Program Contact: Xi Chen  203-582-6408

Students interested in careers in therapy, social work and social justice, as well as those interested in law and politics, are often attracted to sociology. American society is in the midst of rapid social change, which affects families, schools, the economy, healthcare systems and social institutions. Students in the Sociology major graduate with marketable skills equipping them to analyze social change and address a wide range of social issues.

Sociology majors examine invisible structural forces and learn how these affect organizations and individuals. They analyze broader social trends, including trends in illness and wellness, changes in marriage and family formations, rates of educational attainment or patterns of hiring in organizations. These valuable sociological skills can be used to study nearly any aspect of social life—schooling, health and well-being, religious devotion, immigration patterns and more. Sociology majors find a place to explore and develop their own unique interests and talents with thoughtful mentorship and guidance from faculty in the department.

The required internship course, which is one of the program's capstone experiences, allows students to apply their sociological skills in real world situations. Through the close mentorship of our departmental internship coordinator, students gain valuable insight into how their acquired knowledge and capabilities translate into marketable job skills. The program retains a long list of possible placement sites—from work in schools, hospitals and foster care settings to providing assistance with newly arrived immigrants to mentoring disadvantaged youth—to ensure that students can match their internship experience to their interests. Graduating seniors in Sociology are well prepared to continue their education or assume careers in teaching, social work, public administration, healthcare, law and criminal justice.

A sociology degree with a concentration in social work and community services integrates a traditional liberal arts education with specialized training and field background for students who intend to pursue a career in community services or pursue graduate education in social work, health-related fields, or public administration. Society is increasingly faced with challenges in the delivery of community services to a growing set of underserved populations. For students who want to work for a community agency, for nonprofits that help disadvantaged individuals or families, for mental health and counseling services, in social work, or for local and state government, this concentration provides a perfect background. Students focus their coursework on the areas of social institutions, policy, inequality and social issues. They also complete an advanced internship in the field, providing them with the experience and expertise to work with a wide range of client needs. For those wishing to pursue graduate education in social work, the concentration provides the necessary background coursework helpful for success in graduate programs and work experience that will help distinguish students in the application process.

Students majoring in sociology must meet the following requirements for graduation:

University Curriculum 146
Modern Language Requirement3-6
Sociology Core Requirements
SO 101Introduction to Sociology3
or SO 225 Social Problems
or SO 244 Race, Gender and Class: Social Inequalities
SO 205From College to Career1
SO 244Race, Gender and Class: Social Inequalities3
SO 290Research Methods3
SO 392Internship in the Community3
SO 382Studying Social Issues with Statistics 23
SO 400Senior Seminar3
Select 6 electives 318
Free Electives27 - 31
Total Credits113-120
1

All students must complete the University Curriculum requirements.

2

If students take MA 206 to fulfill the university quantitative literacy requirement, MA 206 can be used to fulfill the sociology statistics requirement. The sociology statistics course (SO 382) cannot be used for the university quantitative literacy requirement.

3

One of the electives could include AN 101 or AN 103; and one could be a criminal justice (CJ) course that is not cross-listed with sociology.

If students wish to focus their electives, they may take three classes (9 credits) of their 6 electives in a social work and community services concentration.

Social Work and Community Services Concentration

For this applied concentration, students must take:

SO 394Advanced Internship in the Community3
Select three of the following:9
SO 211Introduction to Social Work3
SO 225Social Problems3
SO 232Women in the Criminal Justice System3
SO 250Youth Crime3
SO 260Social Control and Deviance3
SO 265Work, Careers, and You,Sociology of Work3
SO 270Community Program Development3
SO 315Social Work Case Management3

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate the following competencies:

  1. Diversity Awareness: Students learn to identify the perspectives of diverse groups and the effect of group membership on life experiences and life chances.
  2. Social Scientific Literacy: Students learn the logic of research methodology and to be able to understand and critique the results of scientific research generated by scholars in the discipline.
  3. Critical Thinking: Students apply disciplinary theories and concepts to interpret various social phenomena and scholarship from multiple perspectives through clear oral and written articulation.
  4. Sociological Understanding of Society: Students are able to discuss the theories, critical concepts and ideas that form the basis of disciplinary knowledge and will understand how social structure affects the distribution of cultural and material resources across social groups.

