Sociology

Sociology is the scientific study of human societies and human behavior in the many groups that make up a society. Sociology is concerned with the social lives of people, groups, and societies with special emphasis on social interaction, social relationships, and social structures. Sociology is also concerned with the study of social conditions with special emphasis on the three levels of analysis, namely the micro, middle, and macro. Pursuing AA-T in sociology will help students develop skills to apply theoretical approaches to research problems, translate theory into action, and evaluate ideas/theories/evidence. Students will have an understanding component of complex issues and human relationships and discover privilege, prejudice, and discrimination and identify cultural /social concerns. This degree will prepare students to present alternative explanations, articulate by defending a position and convey complex information and ideas. The sociology major provides valuable background for those students’ planning careers in criminology, demography, gerontology, market research, law, business, medicine, and politics. In many professional programs in human services, courses in sociology are part of the required training. Sociologists with graduate degrees may teach at the high school, college, or graduate levels. They may also become research sociologists in the public and private sectors and work in public policy, the law, and international studies. Although many sociology students pursue graduate or professional schools after completing a bachelor’s degree, the AA-T is a stepping stone to many career possibilities. Applied sociologists may work with social service agencies and community programs on behalf of others, including underrepresented or neglected populations. Some career options are eligibility worker, probation counselor, group counselor, caseworker, affirmative action representative, probation/parole officer, and community organizer/advocate/activist. Upon successful completion of the AA-T in Sociology, students are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major. Students transferring to a CSU campus that does accept this degree will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor's degree. The AA-T may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. Also, completing the AA-T in sociology will meet the UC Sociology Transfer Pathway requirements. The associate degree for transfer AA-T requires completion and certification of the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (CalGETC ) as well as the specific AA-T major degree requirements. Students should work with a counselor to identify major coursework that can be used to fulfill CalGETC categories and for more information on college-specific transfer program requirements. Pursuant to SB1440, section 66746, a student must complete the following requirements in order to earn an AA-T in Sociology: • Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of degree-applicable courses, • Minimum overall grade point average of 2.0, • Minimum grade of “C” (or “P”) for each course in the major, and • Completion of CalGETC certification