University Catalog

Sociology - Undergraduate Programs

Overview

The principal common educational objective in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology is to develop a systematic understanding of social behavior, human culture, and social institutions. Knowledge of human social and cultural relationships is vital to a meaningful perspective on and understanding of the society in which we live. Contemporary societies are characterized by diversity, rapid change, complex organization, and extensive specialization. Programs of study in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology pursue the challenge of:

  1. creating and disseminating general knowledge that will render this world more understandable and
  2. providing an educational base for more effective and humane planning and social intervention in society.

Each of the programs of study relates to this general objective in a somewhat different manner. Students are encouraged to visit with the faculty and learn more about the programs offered in the department.

Sociology

A program of study in sociology has three principle objectives: to foster the ability to analyze human relationships from a sociological perspective, to develop the theoretical, methodological, and statistical skills necessary for asking and answering sociological questions, and to enhance individuals' awareness of the relationship between events in their own lives and the structure of the society in which they live. The program is designed to prepare students both to pursue graduate work in sociology and to seek a career in a variety of private and public settings where knowledge of human relationships and/or social research skills is particularly useful. Students seeking certification to teach in the public schools can use sociology as a teaching area.

Popular Culture Minor

The Popular Culture Minor allows students from across campus to develop important skills no matter their major. Students in the Popular Culture Minor prepare themselves to 1) work in the entertainment industry; and/or 2) understand the role and power of popular culture in their everyday lives. Whether students seek employment in the creative industries (video games, music, film, social media, etc.) or other employment areas, they will be able to look at complex problems and develop innovative solutions. Students will have the opportunity to analyze popular culture, its production, consumption, and reception. The minor mixes a classic approach to a liberal arts education with opportunities to prepare for real-world employment.

Fast Track Program

The Fast Track Program in Sociology allows outstanding seniors in sociology to take up to three graduate seminars for credit toward both the Bachelor's degree and the Master's degree in Sociology. Interested undergraduate students should apply for the Fast Track Program when they are within 30 hours of completing the Bachelor's Degree. Students who successfully complete the Fast Track Program will be admitted automatically to Graduate Studies. They will not be required to take the Graduate Record Examination, complete an application for admission to Graduate Studies, supply letters of recommendation, or pay an application fee. An undergraduate student completing the maximum of nine graduate hours with a grade of B or better would be admitted to the Sociology MA program with only five additional courses and a thesis remaining to complete the requirements for thesis option. For more details about the program contact the Undergraduate Advisor for the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and consult the on-line catalog.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Sociology

Pre-professional Courses

UNIV 1131STUDENT SUCCESS (or UNIV 1101 for transfer students)1 or 2
or SOCI 1200 PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
General Core Requirements 42

Major 

SOCI 1311INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY3
SOCI 3351WORK, OCCUPATIONS, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT3
SOCI 3352SOCIAL STATISTICS3
SOCI 3355APPS AND TOOLS FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH3
SOCI 3362SOCIAL RESEARCH3
SOCI 3372SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY3
or SOCI 3373 SOCIAL THEORY THROUGH POPULAR CULTURE
SOCI 4306QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS3
SOCI 4393INTERNSHIP IN SOCIOLOGY3
or SOCI 4395 SERVICE LEARNING INDEPENDENT STUDY
SOCI MAJOR ELECTIVES (SOCI prefix courses)24
OPEN ELECTIVES (Sufficient to give the total number of hours required for the degree)
TOTAL (At least 36 of the 120 hours required must be at the 3000/4000 level)120

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology

Pre-professional Courses

UNIV 1131STUDENT SUCCESS (or UNIV 1101 for transfer students)1 or 2
or SOCI 1200 PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
General Core Requirements 42
8 hours in the same modern or classical language8

                                                                                                         

Major 

SOCI 1311INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY3
SOCI 3352SOCIAL STATISTICS3
or SOCI 4306 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
SOCI 3362SOCIAL RESEARCH3
SOCI 3372SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY3
or SOCI 3373 SOCIAL THEORY THROUGH POPULAR CULTURE
SOCI MAJOR ELECTIVES (SOCI prefix courses) at least 12 hours of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level24
One course in Anthropology3
OPEN ELECTIVES (Sufficient to give the total number of hours required for the degree)
TOTAL (At least 36 of the 120 hours required must be at the 3000/4000 level)120

Optional Concentrations in Sociology

Students majoring in Sociology may pursue a general course of study in the discipline or concentrate in a specific area or areas.  The purpose of specialization is to provide the student with a focused, systematic, and in-depth educational experience in the context of a broad liberal arts education.  These specializations are also related to different career paths.  Please see the Sociology academic advisor for more information on completing an area concentration. 