Admission Requirements: College of Arts and Sciences

The requirements for admission into the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.

Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.

For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.

Transfer into the Sociology Major

Seamless Transfer Agreement with Gateway Community College (GCC), Housatonic Community College (HCC) and Norwalk Community College (NCC)

Under this Transfer Agreement, GCC, HCC and NCC graduates will be guaranteed admission into a bachelor’s degree program with third year (junior) status at Quinnipiac University on the condition that they: 

  • Graduate with an associate in arts, an associate in science in business, College of Technology engineering science, nursing or an allied health degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (this may be higher in specific programs). 
  • Satisfy all other Quinnipiac University transfer admission requirements and requirements for intended major.

Quinnipiac University agrees to accept the general education embedded in these associate degree programs in accordance with Quinnipiac preferred choices for general education as meeting all the requirements of its undergraduate general education except for the Integrative Capstone Experience and where courses are encumbered by the major (e.g., General Chemistry for the Disciplinary Inquiry Natural Science requirement for a Biochemistry major).

Suggested Transfer Curriculum for BA in Sociology

A minimum of 60 credits is required for transfer into the BA in Sociology program. Below is a recommended plan of study for the first two years prior to matriculation at Quinnipiac University.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterCredits
English I 3
Principles of Sociology 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring Semester
English II 3
Sociology Elective 3
Elective 3-4
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits15-16
Second Year
Fall Semester
Sociology Elective 3
Elective 3-4
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits15-16
Spring Semester
Sociology Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits60-62

Please note: The BA in Sociology program at Quinnipiac University requires the completion of an internship. Students transferring in their junior year should expect to take the pre-internship course (SO 205) in the fall of their junior year, then can complete their internship in any subsequent semester.

 Shown below is one of many possible paths through the curriculum. Each student's individual academic plan is crafted in consultation with their academic adviser.

First Year
Milestones: Earn 30 credits, meet with your adviser at least once a semester and have a GPA of 2.00 or higher.
Fall Semester
SO 101Introduction to Sociology3
MA 110Contemporary Mathematics3
EN 101Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing3
FYS 101First-Year Seminar3
University Curriculum course3
Spring Semester
SO 225Social Problems3
EN 102Academic Writing and Research3
University Curriculum course4
University Curriculum course3
Open Elective3
Second Year
Milestones: Earn 60 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Meet with your adviser at least once per semester to discuss academic, experiential learning, career and co-curricular opportunities.
Fall Semester
SO 244Race, Gender and Class: Social Inequalities3
SO 290Research Methods3
SO Elective at the 200 level3
Language at the 101 level3
Open Elective3
Spring Semester
SO 382Studying Social Issues with Statistics3
SO Elective at the 200 level3
Language at the 102 level (Satisfies CAS Language Requirement)3
University Curriculum course3
University Curriculum course3
Third Year
Milestones: Earn 90 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Meet with your adviser at least once per semester. Participate in study abroad, complete internship or research opportunities.
Fall Semester
SO Elective at the 200 level3
SO Elective at the 200 level3
SO Elective at the 300 level3
SO 205From College to Career1
University Curriculum course3
University Curriculum course3
Spring Semester
SO 392Internship in the Community3
SO Elective 3
University Curriculum course3
University Curriculum course3
Open Elective3
Fourth Year
Milestones: Earn 120 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher. Complete possible minor or double major and prepare for graduation.
Fall Semester
SO 400Senior Seminar3
SO Elective 3
University Curriculum course3
Open Elective3
Open Elective3
Spring Semester
SO Elective3
University Curriculum course3
University Curriculum course3
Open Elective3
Open Elective1
Total Credits120