Sociology, Bachelor of Science
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
Virginia Community College System (Any transfer associate degree)
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
- Schedule an appointment with your community college advisor to map out your associate degree course plan.
- Enroll in a SDV student success course.
- Complete your math and english requirements in your first year.
- Be prepared for academic challenges and utilize tutoring resources to get ahead.
- Explore GRASP financial aid resources and submit the FAFSA on time.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Explore the VCU Sociology department website.
- Learn about the transfer admission process for VCU.
- Get involved with student clubs and organizations at your community college.
- Volunteer for community service projects.
- Register to vote.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
- Attend diversity-focused events on your community college campus and in your community (e.g., international festival).
- Make friends with people with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Create LinkedIn profile.
- Complete career assessments through the Virginia Education Wizard.
- Browse information about occupations and job titles associated with sociology.
- Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Practice independent living skills such as money and time management, self-care, and personal responsibility.
- Create a weekly and monthly budget.
- Prepare for a career after college by creating a brand for yourself.
- Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
- Explore the accelerated B.S. and M.S. in Sociology and accelerated B.S. and M.S. in Gerontology programs.
- Submit the FAFSA on time.
- Submit a transfer advising request to the VCU Transfer Center.
- Meet with your community college advisor to finalize plans to complete your associate degree.
- Be prepared for academic challenges. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Apply to VCU.
- Visit the VCU campus and attend a transfer admission session.
- Research housing options for next year.
- Attend a talk or other event sponsored by the VCU Sociology department, consider joining a VCU club, or meeting with VCU students to make professional and personal connections.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
- Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
- Check out the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) and follow @vcuomsa.
- Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Find out about VCU REAL and learn about REAL graduation requirement.
- Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year.
- Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
- If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
- Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
- Explore the types of aid available at VCU.
- Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
Sociology, Bachelor of Science
Virginia Community College System (Any transfer associate degree)
Course | Title | Equivalent course | Credits | Requirements |
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Students who earn this associate degree before enrolling at VCU will be eligible for a waiver of VCU's general education requirements. | ||||
SDV 100 or 101 | 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 |
MTH 154 | Quantitative Reasoning | MATH 131 | 3 | General education |
MTH 245 | Statistics I | STAT 210 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
SOC 200 | Principles of Sociology | SOCY 101 | 3 | Major (Ancillary) |
World Language or ASL | World Language I or ASL 101 or elective ((students are eligible for a waiver of VCU's language requirement if they successfully completed through the third level of a foreign language in high school). | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
World Language or ASL | World Language II or ASL 102 or elective ((students are eligible for a waiver of VCU's language requirement if they successfully completed through the third level of a foreign language in high school). | VCU equivalent | 3 | General education |
Complete general education and elective requirements for associate degree | VCU equivalents | 38 | Elective | |
Community college credits transferred to VCU | 60 |
Course | Title | Credits | Requirements |
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Your GPA Doesn't Transfer With You Although you worked hard to earn your grades at your current institution, they will only be considered by VCU for an admission decision. Once you enroll at VCU, your GPA will reset to 0.0, and your new GPA will be determined by your level of success in your classes at VCU. | |||
SOCY 202 | Foundations of Theory | 3 | Major |
SOCY 320 | Foundations of Theory | 3 | Major |
SOCY 402 | Contemporary Theory | 3 | Major |
SOCY 406 | Sociology Senior Seminar | 3 | Major |
Select SOCY courses (300- to 400-level) | 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. | 30 | Elective | |
REAL | The REAL requirement may be satisfied by successfully completing a 300-level (or higher) course that has received a REAL attribute of Level 2, 3 or 4 or through an approved “REAL” co-curricular experience that has received a REAL attribute of Level 3 or 4. See VCU advisor for options. | 0 | Major |
Credits completed at VCU | 60 | ||
Minimum credits required for bachelor's degree | 120 | ||
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. programs allows qualified students to earn the B.S. in Sociology and either the M.S. in Sociology or the M.S. in Geronotology in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated M.S. in Sociology program include completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours including a minimum of nine credit hours in sociology courses; an overall GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.3 in sociology course work. Minimum qualifications for admittance to the M.S. in Gerontology program include completion of 84 undergraduate credit hours including SOCY 202 and a GPA of 3.0 in the major. |