General Requirements:

Completing four courses in any area fulfills requirements for the concentration. See the Sociology academic advisor for more information. 

The areas of specialization are:


Human Capital and Work

SOCI 3317 INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY

SOCI 3319 SMALL GROUPS

SOCI 3331 SOCIOLOGY OF THE FAMILY

SOCI 3336 SOCIAL INEQUALITY

SOCI 3351 WORK, OCCUPATIONS, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT 

SOCI 3356 WOMEN, WORK AND SOCIAL CHANGE

SOCI 3381 GIG WORKERS


Social Services and Diverse Populations

SOCI 3317 INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY

SOCI 3319 SMALL GROUPS

SOCI 3320 DEVIANCE: SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

SOCI 3322 RACE, LATINOS, AND THE AMERICAN NARRATIVE

SOCI 3331 SOCIOLOGY OF THE FAMILY

SOCI 3332 SOCIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION

SOCI 3337 RACIAL & ETHNIC GROUPS IN US

SOCI 3338 CONTEMPORARY BLACK EXPERIENCE

SOCI 3339 RACE, SPORT AND MEDIA

SOCI 3343 RELIGION IN MODERN AMERICA

SOCI 4306 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS

SOCI 4331 RACE, ETHNICITY & FAMILY FORMATION

Non-Profit and Community Organizations

SOCI 3319 SMALL GROUPS

SOCI 3324 SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

SOCI 3331 SOCIOLOGY OF THE FAMILY

SOCI 3332 SOCIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION

SOCI 3343 RELIGION IN MODERN AMERICA

SOCI 3347 ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

SOCI 4331 RACE, ETHNICITY & FAMILY FORMATION


Health, Science and Technology

SOCI 3316 LATINO HEALTH ISSUES 

SOCI 3317 INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY

SOCI 3332 SOCIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION

SOCI 3341 SOCIOLOGY OF SPORT

SOCI 3347 ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

SOCI 3348 SOCIAL ASPECTS OF RISK

SOCI 3380 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY

SOCI 4320 MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY

The following courses may be used to complete any of the area concentrations if the content is related to the concentration (approval is required):  

SOCI 3360 TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY

SOCI 4365 TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY

SOCI 4391 CONFERENCE COURSE

SOCI 4393 INTERNSHIP IN SOCIOLOGY

SOCI 4395 SERVICE LEARNING INDEPENDENT STUDY

Requirements for a Minor in Sociology

A minor in sociology requires 18 hours in sociology, at least six of which must be at the 3000/4000 level.

Requirements for a Minor in Popular Culture

A minor in popular culture requires 18 semester hours, including 6 required hours and 3 experiential learning hours.

