A sociology degree gives students the research, communication and analytical skills needed to succeed in a wide variety of career fields. The Bachelor of Science in Sociology offers students transferable skills that lead to careers in research-oriented fields, business management, consumer relations, education, law, social work and more.  

Similar to the B.A., students earning the B.S. degree learn to analyze and interpret data using statistical tools that will allow them to contribute to conversations surrounding gender and racial discrimination, class, poverty and other social inequalities. What differentiates the B.S. degree is that students will acquire additional mathematical skills that will further enhance their preparation for graduate school or research careers. They also learn to communicate effectively to challenge commonly held beliefs using data and empirical evidence, with an emphasis on analytical reasoning.   

Our faculty guide students through courses that evidence the trends, characteristics and functions of the relationship between individuals and society. Graduates of our B.S. programs are prepared to enter the workforce or continue their graduate studies at USC and beyond.   

Major students may pursue a Distinction in Sociology by achieving the requisite GPA and defending a research project. Sociology undergraduates planning to continue their graduate studies at USC can apply to the Accelerated Bachelors Program to begin earning credit towards a master’s degree while pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Sociology.  

Learning Outcomes

1. Sociology majors completing the required SOCY 391 course will demonstrate they understand the general sociological perspective and the uses of sociological theory, can apply critical reasoning skills to evaluating theoretical explanations, and can identify uses and limitations of major sociological research methods in evaluating theories. Majors will evidence these ability to apply these skills to the study of social issues of broad impact and interest beyond the discipline.
2. Sociology majors completing advanced substantive courses (500-level) will demonstrate they (1) understand the major sociological theories in a specific substantive area of specialization, (2) can critically evaluate competing theories in the field, and (3) can identify and critique major methodological approaches within the specialty area. Examples of substantive areas are Social Inequality, Social Psychology, Sociology of the Family, and Sociology of Medicine and Health.
3. Sociology majors will demonstrate an understanding and ability to use the following statistical tools: 1. The distinction between descriptive and inferential statistics; 2. Levels of measurement, ratios and rates; 3. Various measures of central tendency and statistical variability used to describe distributions; 4. Hypothesis testing, sampling and inference from sample estimates for a population; 5. Simple bivariate modeling techniques such as correlation and regression.

Admissions

Entrance Requirements

New freshmen who meet University admissions standards are eligible for admission to degree programs offered by the college. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the College of Arts and Sciences from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements:

1. Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.
2. Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.00 or higher on a USC campus.

Some programs in the College of Arts and Sciences have special admission requirements established by the department or committee that supervises the specific degree program, for example, Cardiovascular Technology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Economics, Environmental Science, the Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies. These requirements are listed in the sections of this bulletin that describe department and special degree programs.

Degree Requirements (120 hours)

Program of Study

Founding Documents Requirement

All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers.  This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective.  Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.

Requirements (120 hours)

¹

Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

²

Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

B.A. with Distinction in Sociology

The Departmental Undergraduate Research Track (BS with Distinction in Sociology) is available to students majoring in Sociology who maintain a minimum GPA of 3.50 in the major and 3.50 cumulative and who wish to plan and conduct an individual research project under the supervision of a faculty committee.

A student seeking to graduate with Distinction in Sociology must select a faculty member to chair the committee that guides and evaluates the research project. At least two other faculty members will be appointed by the committee chair to serve as members of the committee. A written sponsorship agreement signed by the committee chair must be filed with the departmental chair. The student must successfully defend a research proposal and final paper to the committee. Ideally, the project should be finished within two semesters.

Research projects must conform to the University’s policy on the treatment of human subjects. Proposals must additionally be subjected to the scrutiny of the Department of Sociology ethics committee.

Requirements

• Cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in the major;
• Successful completion of requirements for the Sociology major;
• Research proposal approved by faculty committee;
• Successful completion of 3-6 hours SOCY 599 including written and oral presentation of research project.

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Sociology, B.S.

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA.

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.

³

Students who do not place into MATH 122 or 141 will be required to take the required prerequisite before proceeding with MATH 122 or 141.

⁴

Students in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.

⁵

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students.

⁶

The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.

⁷

The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of, but related to the major. In place of a cognate, a student may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of courses concentrated in one area that follow a structured sequence. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. For B.S. degrees, grades of D are acceptable for completion of the cognate requirement. A second major eliminates the minor/cognate requirement.

⁸

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.

Program Notes:

• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• Graduation “with Distinction” is an optional program of study, in which students actively engage in significant research, scholarship, and/or performance activities in collaboration with a faculty mentor within a chosen major. Graduation with Distinction for this program of study requires: 1) cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher and GPA of 3.50 or higher in the major; 2) successful completion of requirements for the Sociology major; 3) research proposal approved by faculty committee; 4) successful completion of 3-6 hours SOCY 599, including written and oral presentation of research project. Students who successfully complete these requirements will be awarded their degree with “Distinction in Sociology” upon graduation. A student seeking to graduate with “Distinction in Sociology” must select a faculty member to chair the committee that guides and evaluates the research project. At least two other faculty members will be appointed by the committee chair to serve as members of the committee. A written sponsorship agreement signed by the committee chair must be filed with the departmental chair. The student must successfully defend a research proposal and final paper to the committee. Ideally, the project should be finished within two semesters. Research projects must conform to the University’s policy on the treatment of human subjects. Proposals must additionally be subjected to the scrutiny of the Department of Sociology ethics committee.
• The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina.