Majors & Minors

For course descriptions, visit the online Class Search.

The Degree in Sociology is a program designed to give students a grasp on the general concepts of Sociology.

I. Core Requirements (18 cr. hrs.)

SW200-SO Understanding Society
SO205 Contemporary Social Issues
SO293 Statistics for Social Research
SO391 Social Theory Seminar (WAC; prereq: SW200SO, two sociology courses, Junior standing) SO393 Social Research Seminar (prereq: SW200SO, S0293 or PS 211, one sociology course, Junior standing)
SO393 Social Research Seminar (prereq: SW200SO, SO293 or PS211, one sociology course, Junior standing)
SO486 Senior Research Seminar (SAC; prereq: S0391, S0393, Senior standing)

(Note: SO499 Honors Thesis may be completed in place of the S0486 Senior Research Seminar)

II. Sociology Area Requirements (21 cr. hrs.):

Courses are offered in four substantive areas of study. Students must take at least one course from each of the following four areas (All 300 level courses require SW200-SO or permission; SO293, SO381, SO383, SO385 may not be taken to satisfy this requirement):

Culture and Community
- SO319 Mental Illness, Culture and Society
- SO339 Violence, Media, and Culture
- SO341 Self and Society
- SO343 Popular Culture
- SO345 Deviance and Social Control
- SO347 Urban Community (SL)
- SO354 Aging and the Life Course (SL)
Inequality and Social Change
- SO303 Political Behavior, Polity, and Society
- SO317 Gender and Society
- SO321 Crime and Society
- SO323 Racial and Ethnic Relations
- SO325 Class, Status, and Power
- SO326 Gender, Race, and Crime
- SO329 The Sociology of Racism
- SO349 Social Movements
Social Institutions
- SO301 Families and Society
- SO311 Law and Society
- SO315 Film, Media, and Society
- SO351 Punishment and Society
- SO352 Mental Illness & the Criminal Justice System
- SO353 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency (SL)
- SO356 Health and Society
Transnational Sociology
- SO331 Latin American Societies (SL)
- SO 333 European Societies
- SO 334 Immigration
- SO 335 Global Society
- SO 355 International Crime

III. Community Engagement Requirement

Students must complete an internship (SO484, SO485) or a service-learning course (SL).

(39 cr hrs + Internship or Service Learning)

I. Criminology Core Requirements (18 cr. hrs.)

SW 200-SO Understanding Society
SO 205 Contemporary Social Issues
SO 293 Social Statistics
SO 391 Social Theory Seminar (WAC; prereq: two 300-level sociology courses, Junior standing)
SO 393 Research Methods (prereq: SO 293 or PS 211, Junior standing)
SO 486 Senior Research Seminar (SAC; prereq: SO 391, SO 393, Senior Standing)

(Note: SO 499 Honors Thesis may be completed in place of SO 486.)

II. Criminology Requirements (12 cr. hrs.)

Two classes are required:
- SO 321 Crime and Society (SW 200-SO; junior standing)
- SO 345 Deviance and Social Control (SW 200-SO; sophomore standing)
Inequality-One of the following:
- SO 326 Gender, Race and Crime;
- SO 323 Race and Ethnic Relations;
- SO 317 Gender and Society;
- SO 329 Sociology of Racism
Transnational-One of the following:
- SO 355 International Crime
- SO 331 Latin America Societies (SL)
- SO 334 Immigration

III. Criminology Electives (9 cr. hrs.)

SO 311 Law and Society; or SO 351 Punishment and Society
SO 326 Gender, Race and Crime
SO 339 Violence, Media, Culture
SO 352 Mental Illness, and the Criminal Justice System
SO 353 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency (SL)
SO 355 International Crime

IV. Community Engagement

Students must complete an internship (SO 484, SO 485) or a service-learning course (SL).

(39 cr hrs + sociology internship or service-learning)

I. Sociology Core Requirements (18 cr hrs)

SW200-SO Understanding Society
SO205 Contemporary Social Issues
SO293 Statistics for Social Research
SO391 Social Theory Seminar (WAC; prereq: SW200SO, two sociology courses, Junior standing
SO393 Social Research Seminar (prereq: SW200SO, SO293 or PS 211, Junior standing)
SO486 Senior Research Seminar (SAC; prereq: SO391, SO393, Senior standing)

(Note: SO499 Honors Thesis may be completed in place of SO486 Senior Research Seminar.)

