The sociological perspective examines the broad social context in which people live. This context shapes our beliefs and attitudes and sets guidelines for what we do.

The curriculum is structured to introduce majors to the sociology discipline and provide them with conceptual and practical tools to understand social behavior and societies. Areas of study include small groups, populations, inequality, diversity, gender, social change, families, community development, organizations, medical sociology, aging, and the environment.

Major Requirements

Major: Sociology

Degree Type: B.A. or B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 122

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

  • A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
  • General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
First Year Experience (F)1
Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM)
Communication (C)12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (R) 3
Science and Technology (S) 10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) 6
Wellness (W) 2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits40

Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Degree Requirements                                                                            

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree – The completion of a minor program of study, a second major, or a second degree is required.                                                                            

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree – Second year language proficiency at college level required.

Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences College Requirements

An additional 9 credits are required by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for all Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree programs of study, except the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, the Bachelor of Music degree, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree, and the Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree:

AH&SS College Requirements
Courses used to satisfy any general education requirement cannot be used to also count toward the AH&SS College Requirements. A minimum of three credits is required in each of the 3 following areas for a total of 9 credits. Choose only those courses with the prefixes listed for each area. A course with the WGS prefix can only be used in one area.
Area One: Humanities3
ARB, ENGL, FREN, GERM, HIST, HUM, PHIL, RELS, SPAN, or WGS
Area Two: Social Sciences3
ANTH, CJ, COMM, EMGT, POLS, SOC, or WGS
Area Three: Fine Arts3
ARCH, ART, ENVD, LA, MUSC, or THEA
Total Credits9

Major Requirements

Sociology Core Requirements
ANTH 111Introduction to Anthropology (May satisfy general education category B and D)3
SOC 110Introduction to Sociology (May satisfy general education category B)3
SOC 340Social Research Methods3
SOC 341Social Research Methods Laboratory1
SOC 422Development Of Social Theory3
SOC 489Senior Capstone In Sociology1
STAT 330Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R)3
Core Perspecitve CoursesSee areas listed below21
Students are REQUIRED to complete the anchor course from each area plus an additional 9 credits from any of the four areas.
Total Credits38
Core Perspective Courses

Completion of the anchor course from each area plus an additional 9 credits from any of the four areas is required to complete the core perspectives requirement.

Area One: Social Structure
SOC 233Sociology of Organizations and Work (ANCHOR )3
SOC 401Sociology of Religion3
SOC 404Community Assessment3
SOC 417Sociology of the Family3
SOC 426Sociology of Medicine3
SOC 427Public Health Law and Policy for Non-urban, Rural and Frontier Areas3
SOC 443International Disasters3
SOC 465Applied Demographics3
Area Two: Social Inequality
SOC 235Cultural Diversity (ANCHOR)3
SOC 410Social Inequality3
SOC 412Sociology of Gender3
SOC 424Feminist Theory and Discourse3
SOC 445Special Populations in Disasters3
Area Three: Social Change
SOC 115Social Problems (ANCHOR) Either course serves as the anchor3
or SOC 116 Global Social Problems
SOC 403Sociology of The Great Plains3
SOC 405Community Development3
SOC 407Deviant Behavior3
SOC 431Environmental Sociology3
SOC 439Social Change3
SOC 440Sociology of Aging3
Area Four: Social Interaction
SOC 214Social Interaction (ANCHOR)3
SOC 416Sociology Through Literature3
SOC 418Social Psychology3
SOC 441Death and Dying3
Total Credits12

Minor Requirements

Sociology Minor

Minor Requirements

Required Credits: 18

Core Courses
ANTH 111Introduction to Anthropology3
SOC 110Introduction to Sociology3
Required Courses: Select two of the following:6
Social Problems
Global Social Problems
Social Interaction
Sociology of Organizations and Work
Cultural Diversity
Major Electives: Select any two sociology courses at the 300-400 level6
Total Credits18

Minor Requirements and Notes

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
  • Emergency Management majors who wish to complete this minor must complete 9 unique Sociology credits (i.e. courses that were not completed for the major of EM).