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Bachelor of Science

Sociology

Home / College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Psychology and Sociology / Sociology

Bachelor of Science in Sociology

New Streamlined Curriculum

Our streamlined program combines a clear path to graduation with personalized faculty mentorship and real-world learning opportunities. You’ll graduate with in-demand skills — communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and analysis — that prepare you for a fulfilling career.

Program Details

Sociology is the scientific study of human action and social interactions. Students in this exciting program explore a fascinating range of topics—examining traditional areas like race, culture, and inequality alongside unique courses in human sexuality, mass media influences, and the sociology of paranormal belief.

We focus on real-world application, ensuring you graduate ready to build a career in fields ranging from social work and human services to criminal justice, public health, or public policy. Our program delivers this practical edge through three core areas:

  • Program Curriculum: Within our streamlined curriculum, you can choose from three focused concentrations—Research, Social Work, or General Sociology—designed to align with your specific professional or educational goals.
  • Real-World Learning: Build a competitive resume by taking what you learn in the classroom and applying it directly through hands-on internships and research projects.
  • Careers: Position yourself for impactful roles, with graduates stepping directly into careers within social services, law enforcement, education, business, and community advocacy.
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Undergraduate Major

Bachelor of Science in Sociology

229-931-2311
psychsoc@gsw.edu

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A Clear Path to Graduation

Our curriculum is designed to respect your time and maximize your academic progress. We map out a clear, efficient path to graduation that gives you the flexibility to shape your education around your career aims.

  • Core Requirements & Focus: The major is built around a core of 5 foundational sociology courses, combined with 9 credits in your chosen concentration (Research, Social Work, or General Sociology) to align with your specific direction.
  • Curriculum Flexibility: Because adding a minor or certificate is completely optional in this program, you can have up to 39 credits of free electives. This makes the degree incredibly friendly if you are changing majors or transferring in past coursework, allowing you to fit a minor or certificate safely within this elective space.
  • The Major Advantage: If you are already minoring in sociology, you can easily upgrade to a double major without adding any extra time to graduation. With proper planning, you can swap just one 3-credit free elective course for a sociology course, graduating with a powerful double major without adding a single credit to your overall degree total.

 

Experience Beyond the Classroom

At GSW, sociology is something you do, not just something you read about. We embed professional preparation directly into the curriculum so you graduate workforce-ready.

  • SOCI 2101: Professional Development: This dedicated course serves as your career launchpad. You will engage in hands-on career exploration, craft a competitive professional resume, practice networking, and map out graduate school or employment preparation under direct faculty guidance.
  • Community Internships: Step out of the classroom and into the field. Our students gain practical experience at social service agencies, non-profit organizations, law enforcement entities, and educational centers, applying their analytical skills to real-world challenges.
  • Applied Research & Capstone: Work directly alongside faculty on meaningful research projects or execute a targeted senior capstone. This final project ties your specific concentration directly to your career goals, giving you a distinct edge in the job market or graduate school applications.

Major Curriculum

Minor Curriculum

Here Are Some Career Fields You Can Enter

A sociology degree equips you with a versatile toolkit for an evolving occupational landscape. Our graduates leverage their understanding of group dynamics, organizational behavior, and data analysis to lead teams and solve problems across a variety of popular fields:

  • Social Services & Advocacy: Launch a career as a caseworker, youth counselor, community organizer, or non-profit administrator, helping individuals and families navigate complex systems.
  • Law Enforcement & Public Safety: Enter the justice system with a deep understanding of community dynamics, working in probation, juvenile justice, law enforcement administration, or victim advocacy. This background also serves as excellent preparation for law school.
  • Business & Organizational Leadership: Apply your insights to the private sector in management, human resources, corporate recruiting, training, or project coordination, where understanding human interaction is a premium asset.
  • Education & Public Health: Shape the future of your community by stepping into roles within academic advising, community outreach coordination, or healthcare access management.

Degree Concentrations

Students have the opportunity to choose from three new concentrations, allowing them to tailor their degree to their individual goals and career aspirations.

The research concentration aids students in developing quantitative and qualitative skills for academic research, policy analysis, and data-driven careers.

The social work concentration prepares students for careers in human services, counseling, family support, and health-related social practice.

The general sociology concentration is offered to provide students the freedom to design a flexible program tailored to their interests, choosing from a wide range of upper-level sociology electives.

Major Curriculum

Core Requirements


Field of Study
SOCI 1101: Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 1160: Contemporary Social Problems
SOCI 2101: Professional Development in the Social Sciences
9 credits of 1000- or 2000-level Arts and Sciences Electives

 

Major Core
SOCI 3000: Understanding Society
SOCI 4900: Sociology Capstone
Your choice of two upper-level sociology electives

Select One of the Following Concentrations:

Research
Social Work
General Sociology Concentration

Research Concentration

Course
SOCI 3331: Sociological Statistics
SOCI 4498: Research I
SOCI 4499: Research II

Social Work Concentration

Course
SOCI 3325: Intro to Social Work
Choose (2) of the following:
SOCI 3293: Sociology of the Family
SOCI 3308: Psychosocial Asp of Aging
SOCI 4230: Sociology of Health and Medicine
SOCI 4350: Family Violence
PSYC 4405: Theo and Tech of Counseling

General Sociology Concentration

  • Your choice of three upper-level sociology electives (3000+)

What Can You Do With a Degree in Sociology?

Explore career outcomes of GSW Sociology graduates, including top skills, employers, and job titles.

Career Snapshot for GSW Sociology Majors

Average Salary

$69,618

Top Employers

  • State of Georgia
  • Emory University
  • Flint Area Consolidated Housing Authority
  • Georgia Bureau of Investigation
  • Ervin Christie Consulting, LLC

Job Titles

  • Director
  • Social Worker
  • Adult Education Instructor
  • Child Protective Investigator
  • Counselor

Top Skills

  • Research
  • Outreach
  • Social Services
  • Medical Case Management
  • Crisis Intervention

Source: Steppingblocks, 2026

“

As a student in the sociology program, I’ve had an incredibly positive and meaningful experience. The professors stand out not only for their depth of knowledge, but for their genuine compassion and investment in student success. They take the time to break down complex concepts in a way that is clear and engaging, while also encouraging thoughtful discussion and critical thinking. It’s evident that they care about both the academic and personal growth of their students, which creates a supportive and motivating learning environment.

Jeslyn Olson Sociology
Leesburg, Georgia