II. Social Work Practice Requirements (9 cr hrs)

SO381 Social Work and Social Policy
SO383 Social Work Methods
SO385 Practice Skills in Social Work

III. Sociology Requirements (12 cr hrs):
One course from each of the following fours areas. (All 300 level courses require SW200 SO or permission.)

Culture and Community

SO319 Mental Illness, Culture and Society
SO339 Violence, Media and Culture
SO341 Self and Society
SO343 Popular Culture
SO345 Deviance and Social Control
SO347 Urban Community (SL)
SO354 Aging and the Life Course (SL)

Inequality and Social Change

SO303 Political Behavior, Polity and Society
SO317 Gender and Society
SO321 Crime and Society
SO323 Racial and Ethnic Relations
SO325 Class, Status and Power
SO326 Gender, Race, and Crime
SO329 The Sociology of Racism
SO349 Social Movements

Social Institutions

SO301 Families and Gender Roles
SO311 Law and Society
SO315 Film, Media, and Society
SO351 Punishment and Society
SO353 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency (SL)
SO 356 Health and Society

Transnational Sociology

SO331 Latin American Societies (SL)
SO333 European Societies
SO334 Immigration
SO335 The Global Society
SO355 International Crime

IV. Community Engagement Requirement:

Students must complete an internship (SO484, SO485) or a service-learning course (SL).

I. Sociology Core Requirements (9 cr hrs)

SW200-SO Understanding Society
SO391 Social Theory Seminar (WAC; prereq: SW200SO, two sociology courses, Junior standing)
SO393 Social Research Seminar (prereq: SW200SO, SO293 or equivalent, one sociology course, Junior standing)

II. Sociology Area Requirements (12 cr hours)

One course from each of the following four areas (All 300 level courses require SW200 SO or permission; SO293, SO381, SO383, SO385 may not be taken to satisfy this requirement):

Culture and Community
- SO319 Mental Illness, Culture, and Society
- SO339 Violence, Media, and Culture
- SO341 Self and Society
- SO343 Popular Culture
- SO345 Deviance and Social Control
- SO347 Urban and Community (SL)
- SO354 Aging and the Life Course (SL)
Social Institutions
- SO301 Families and Society
- SO311 Law and Society
- SO315 Film, Media, and Society
- SO352 Mental Illness & the Criminal Justice System
- SO353 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency (SL)
- SO356 Health and Society
Inequality and Social Change
- SO303 Political Behavior, Polity, and Society
- SO317 Gender and Society
- SO323 Racial and Ethnic Relations
- SO325 Class, Status, and Power
- SO326 Gender, Race, and Crime
- SO329 The Sociology of Racism
- SO349 Social Movements
Transnational Sociology
- SO331 Latin American Societies (SL)
- SO333 European Societies
- SO334 Immigration
- SO335 Global Society
- SO355 International Crime

I. Criminology Core Requirements (9 cr hrs):

SW200 SO Understanding Society
SO391 Social Theory Seminar (WAC; prereq: SW200SO, two sociology courses, Junior standing)
SO393 Social Research Seminar (prereq: SW200SO, SO293 or equivalent, one sociology course, Junior standing)

II. Criminology Area Requirements (All 300 level courses require SW200SO or permission)

Crime and Law Area: Three courses (9 cr hrs)

Required Core Course:
- SO321 Crime and Society (prereq: SW200SO, Junior standing)
AND Two of the Following:
- SO311 Law and Society or SO351 Punishment and Society
- SO326 Gender, Race, and Crime
- SO339 Violence, Media, and Culture
- SO345 Deviance and Social Control
- SO352 Mental Illness & the Criminal Justice System
- SO353 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
- SO355 International Crime
Inequality: One course (3 cr hrs):
- SO317 Gender and Society
- SO323 Racial and Ethnic Relations
- SO325 Class, Status, and Power
- SO329 The Sociology of Racism

