Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Sociology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Science: Behavioral Sciences (Richard Bland College of William and Mary)
Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College
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

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

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

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

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

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
Explore Year 1
  • 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.
  • Attend cultural events at RBC and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU's annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • 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.
Experience Year 2
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Explore
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
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
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.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
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.

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2021-2022

Sociology, Bachelor of Science (accelerated masters degree option)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary (Associate of Science: Behavioral Sciences)

Richard Bland College of William and Mary courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
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
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
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