Bachelor of Sociology Online Courses

Curriculum Details

37 credit hours required in the major

Southwest Minnesota State University’s sociology degree program features a 100 percent online curriculum designed to help you develop critical thinking, written and oral communication skills, cultural competence, and self-awareness. There are no in-person requirements, so you can learn from anywhere and study in a flexible format that fits your busy life. Eighteen credits of electives are built into the curriculum, giving you the opportunity to customize your studies for your interests and professional goals.

Courses are 16 weeks in duration, and you will complete 13 major courses throughout your online sociology degree program. Most students finish their studies in two to four years, graduating ready for careers in social services, government agencies, and more.

Core Courses

Credits

SOCI 313 Self and Society Credit Hours: 3

A sociological introduction to social psychology, including a symbolic interactionist understanding of the individual in society, the impact of social conditions and culture on personal development, freedom and control in human behavior, and the human ability to respond to and cause social change.

SOCI 314 Sociological Theory Credit Hours: 3

Early modern social thought and the development of sociological theory in the 19th and 20th centuries to the present.

Prerequisites: SOCI 101 and one other Sociology course.

SOCI 315 Applied Social Research Credit Hours: 3

This introduction to social research applies social research methods to sociology, criminal justice, and social work. Includes analysis of published research along with quantitative and qualitative research methods in investigating social issues, program evaluation, practice evaluation, policy analysis, and needs assessment.

SOCI 495 Senior Capstone in Sociology Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to provide students with a senior capstone and offer career direction. A thesis option allows students to integrate previous sociological study by designing, completing, and presenting a research project. The non-thesis option allows students to work under a carefully planned and approved program.

SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3

A survey of basic concepts and research areas in sociology, including sociology origins, major theoretical perspectives, research methods, culture, social structure, socialization, group processes, formal organizations, deviance and social control, stratification, racial/ethnic and gender inequality, social institutions, demography, collective behavior, and social change.

SOCI 220 Social Problems Credit Hours: 3

This course critically analyzes contemporary social problems from historical, structural, and theoretical perspectives. Problems analyzed vary, but all analyses are premised on the sociological understanding that humans are products of their social environments. Theory and research are used to demonstrate that social problems are interrelated and that society creates and perpetuates problems.

PSYC 200 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours: 3

This course provides students with an introduction to the use of statistical methods in behavioral sciences research. Topics covered include descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance with post-hoc tests, correlation, linear regression, and chi-square tests. Students taking this course should also enroll in the laboratory section, in which they will learn how to use statistical software for data analysis.

The required preparation is MATH 110 or three years of high school mathematics.

PSYC 200L Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Lab Credit Hours: 1

This course provides students with instruction on the use of statistical software to perform analysis of behavioral research data. Students will learn how to run and interpret outputs for a wide variety of common statistical procedures, including descriptive statistics, t tests, analysis of variance, correlation, and chi-square tests.

The required preparation is completion or current enrollment in PSYC 200, or familiarity with basic statistical procedures.

Sociology Electives

Credits

SOCI 3XX Sociology Courses numbered 300 or above Credit Hours: 12

Students may take Sociology Courses numbered 300 or above for a total of 12 credits.

SOCI XXX Sociology Electives Credit Hours: 6

Students may choose Sociology Electives for a total of 6 credits. A maximum of three credits from SOCI 450 Individual Readings (1-3 cr.) and a maximum of three credits of SOCI 499 Field Experience/Internship (1-12 cr.) may be allowed as electives.

Request More Information

Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition, and more.