Sociology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
VCU
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.
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).
- 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
- Counselor or Therapist
- Higher Education Administrator
- Researcher
- Social Worker
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.
Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better
- STAT 210
- Natural Sciences requirement only
- Yes
- No
- 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
Sociology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Behavioral Sciences)
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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MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Attend RBC Orientation.
- Schedule an appointment with your Learner Mentor to discuss your degree and class plan.
- Attend FAFSA Fridays to understand how you will fund your education. These events are available every Friday in October and February.
- Use tutoring to get ahead.
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 RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
- Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Explore possible career opportunities for Sociology majors.
- Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
- Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
- Familiarize yourself with the career services offered at RBC and VCU and explore career pathways on the VCU Career Services website.
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Use tutoring to get ahead.
- Explore the VCU Sociology department website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi and professors.
- Explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Be prepared for academic challenges by meeting with your Learner Mentor and understanding RBC Student Support available.
- Explore the accelerated BS to MS in Sociology program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Sociology Department.
- Volunteer for service learning or community service projects.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Continue learning a foreign language or make a plan for undertaking that study at VCU.
- 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
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs at RBC or VCU to explore your interests.
- Plan to complete at least two job experiences, (e.g., internships) before your senior year of college.
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.
Sociology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)
Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Behavioral Sciences)
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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ENGL 101 | Rhetoric and Research I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENGL 102 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. | UNIV 111-112 | 3 | General education |
ENGL 102 | Rhetoric and Research II | UNIV 200 | 3 | General education |
COMM 101 | Public Speaking | SPCH 121 | 3 | Elective |
Fine Arts | Core course in The Language and History of the Fine Arts (select 1): ART 201, 202, 231, MUS 103, 123, THEA 201 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
PSY 201-202 | General Psychology I-II (both courses must be taken to receive credit for PSYC 101) | PSYC 101 + PSYC 1XX | 6 | General education |
PSY 250 | Developmental Psychology | PSYC 304 | 3 | Elective |
PSY 217 | Research Methods | PSYC 2XX | 3 | Elective |
PHIL 203 | Introduction to Ethics | PHIL 201 | 3 | General education |
SOC 253 | Marriage & Family | SOCS 303 | 3 | Major |
SOC 201 | General Sociology | SOCY 101 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
U.S. & World Cultures | Core courses in U.S. and World Cultures (select 1): HIST 101, 102, 192, 201, 202 | HIST | 3 | General education |
U.S. & World Cultures | Core courses The U.S. and World Cultures (select 1): ECO 201, 202, GEO 103, GOVT 201, 202, 203, 253, HIST 101, 102, 192, 201, 202, 221, 222, 240, 242, 250, 276, PHIL 270, REL 210, 219, 220, 254, 272 | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
MATH 121 | College Algebra | MATH 141 | 3 | General education |
MATH 217 | Statistics | STAT 210 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
BIO 101 + Lab | General Biology I + Lab | BIOL/Z 101 | 4 | General education |
BIO 102 + Lab | General Biology II + Lab | BIOL/Z 1XX | 4 | Elective |
CSCI | Computer proficiency test or CSCI 121 or 202 | VCU equivalent | 0 to 3 | Elective |
Electives | No more than 2 credits of PE may be chosen | VCU equivalent | 4 to 7 | Elective |
Richard Bland credits transferred to VCU | 60 |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
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Foreign language through the 102 level (by course or placement). (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 five Sociology upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses) | 15 | 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. | 15 | Elective | |
Open electives | 18 | Elective | |
Credits completed at VCU | 60 | ||
Bachelor's degree total | 120 |