Program type:

Major
Format:

Hybrid
Est. time to complete:

4 years
Credit Hours:

120
Gain a deeper understanding of how individual human behavior impacts society and vice versa.
Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations and societies and how people interact within these contexts. Since all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime to religious traditions; from the divisions of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture.

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Why Earn a Sociology Degree?

We’ll provide you with a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of social theory and research methods. This is accomplished through a combination of core and elective courses taught by recognized scholars in their field.

You can apply classroom learning to real-world situations through our capstone course, internships and research-related projects. Our capstone course focuses on data collection, data analysis, applying theory and presenting the findings. The internship helps you address issues in developing countries such as fertility, birth control and recovery from natural disasters.

Marketable Skills
  • SPSS literacy
  • Oral and written communication
  • Teamwork
  • Analytical problem-solving
  • Introductory research methods

Sociology Degree Highlights

You’ll complete 30 (B.A.) or 36 (B.S.) semester hours in sociology, depending on the degree you wish to pursue.
Some coursework will focus on environmental sociology, developing societies, gerontology, medical sociology, race and ethnic relations, research methods and statistics, sex and gender, and sociological theory. You’ll be trained to understand the practical applications of sociological principles.
Our faculty members have published books, articles and research reports, presented research at national conferences, and received research grants from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Commonwealth Fund. They’ve also conducted research in Ghana, Guatemala, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Malawi, Sweden and Togo.
Faculty research interests include demography, economic sociology, environmental sociology, gerontology and aging, medical sociology, sociology of development and social change, sociology of disasters, sociology of the family and the life cycle, and sustainable societies.
Our faculty members and students have been instrumental in improving health and social services in communities with high rates of illness, crime, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.
UNT's Sociology program is ranked 3rd in Texas, 13th in the South and 49th in the nation by Sociology-Schools.com.

What Can You Do With a Sociology Degree?

A Sociology degree can prepare you for numerous careers in human services and corporations or for an entry-level research job as an interviewer or statistician. You can work as a social worker, career or family counselor, parole or probation officer, or in a community service area. Related careers are available in:

  • Advertising and marketing agencies, manufacturing corporations and consulting firms
  • Criminal justice organizations
  • Government agencies, corporations and nonprofit organizations
  • Hospitals
  • Religious and youth organizations
  • Universities and colleges

Some Sociology majors enter law school or pursue other graduate or professional training.

Sociology Degree Courses You Could Take

Sociology of Sport (3 hrs)
Study of social behavior in sport, with particular emphasis on its relationship to the cultural perspectives of socialization, minorities, economics, politics and current issues.
Drugs, Crime and Society (3 hrs)
Examines the relationship between drugs, crime and human behavior. Explores the relationship between drug abuse and crime, and the policy proposals developed to control drug trafficking, drug abuse and drug-related crime, as well as the multifaceted aspects and effects of chemical abuse and dependency.
Sociology of Religion (3 hrs)
Review of the common sociological dimensions of all religions such as moral definitions, group membership and dynamics, prescribed ritual practices and definitions of the sacred. An examination of sociologists contributing to the field such as Durkheim and Weber. Includes a sociological analysis of selected major world religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.
Sociology of Sexuality (3 hrs)
Sexuality and how it is perceived, defined and experienced in the context of society. The course explores sexuality as a social and historical construction and focuses on how sexuality influences our lives as reflected in social norms, attitudes and beliefs, and through public and private policies and practices.
Immigration and Race in Contemporary U.S. (3 hrs)
Examines the contemporary immigrant groups, how these immigrants incorporate into American society and ways the U.S. is transformed by their presence.
Race, Class, Gender and Ethnicity (3 hrs)
Social, cultural and economic perspectives on Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and Mexican Americans; emphasizes work and family patterns for women and men, racism and sexism, and contemporary movements for equality.

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