Minor in Sociology

Rana Abulbasal, Coordinator

The minor in sociology enables students to engage with the systematic study of society and human behavior. Students explore how social structures, cultural norms and institutional forces shape individuals and communities across local and global contexts. The program introduces students to key sociological theories, concepts and research methods while encouraging critical reflection on issues such as inequality, power, gender, environment and social change.

Students enrolling in the sociology minor should have normally completed a minimum of 30 credits of course work and be in good academic standing.

Students seeking a minor in sociology must successfully complete the following requirements:

• a minimum of 12 credit hours including:
  • three credit hours of minor requirements
  • a minimum of nine credit hours of minor electives
• a minimum of six credit hours of the 12 credit hours required for the minor successfully completed in residence at AUS
• a minimum of six credit hours of the courses for the minor at or above the 300 level successfully completed in residence at AUS
• a minimum GPA of 2.00 in courses completed to satisfy the minor

Courses used to satisfy the student’s degree program’s graduation requirements can be used towards meeting the requirements of the minor as follows:

• Courses used to satisfy the requirements of the minor do not double count towards meeting the core requirements, major requirements, major electives, concentration requirements, concentration electives or general education requirements of the student’s degree program graduation requirements.
• Free elective courses can double count towards meeting the minor’s required and elective courses.

Students pursuing two minors must meet the requirements of both minors. Courses used to satisfy the requirements of one minor can double count towards satisfying the requirements of the second minor provided that, at a minimum, 12 credit hours are not double counting.

Minor Requirements | 3 credit hours

Students must successfully complete one of the following courses:

• SOC 201 Introduction to Sociology
• SOC 203 Social Problems and Inequality

Minor Electives | minimum of 9 credit hours

Students must successfully complete a minimum of nine credit hours selected from the following:

• INS 420 Social Theory
• SOC 302 Environmental Sociology
• SOC 320 East Asian Societies
• SOC 370 Women’s Empowerment and International Development
• SOC 380 Urban Sociology
• any approved special topic courses in sociology or related fields at the 300 level or above. Consult the online course catalog or the online class schedule accessible via the AUS student information system to verify course classifications.