2021-2022
Sociology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
VCU
Community college:
Associate of Science: General Studies (Piedmont Virginia Community College)
Associate degree
Program description
The Bachelor of Science in Sociology requires a minimum of 120 credits, with at least 33 of those credits in sociology and other approved courses. The baccalaureate curriculum in sociology seeks to ensure that each student develops a solid foundation in the basic principles, theories and techniques of analysis in sociology. It also encourages students to pursue an interdisciplinary approach by incorporating course credit from closely related subject areas in other programs. Since students majoring in sociology vary in their interests and career goals, the curriculum allows for a great deal of flexibility in developing individual courses of study.
Students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies in sociology usually will take more than the minimum number of upper-level courses. The program provides opportunities for involvement in faculty research through its course offerings, which include independent study, internships and honors research.
Career opportunities
An undergraduate degree is sufficient for many entry-level positions in non-profit organizations, business, and government. A bachelor's in sociology can prepare students for graduate or professional education in sociology, law, counseling, psychology, social work, medicine, education, college student personnel, higher education administration, planning, and other related fields.
Many transferable skills such as analytical, organizational, research, interpersonal, computer, leadership, teamwork, and oral/written communication are associated with the sociology degree. Internships, part-time jobs, summer jobs, and/or volunteer experiences are critical to reaching career goals. Research fields of interests and gain the right skills, experiences, and advanced degrees (if necessary).
Bachelor-level job titles
- Community Health Worker
- Human Resources Specialist
- Loss Prevention Specialist
- Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist
- Research Assistant
- Sales Representative
- Social and Human Services Assistant
- Social Science Research Assistant
- Technical Writer
- Training and Development Specialist
Graduate and professional level job titles
- Counselor or Therapist
- Higher Education Administrator
- Researcher
- Social Worker
Contact information
Telephone: (804) 827-1349
Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu
VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist
Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638
Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.
Guaranteed transfer admission requirements
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
- STAT 210
Science required
- Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
- Yes
Additional tuition/fees
- No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
- 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
VCU Major Maps
Transfer major map
2021-2022
Sociology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
Piedmont Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: General Studies)
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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| Explore | Year 1 |
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| Experience | Year 2 |
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Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Review PVCC Steps to Enrollment information.
- Register for SDV 100.
- Schedule an advising appointment with your advisor.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use Academic Support Services or the Student Success Office to get ahead.
- Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
- Cultivate relationships with your professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Review VCU's Sociology Department website for course requirements and possible connections with faculty and peers.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Browse careers related to Sociology through the Virginia Wizard.
- Review the resources of the Student Financial Resource Center to look into building a financial future.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
- Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Explore the VCU Sociology department website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi and professors.
- Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use Academic Support Services or the Student Success Office to get ahead.
- Schedule an advising appointment every semester.
- Explore the accelerated BS to MS in Sociology program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing for next year.
- Join a professional organization related to psychology: American Sociological Association, International Sociological Association.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the Sociology department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
- Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Sociology department-related events.
- Become familiar with OMSA at VCU.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
- Plan to complete at least two internships (job experiences) before your senior year of college.
- Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
Recommended courses
2021-2022
Sociology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
Piedmont Virginia Community College (Associate of Science: General Studies)
| Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDV 100 | College Success Skills | UNIV 101 | 1 | Elective |
| ENG 111 | College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
| ENG 112 | College Composition II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
| HIS | Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| HIS | Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 | HIST | 3 | General education |
| MTH 154 | Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 131 | 3 | General education |
| MTH 245 | Statistics I | STAT 210 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| CST 100 | Principles of Public Speaking | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
| ITE 119 | Information Literacy | INFO 160, 161, 168 | 3 | Elective |
| Humanities | Select 1: ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 250; PHI 100, 200 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Humanities | Select from approved PVCC list | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| ENG | Select 1: ENG 200-level literature | ENGL | 3 | General education |
| Science w/ Laboratory | Select 1: BIO 101, 106, 107; CHM 101, 111; GOL 105; NAS 131; PHY 100, 201 | VCU equivalent | 4 | General education |
| Science w/ Laboratory | Select 1: BIO 101, 106, 107; CHM 101, 111; GOL 105; NAS 131; PHY 100, 201 | VCU equivalent | 4 | General education |
| Social Science | SOC 200 Principles of Sociology | SOCY 101 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
| Social Science | Select 1: PSY 200, SOC 210, PLS 135, 211, 241 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
| Social Science | Select from approved PVCC list | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| Transfer elective | Transfer elective (foreign language 101 recommended; see note below about VCU's foreign language requirement) | VCU equivalent | 3 to 4 | General education |
| Transfer elective | Transfer elective (foreign language 102 recommended; see note below about VCU's foreign language requirement) | VCU equivalent | 3 to 4 | General education |
| Transfer elective | Select from approved PVCC list | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| Transfer elective | Select from approved PVCC list | VCU equivalent | 3 | Elective |
| PVCC credits transferred to VCU | 63 | |||
| Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign language through the 102 level. (if not completed at PVCC) (This requirement can be fulfilled by means of completion of the 102-level of a language or waived if the student completed up through the third level of a foreign language in high school. Additionally, language waiver and placement testing options are available for native or heritage speakers of a non-english language.) | 0 to 8 | General education | |
| SOCY 202 | Foundations of Theory | 3 | Major |
| SOCY 320 | Research Methods in the Social Sciences | 3 | Major |
| SOCY 402 | Contemporary Theory | 3 | Major |
| SOCY 406 | Sociology Senior Seminar | 3 | Major |
| SOCY | Select six upper-level (300- to 400-level) SOCY courses | 18 | Major |
| Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. | 18 | Elective | |
| Open electives | 9 | Elective | |
| Credits completed at VCU | 57 | ||
| Bachelor's degree total | 120 | ||