Program Description

Sociology is the scientific or systematic study of human groups and societies and patterns of interaction in real life settings. It uses a variety of research and theoretical perspectives to analyze and explain human social behavior and social change. As all human behavior is essentially social, sociology students examine a wide range of human interactions.

Foothill College's sociology program includes a range of courses that analyze sociological topics and enable students to develop and apply a "sociological imagination" or the ability to examine the broader connections between personal life, public issues and the social structure. Sociology, with its extensive scope of subject matter, provides a valuable major for a diverse range of career paths.

The Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer Degree (AA-T) is designed to prepare students to transfer to local California State Universities (CSUs). Students who complete the Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer Degree will be ensured preferential transfer status to local CSUs for sociology majors and majors in related disciplines. The AA-T degree requirements will fulfill the lower division major requirements at many local CSUs. Students are advised, however, to meet with a counselor to assess the course requirements for specific local CSUs and to validate which CSUs are considered local. The AA-T degree will enable students to develop a strong foundation in social research methods, and understanding patterns of inter-personal behavior, and will also offer a wide variety of electives in sociology courses for students to develop a broad knowledge base of human social behavior. In addition, students will develop strong critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills that will prepare them for the requirements of upper division course work.

Learn more about the program on the Sociology website.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the core concepts of sociology: social structure, culture, social stratification and inequality, race, ethnicity, gender and globalization.
• Students will be able to apply their understanding of sociology to their professional, personal and civic lives.

Units Required

• Major: 27-28

Associate Degree Requirements

Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer requires completion of a minimum of 90 units to include:

• CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)¹ (49-58 units) (full certification is required)
• Core and support courses (26-28 units², of which 18-24 units may satisfy the GE requirement)
• Transferable electives necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement

1	Important Note: Although it is possible to fulfill the requirements for the Associate Degree for Transfer by completing the IGETC for UC pattern, admission to CSU requires completion of an Oral Communication course (IGETC Area 1C; CSU GE Area A-1); therefore, students who plan to transfer to CSU should complete this course as part of their GE or elective units.
2	Note that a minimum of 27 units must be completed for the major.

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be completed with a grade of "C" (or "P") or better. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Core and Support Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Core Courses
SOC 1	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY	5
or SOC 1H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
And select two courses each from List A and List B:		17-18
List A
PSYC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or SOC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or MATH 10	ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
or MATH 17	INTEGRATED STATISTICS II
PSYC 10	RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
or SOC 10	RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
SOC 20	MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS
List B
MATH 10	ELEMENTARY STATISTICS 1
or MATH 17	INTEGRATED STATISTICS II
PSYC 10	RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS 1
or SOC 10	RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
SOC 14	SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME
SOC 20	MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS 1
SOC 23	RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS
SOC 28	SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER
SOC 30	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
or PSYC 30	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOC 40	ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY
Support Courses
Select one course from the following:		4-5
ANTH 2A	CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
or ANTH 2AH	HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ECON 25	THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
GEOG 2	HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
PHIL 1	CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING
PSYC 1	GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
or PSYC 1H	HONORS GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 49	HUMAN SEXUALITY
SOC 45	SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITY
Total Units		26-28

1	May be used to satisfy List B if not completed as part of List A.