Office:
Craven Hall, Sixth Floor

Telephone:
(760) 750-4117

Department Chair:
Richard T. Serpe, Ph.D.

Faculty:
Therese L. Baker, Ph.D.
Donald Barrett, Ph.D.
Kristin Bates, Ph.D.
Valerie J. Callanan, Ph.D.
Sharon Elise, Ph.D.
Alicia M. Gonzales, Ph.D.
Darlene Pińa, Ph.D.
Robert E.L. Roberts, Ph.D.
Garry Rolison, Ph.D.
Richard T. Serpe, Ph.D.
Linda Shaw, Ph.D.
Sheldon X. Zhang, Ph.D.

Programs Offered:

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
• Minor in Sociology
• Minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice**
• Master of Arts in Sociological Practice

Sociology is the study of human societies; of the institutions, organi­zations, and groups that compose them; and of the way individuals and groups relate to one another. One of the disci­pline’s special emphases will be to offer compara­tive, cross-national, and cross-cultural perspectives throughout the curriculum. Socio­lo­gical knowledge is vital to the understanding of contemporary problems such as crime, poverty, overpopulation, mental illness, and aging.  Studying this field is highly relevant to careers in human services, research, and government which try to address these problems.

To study the broad subject of soci­ology, a student needs to acquire information (what we know), metho­dology (how we know), and theory (how we explain).  A major in sociology will require students to develop back­ground and strength in each of these domains. Students may choose to concentrate more fully in a particular content area of soci­ology, such as health, welfare and education; crime and devi­ance; socialization, aging, and the life course; social structure, mobil­ity, inequality; or gender and ethnicity by selecting a set of courses which focus in related fields.

An undergraduate degree in sociology may lead to careers in advertising and market research, public-opinion polling, law enforce­ment and criminal justice, city planning, real estate, social work, community relations, and a variety of other occupations in the public and private sectors. In order to facilitate the understanding of how sociology can be applied in real social organizations, students are required to take an internship in an organization or agency serving the community or in a social-research setting. Students may want to continue the study of sociology at the graduate level for careers in human service, research, or teaching.

Students who wish to learn more about the Sociology Department are invited to speak with the sociology faculty.

Preparation

A maximum of nine (9) lower-division semester units of soci­ology courses may be applied to the soci­ology major. Six (6) of these nine (9) units must include one course in intro­ductory sociology and a second in elementary statistics. Statistics courses offered by depart­ments other than sociology will generally be accepted. Three (3) additional lower-division units taken in sociology and approved by the University may be used as an elective for the major.

Requirements for Courses Leading to a Major in Sociology, Minor in Sociology

Each course counted towards the major or of the minor must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.  A minimum of eighteen (18) units in sociology must be completed at Cal State San Marcos.

The Sociology Department also offers a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice.  Please see the separate catalog entry for this minor.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Units

General Education* 51
Preparation for the Major**6
Major Requirements22
Concentration Requirements12
Students must take a sufficient number of
elective units to bring the total number of
units to a minimum of124

Preparation for the Major
Lower-division (6 units)

Units

SOC 101* 3
SOC 2013

Major Requirements
Upper-division (22 units)

Units

SOC 3203
SOC 3604
SOC 4803
SOC 495 or 496 3-6
Upper-division electives in
sociology*6-9

*Also satisfies a lower division General Education requirement.

**See page 111 for minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

***Students taking SOC 495 or 496 need 9 units of major electives. Students who take SOC 497 need 6 units of major electives.

Concentrations

The Sociology major offers four different concentrations: (1) Aging and Life Course, (2) Children, Youth and Families, (3) Health and Mental Health, and (4) Standard.  Concen­trations require 12 units. 

Six (6) units of 400-level courses must be taken in the concentration.

Requirements for Standard Concentration

Any four upper-division elective courses in
sociology (including six units at the 400-level)
to be selected by students in consultation with
their academic advisor12

Requirements for Aging and Life Course Concentration

Upper-division (3 units)

Units
SOC 3093

Lower- or upper-division    

[including six units at the 400-level]
(9 units)9

Selected from:
SOC 204SOC 429
SOC 427SOC 487

Total Units12

 

Requirements for Children, Youth and Families Concentration

Upper-division (3 units)

Units

SOC 3033

Lower- or upper-division

[including six units at the 400-level]
(9 units)9

Selected from:
SOC 203SOC 415
SOC 204SOC 417
SOC 317SOC 486
SOC 319

Total Units12

 

Requirements for Health and Mental Health Concentration

Upper-division (3 units)

Units

SOC 314 or SOC 3163

Upper-division

[including six units at the 400-level]
(9 units)9

Selected from:
SOC 324SOC 424
SOC 419SOC 426
SOC 420SOC 488
SOC 423

Total Units12

 

MINOR IN SOCIOLOGY

Lower-division (3 units)             

Units

SOC 1013

Upper-division (18-19 units)

One of the following3-4

SOC 320SOC 360*

One of the following3

SOC 311SOC 411

Twelve (12) units of upper-division
sociology electives12
[or nine (9) units if the prerequisite statistics
course has been taken]

Total Units21-22

*If SOC360 is selected, an elementary statistics course is a prerequisite and it will count as a course in the minor.