I. Sociology Core Requirements (9 cr hrs)

SW 200 SO Understanding Society
SO 391 Social Theory Seminar (WAC; prereq: SW200SO, two sociology courses, Junior Standing)
SO 393 Research Methods Seminar (prereq: SW200SO, SO293 or equivalent, one sociology course, Junior Standing)

II. Required Course

SO 334 Immigration

III. Specialized courses (9 cr hrs)

Choose three of the following:

SO 323 Racial and Ethnic Relations
SO 326 Gender, Race, and Crime
SO 329 The Sociology of Racism
SO 331 Latin American Societies
SO 333 European Societies
SO 355 International Crime

(Note: SO 380 Selected Topics in Sociology may be substituted for one of the above course requirements with the permission of the Sociology and Criminology Department Chair.)

The Degree in Sociology is a program designed to give students a grasp on the general concepts of Sociology.

I. Core Requirements (18 cr. hrs.)

SW200-SO Understanding Society
SO205 Contemporary Social Issues
SO293 Statistics for Social Research
SO391 Social Theory Seminar (WAC; prereq: SW200SO, two sociology courses, Junior standing) SO393 Social Research Seminar (prereq: SW200SO, S0293 or PS 211, one sociology course, Junior standing)
SO486 Senior Research Seminar (SAC; prereq: S0391, S0393, Senior standing)

(Note: SO499 Honors Thesis may be completed in place of the S0486 Senior Research Seminar)

II. Sociology Area Requirements (24 cr. hrs.):

Culture and Community
- SO319 Mental Illness, Culture and Society
- SO339 Violence, Media, and Culture
- SO341 Self and Society
- SO343 Popular Culture
- SO345 Deviance and Social Control
- SO347 Urban Community (SL)
- SO354 Aging and the Life Course (SL)
Inequality and Social Change
- SO303 Political Behavior, Polity, and Society
- SO317 Gender and Society
- SO321 Crime and Society
- SO323 Racial and Ethnic Relations
- SO325 Class, Status, and Power
- SO326 Gender, Race, and Crime
- SO329 The Sociology of Racism
- SO349 Social Movements
Social Institutions
- SO301 Families and Society
- SO311 Law and Society
- SO315 Film, Media, and Society
- SO351 Punishment and Society
- SO352 Mental Illness & the Criminal Justice System
- SO353 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency (SL)
- SO356 Health and Society
Transnational Sociology
- SO331 Latin American Societies (SL)
- SO 333 European Societies
- SO 334 Immigration
- SO 335 Global Society
- SO 355 International Crime

III. Community Engagement Requirement

Students must complete an internship (SO484, SO485) or a service-learning course (SL).

If a student would like to declare a Sociology Major with a Concentration, a chosen concentration must be made by the junior year. The Concentration requires three courses (9 cr hrs) within the chosen concentration. The Senior Research Seminar paper and the Community Engagement requirement must be in the chosen concentration. The two choices of possible concentration are below.

May choose only one option.

Sociology Concentrations:

I. Community, Health, and Well-Being

SO391 Families and Society
SO319 Mental Illness, Culture and Society
SO339 Violence, Media, and Culture
SO341 Self and Society
SO343 Popular Culture
SO345 Deviance and Social Control
SO347 Urban Community (SL)
SO353 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency (SL)
SO352 Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System
SO354 Aging and the Life Course (SL)
SO356 Health and Society

II. Inequality, Power, and Resistance

SO303 Political Behavior, Polity, and Society
SO317 Gender and Society
SO323 Racial and Ethnic Relations
SO325 Class, Status, and Power
SO326 Gender, Race, and Crime
SO329 The Sociology of Racism
SO334 Immigration
SO335 The Global Society
SO345 Deviance and Social Control

The information found on this website with respect to major/minor/program requirements is primarily directed at providing prospective students a general roadmap of the curriculum. Current Butler students are expected to review their degree audit report at my.butler.edu and speak with their advisor regularly for detailed information regarding their specific degree requirements and their progress toward degree completion.

internal resources

Majors & Minors