  • Required (6 credit hours)
    • SOCI 1310. INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE
    • SOCI 3373. SOCIAL THEORY THROUGH POPULAR CULTURE
  • Experiential Learning – 3 Credit hours from the following
    • Internship, Independent Study or Conference Course related to Popular Culture – with prior approval of the advisor of the Popular Culture Minor
      • SOCI 4396. INTERNSHIP IN POPULAR CULTURE
      • MUSI 4395. INTERNSHIP
      • SOCI 4391. CONFERENCE COURSE
      • THEA 4391. INDEPENDENT STUDY
      • THEA 4395. THEATRE INTERNSHIP LEVEL I
      • COMM 4395, ADVT 4395, BCMN 4395, COMS 4395, CTEC 4395, JOUR 4395, PREL 4395 (Internships in Communication)
      • DS 4395. DISABILITY STUDIES INTERNSHIP
    • ART 4382. ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE ARTS
    • MUSI 3396. RECORD LABEL AND STUDIO MANAGEMENT
    • SOCI 3381. GIG WORKERS
  • Choose 9 credit hours related to popular culture
    • SOCI 3380. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY
    • SOCI 3339. RACE, SPORT AND MEDIA.
    • SOCI 3341. SOCIOLOGY OF SPORT
    • SOCI 3318. SELF AND SOCIAL IDENTITY
    • ADVT 3304. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
    • ADVT 3305. ADVERTISING MEDIA
    • ADVT 3308. DIGITAL ADVERTISING DESIGN
    • ANTH 2322. GLOBAL CULTURES
    • ANTH 3332. FOOD AND CULTURE
    • ANTH 3334. ANTHROPOLOGY OF SOUTH ASIA
    • ANTH 3345. VISUALIZING CULTURE: MEDIA, IDENTITY AND POLITICS IN THE GLOBAL WORLD (COMM 3345)
    • ANTH 3346. ANTHROPOLOGY OF TOURISM
    • ANTH 3366. SEX, GENDER, AND CULTURE (WOMS 3366)
    • ARAB 3312. TOPICS IN ARABIC LITERATURE AND CULTURE*
    • ART 2387. FILM ANALYSIS AND AESTHETICS
    • BCMN 2360. INTRODUCTION TO BROADCASTING
    • CHIN 2310. CHINESE CULTURE IN THE WORLD
    • CHIN 3304. CHINESE CONVERSATION AND CULTURE II*
    • CHIN 4334 CONTEMPORARY CHINESE CULTURE
    • COMM 3345. VISUALIZING CULTURE: MEDIA, IDENTITY AND POLITICS IN THE GLOBAL WORLD
    • COMM 4305. COMMUNICATION & SOCIETY
    • COMM 4306. RACE, GENDER, AND MEDIA
    • COMM 4360. EMERGING MEDIA STRATEGY
    • DS 3399/ART 3399. DISABILITY AND ART
    • DS 3327/HIST 4327.   CYBORGS & PROSTHETICS
    • DS 3346/COMM 3346. DISABILITY IN MASS MEDIA
    • ENGL 4350. TOPICS IN FILM AND LITERATURE
    • ENGL 4328: J. R. R. TOLKIEN
    • ENGL 4365: CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
    • ENGL 4366: YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE
    • FREN 2310. FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE CULTURES IN THE WORLD
    • FREN 3316. TOPICS IN CITIES OF FRANCE*
    • FREN 4334. CONTEMPORARY FRENCH CULTURE*
    • GLOBAL 3301. TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL CULTURES AND CIVILIZATIONS I
    • GLOBAL 3302. TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL CULTURES AND CIVILIZATIONS II
    • GERM 2310. GERMAN CULTURE IN THE WORLD
    • HIST 3303. HISTORY OF VIDEO GAMES
    • HIST 3306. HISTORY AND FILM
    • HIST 3326. TWENTIETH-CENTURY AMERICAN CULTURAL HISTORY
    • HIST 4325. HISTORY OF HIP HOP
    • HIST 4340. HOLLYWOOD AND THE WEST
    • KORE 2310. KOREAN CULTURE IN THE WORLD
    • LING 2321. CONSTRUCTED LANGUAGES
    • LING 2351. E-LANGUAGES
    • MODL 2301. INTRODUCTION TO WORLD LANGUAGES
    • MUSI 1303. HISTORY AND APPRECIATION OF HIP HOP AND R&B MUSIC
    • MUSI 1304. HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC
    • MUSI 2301. APPRECIATION OF MUSIC IN FILM
    • MUSI 3320. MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY IN GAME AUDIO
    • MUSI 3322. INTRODUCTION TO SONGWRITING
    • MUSI 4323. BUSINESS OF MUSIC
    • PREL 3320. STRATEGIC SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION
    • PREL 4316. PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGNS
    • RUSS 2310. RUSSIAN CULTURE IN THE WORLD
    • SPAN 2310. HISPANIC CULTURE IN THE WORLD
    • SPAN 3311. SPANISH CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
    • SPAN 3312. LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION
    • SPAN 3318 MEXICAN POPULAR CULTURE
    • SPAN 4313. TOPICS IN HISPANIC CULTURE
    • SPAN 4334. CONTEMPORARY HISPANIC CULTURE
    • THEA 1342. THEATRE AND FILM APPRECIATION
    • THEA 3302. FILM STUDIES
    • THEA 3320. PLAYWRITING
    • THEA 3360. GENDER AND THE PERFORMING ARTS (WOMS 3360)
    • THEA 3361. WOMEN IN THEATRE (WOMS 3361)
    • THEA 3342. COSPLAY COSTUME FABRICATION
    • THEA 4304. MODERN THEATRE HISTORY
    • THEA 4310. MUSICAL THEATRE HISTORY
    • POLS 4300. POLITICS IN POPULAR CULTURE
    • Note: Special Topics courses will be considered on a course-by-course basis. Approval will be made by the advisor of the Popular Culture Minor.

