Sociology, B.A.
Program Transfer Guide
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Effective
Fall, 2024 - Current
Instruction Methods
In person
About the Program
Sociology is the study of social relationships among people and the institutions and organizations they use to organize these relationships. There are many subfields within sociology, including medical sociology, aging, population, religion, gender roles, family, work organizations, occupations, crime and delinquency, urban sociology, and political sociology.
Career and Academic Paths
The Sociology, B.A. provides a general overview of sociology for students who plan to enter the labor force after graduation and for those planning graduate study. The department has double majors that combine sociology and social work, sociology and anthropology, and sociology and psychology, as well as a combined social work major/sociology minor. These programs enable students to complete both majors with fewer credits than are required for each major separately. The Sociology Minor is designed for majors in other disciplines who wish to add a study of social behavior to their other major. Students interested in pursuing the Master of Arts in Applied Sociology offered by the department should consider the combined B.A./M.A. program described below.
The undergraduate major in sociology provides a well established and widely accepted path to careers and professional education in the human services. It is frequently the major of individuals employed in local, state, and federal governments and in non-profit organizations. It typically provides appropriate preparation for many professional programs, including law, public health, health services administration, urban and regional planning, social work, human-services administration, human resources management, advertising, public administration, and public policy. An undergraduate major in sociology is also appropriate preparation for research and policy-oriented graduate programs in sociology, public policy, health services research, criminology, demography, and other disciplines that study social behavior.
Combined and Double Majors
The department offers four double majors that allow students to make specific course substitutions and to apply certain coursework to both majors: public health/social work, sociology/anthropology, sociology/psychology, and sociology/social work. Information about the double majors can be found on the department website.
Students may also double major in another field that complements the first or in which they have an interest.
Honors Programs
SAPH offers Sociology, B.A. with honors for students with strong academic records who want to conduct a substantial independent research project, culminating in a thesis, during their final year in the major. Students considering graduate school are particularly encouraged to pursue this option. Interested students should discuss this with their advisors as early as possible. Information describing the requirements for the major with honors is available on the department website.
Accelerated B.A./Master’s Programs
SAPH offers a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology, an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s, and two post-baccalaureate certificates in Social Dimensions of Health and Applied Social Research Methods. These programs offer students training in the practical side of sociology, including the various methodologies and key substantive areas of the field. The program has core strengths in the sociology of health, illness, and medicine; aging and the life course; inequality, gender; criminology, and applied research methods. Courses prepare students for careers as research analysts in federal and state agencies, research organizations, and nonprofit organizations. The program also prepares students for doctoral-level coursework. The master’s in applied sociology requires students to complete 30 credits, including a capstone project. The accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program for undergraduate students allows students to take up to 9 graduate credits to apply toward the master’s degree. The 12-credit post-baccalaureate certificates can be completed as part of the master’s degree, or separately. Admission requirements and deadlines are published on the department website.
Evening and Part Time Options
Evening courses are offered occasionally, but generally, no more than one to three evening courses are offered in a single semester. Required core courses are almost always offered during daytime hours only.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Sociology students wishing to undertake individual research projects can do so in independent study courses with faculty members of their choice. Students may also apply to undertake honors thesis research. Students can discuss these options with their academic advisor.
The university offers multiple opportunities for study abroad. Students seeking further information should contact the Study Abroad Office. Students interested in study abroad also should meet with their advisor to discuss their plans and their pathway for the completion of the major requirements.
Student Organizations
Majors and minors in Sociology are encouraged to participate in student-led organizations.
Membership in the Council of Majors is open to all declared majors. The council meets throughout the academic year.
Sociology Society is an undergraduate student organization focused on promoting sociological scholarship and providing opportunities to engage with sociology outside the classroom alongside others interested in the field. Sociology Society is open to all undergraduate students regardless of major or GPA. This organization will host guest speakers like graduate students, professors, or career sociologists, discuss popular media with a sociological lens, hold open-floor discussions, share opportunities for scholarships and internships, and more.
Alpha Kappa Delta
The International Honor Society for Sociology is Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD), and UMBC belongs to the IOTA Chapter. The purpose of the society is to encourage and stimulate scholarship and research in Sociology by recognizing and honoring superior achievement in the discipline. For further details consult the department website. The induction ceremony is held in May of each year.