Whether you want to confront the social challenges that affect communities around the world or help one family at a time, a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Georgia Southern University gives you the tools to launch a career where you’ll drive change.
Sociology shines a light on the hidden forces that affect our lives in varying degrees. You’ll study the building blocks of social life, factors that influence social outcomes, and the causes and consequences of human behavior — and learn to use this knowledge to shape society for the better.
Locations
- Statesboro Campus (In Person)
- Armstrong Campus (In Person)
- Online
Why Major in Sociology at Georgia Southern?
- Focus on a career in research or social services with one of two concentrations.
- Earn real-world experience with an internship.
- Build core skills that open the door to countless careers.
- Be an engaged citizen: Sociology teaches you to put your own experience in the context of the world around you.
- Complete this program in person or fully online.
- 124 credit hours to completion.
Sociology gives you the scientific methods to understand and engage with the issues of our time: race, poverty, inequality, globalization, immigration, environmental change, gender, power and many others.
In studying sociology, you’ll examine these issues by asking why groups of humans behave the way they do — and understand how to influence related behaviors.
A BS in Sociology teaches you how to ask research questions, find existing evidence, collect your own data and analyze it with quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
These widely prized skills position you for a long list of careers both in and outside of the social sciences, including social services, marketing, human resources and more.
Ready to Apply?
What Can You Do With a Bachelor’s in Sociology?
A bachelor’s degree in sociology gives you keen insights into the ways people behave, a skill that will serve you in careers ranging from law enforcement to human relations, politics to public relations. In addition, majoring in sociology prepares you for advanced study in several fields, including law, medicine, social work and counseling.
Where our graduates work:
- Behavioral Health Services of South Georgia
- Georgia Department of Corrections
- Georgia Department of Human Services
- Goodwill
- Howard University
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Military Officers Association of America
- ProCare Therapy
- Senior Companion Program
- Success Academy Charter Schools
What our graduates do:
- Corrections officer
- Historian
- Human resource manager
- Journalist
- Lawyer*
- Marketing research analyst
- Marriage and family therapist
- Rehabilitation counselor*
- Sociologist
- Social and community service manager
*Requires additional education.
What You’ll Learn
Sociology majors build on a liberal arts foundation with extensive coursework focused on the field itself. Required classes cover sociological theories, research methods, data analysis and career development. In addition, all students complete either a senior capstone project or an internship.
See the CurriculumConcentrations
A sociology degree is among the most versatile you can find. For careers in social services or social work, our Human Services concentration gives you a head start on completing the requirements needed to continue your education.
General
This all-encompassing track prepares you for careers in sociological research and many other paths. Whether you follow base requirements or tailor the program to your interests, you’ll learn how to analyze individual behavior within a larger social context.
Human Services
If you’re interested in social services and social work with individuals, children and families, groups and communities, this track covers counseling and evaluation, human development, policy and more to prepare you for a job in the field out of college or more specialized education.
Build Your Experience
As a sociology major, you’ll become adept at understanding theory. As a practitioner, you’ll put it into practice to better serve your clients, create more engaging marketing campaigns or push for change within your organization. Georgia Southern gives you the opportunity to build these insights through internships, research and more.
Internships
Applying classroom concepts to real-world scenarios and exploring their professional interests, Georgia Southern students have interned for mental health care providers, organizations serving children, human resource departments and even the White House in recent years.
Get Involved
From growing your network to participating in conferences or community outreach, get involved with the Sociological Society, the Alpha Kappa Delta honor society, the Anthropological Society and more student groups.
Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor
Learn how age affects an individual’s relationship to society and their own life experience with a minor in Gerontology. For students interested in eldercare, geriatric social work or any job assisting older adults, this minor can help you better relate to your future clients.
Social Science and Medicine Minor
This interdisciplinary minor explores the social and cultural factors that influence how practitioners identify and treat disease, as well as communities’ perception of health and care access. Ideal for those considering careers in the health care field, human services or social work.
Want to Learn More?
Explore essential information about our BS in Sociology program, including application details, accreditation status, and licensing disclosures. Gain insight into the program’s credibility and requirements to help you start your journey toward success with the knowledge you need.
Follow these steps to complete the Georgia Southern application:
- Create an application account.
- Complete our online application using the PIN you received after creating your application account.
- Once complete, pay the $30 application fee or upload a valid fee waiver. Previous Georgia Southern applicants and dual enrollment students do not need to pay the fee.
You can check your application status at My.GeorgiaSouthern.edu/admissions three days after completing your application. This page contains live information about your admission status, including a checklist of missing documents we need to make a decision.
Apply as a First-Year Student Transfer to Georgia SouthernOnline students can earn a BS in Criminal Justice and Criminology while studying anywhere in the world. Even if you have a full-time job and family responsibilities or are serving in the military, Georgia Southern’s convenient and accessible online programs let you work toward a degree on your schedule.
Learn More About Online ProgramsFor All Online Programs
Federal law requires colleges and universities to make certain disclosures to prospective students of these programs. These disclosures include information on the University’s authority to operate outside of Georgia, complaint processes, adverse actions and refunds.
For required disclosures in general with regard to online programs offered by the University, visit the Office of Legal Affairs website.
Program Requirements
In addition to a strong liberal arts base of classes, our majors are required to take 30 hours of sociology courses. All of our graduates are required to take Introduction to Sociology (1101), Sociological Theory (3431), Sociological Research Methods (3434) and either Senior Seminar (4630) on Internship (4790) as a capstone experience.
Students who want a concentration in Human Services can complete courses such as Introduction to Social Services (2232), Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3232), Social Welfare Policies and Services (4232) and Social Services Counseling Skills (4236) that will prepare them to enter the field.
Student Learning Outcomes
II. Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Sociology Program SLOs
- Graduates will be able to use the sociological perspective and core concepts (e.g., sociological imagination, social structure, socialization, stratification, social change and social reproduction) to formulate sociological explanations of social patterns based on empirical evidence.
- Graduates will understand the role of theory in sociology, such that students will be able to:
- Explain theoretical perspectives using key concepts.
- Apply sociological theories to social patterns based on empirical evidence.
- Graduates will be able to:
- Evaluate empirical evidence used in sociological research.
- Analyze and synthesize sociological research.
- Graduates will analyze empirical evidence and interpret social patterns found therein.
Alumni Feature
Aysia Berry, a first-generation college student, dug deep to find the strength to overcome anxiety and other mental health challenges to graduate with a sociology degree in 2023. But she also credits the Counseling Center and faculty in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology for getting her across the finish line.
Learn About Avsia's JourneyFaculty Feature
Prof. Alicia Brunson knows the statistics: While 63% of White students graduate college in six years, just 39.5% of Black students complete their studies over the same period. Her research asks how we can improve that.
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Take the Next Step
Understand the factors that shape society, and play a role in its transformation, with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Georgia Southern. Contact us today to learn more.
Contact Us
Dr. Nathan Palmer
Sociology Program Coordinator
912-478-7897
npalmer@georgiasouthern.edu