Fast Track Program in Sociology

about

The Fast Track Program allows outstanding undergraduate students in sociology at UT Arlington to take up to three graduate seminars in sociology that will earn credit toward both the Bachelor’s degree and the Master’s degree in Sociology. It is designed to encourage high standards of performance, to facilitate the transition from undergraduate to graduate study, and to reduce time needed to complete the MA.

Students who successfully complete the Fast Track Program will be admitted automatically to Graduate Studies to continue their graduate work in the Sociology MA Program once the Bachelor’s degree is awarded. They will not be required to take the GRE, complete an additional application for admission to Graduate Studies, supply letters of recommendation, or pay an application fee. An undergraduate student completing the maximum of nine graduate hours would be admitted to the Sociology MA Program with only five additional courses and a thesis remaining to complete the requirements for the thesis option (requirements for other degree tracks will vary).

APPLYING TO THE FAST TRACK PROGRAM

Undergraduate students can apply to the Department of Sociology and Anthropology by completing a Fast Track application form available from the Sociology academic advisor. Students will be notified by the Department of their acceptance into the Fast Track program.

UNCONDITIONAL ADMISSION

1. The student must be within 30 hours of completing a BA in Sociology or a BS in Applied Sociology at UTA.

2. The student must have completed 30 hours of coursework at UTA.

3. The student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all coursework at all schools and an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all coursework completed at UTA.

4. Before entering the Fast Track, students must have already taken at least two additional 3000-4000 level sociology courses with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

5. Before entering the Fast Track, students must also have completed four required core courses in the Sociology major with a GPA of at least 3.5.

For the B.A. in Sociology the required courses for Fast Track admission are:

SOCI 1311INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY3
SOCI 3352SOCIAL STATISTICS3
or SOCI 4306 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
SOCI 3362SOCIAL RESEARCH3
SOCI 3372SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY3
or SOCI 3373 SOCIAL THEORY THROUGH POPULAR CULTURE

For the B.S. in Applied Sociology the required courses for Fast Track admission are:

SOCI 1311INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY3
SOCI 3351WORK, OCCUPATIONS, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT3
SOCI 3352SOCIAL STATISTICS3
SOCI 3355APPS AND TOOLS FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH3
SOCI 3362SOCIAL RESEARCH3
SOCI 3372SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY3
or SOCI 3373 SOCIAL THEORY THROUGH POPULAR CULTURE
SOCI 4306QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS3

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION

A student may gain provisional admission if, by the semester in which application is made, they have already completed three required Sociology courses (listed above) with a GPA of at least 3.66 in those courses, and with a fourth required course to be completed in the semester of application. All other requirements above must be met.

Provisional admission will be changed to unconditional admission upon satisfactory completion of remaining requirements. Students failing to meet all requirements at the end of their semester of application will be removed from the Fast Track program. Any credits earned prior to removal from the program will be applied to the undergraduate degree only. Provisionally admitted students who have been removed from the program may subsequently apply to graduate programs via the normal application process, paying all fees and meeting all relevant admission criteria.

DENIAL

Students who do not meet the requirements set out shall be denied admission to the Fast Track program. They may still apply to the graduate program through the regular application process.

GOOD STANDING

In the Fast Track Program, students will choose to enroll in up to three sociology graduate electives, selected with the advice and approval of the Sociology Graduate Advisor. To remain in the Fast Track Program, students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and must earn grades of B or better in all Fast Track-approved courses that will be used to satisfy undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. Students must enroll in at least two sociology graduate courses and earn a B or better in all graduate courses taken prior to receiving their bachelor’s degree. If a student does not complete the two graduate courses or fails to make adequate grades, she or he will be unable to continue in the Fast Track Program but, if the courses are completed with a passing grade, will still receive credit toward their undergraduate degree requirements.

Students who, at any time, do not meet these requirements will be obliged to leave the Fast Track program. If a student opts out or does not meet the requirements of the Fast Track Program, any graduate credits earned will be applied only to the undergraduate degree, and none of the other benefits of participation in the Fast Track program will apply. Additionally, graduate courses already taken for undergraduate credit may not be repeated for graduate credit. Students may still apply to the Sociology MA Program via the normal application process, paying all fees and meeting all relevant admission criteria.

A Fast Track student in good standing may skip one Fall or Spring semester (and contiguous summer) after being awarded the BA degree before continuing in the MA program. Further delay will result in losing Fast Track status, after which the regular application process for admission must be followed and no graduate credits will be retained.

Additional information

For an application form or to obtain more details about this program, please contact the Sociology Undergraduate Advisor.