Undergraduate Studies in Sociology
People. Patterns. Possibilities.
Sociology is the study of society--and how we can help change it. At CSU you'll explore some of the most urgent questions: How can communities address crime, injustice, and environmental challenges? Why does inequality persist? You'll examine topics such as law, social inequality, race, gender, environmental justice, crime, and the criminal legal system while learning how individuals, communities, and institutions influence one another.
Through coursework in research, data analysis, and social theory, you'll learn to investigate complex social problems, evaluate evidence, and develop informed solutions. Along the way, you’ll build practical skills in critical thinking, communication, research, and problem solving while preparing for careers in law and public policy, criminal legal systems and reform, environmental and sustainability work, research and data analysis, education, nonprofit and community organizations, social and human services, and many other fields. You'll be supported through our unique faculty and alumni mentoring program, find real-world experience through a variety of internships, and opportunities to conduct research with faculty.
Sociology Bachelor of Arts
The Sociology BA will help you understand how people live, interact, and change the world around them while allowing you to explore the social issues that matter most to you. You'll learn to examine complex questions, evaluate evidence, and understand how individuals, communities, and institutions influence the world around us.
You can pursue the General Sociology concentration or focus your studies through concentrations in Criminology and Criminal Justice or Environmental Sociology. With flexible course options and opportunities to create connections across concentrations, you'll build a degree that aligns with your interests and prepares you for a wide range of careers and graduate study.
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Examine crime, law, victimization, and justice to understand the social aspects and impacts of crime — especially as they relate to social inequalities — as well as the role of research in creating effective policy.
Environmental Sociology
Develop tools to critically examine how power, inequality, and policy shape natural resource use, environmental injustice, and food/agricultural systems — and to generate solutions to today’s most complex social and environmental challenges.
General Sociology
General Sociology
Explore how social institutions, culture, inequality, and human behavior impact the world around us. Through coursework spanning topics such as race, gender, environmental justice, deviance, and the criminal legal system, you'll build a broad foundation in sociological thinking, research, and analysis.
Why Study Sociology?
Sociology helps you understand how social systems shape everyday life while giving you the tools to address complex challenges facing communities around the world. You’ll move beyond textbooks through hands-on learning experiences that connect theory with practice, including community projects, applied research, internships, study abroad opportunities, and faculty-led scholarship.
Our students work closely with nationally recognized faculty mentors and participate in an alumni mentoring program that helps connect classroom learning to meaningful careers. Whether you’re interested in law and public policy, environmental challenges, sustainability, criminal justice reform, research, education, or social advocacy, you’ll graduate with the analytical skills and practical experience needed to make an impact.
Our faculty integrate teaching, research, and community engagement into every course, so you'll build valuable skills while tackling real social issues. Whether you're working on a group project with a local organization, analyzing survey data, or contributing to faculty-led research, your classroom experience will prepare you for life beyond graduation.
Careers
Sociology graduates build careers wherever understanding people, communities, organizations, and social systems matters. Whether you are interested in law and public policy, education, criminal legal systems, nonprofit leadership, environmental and sustainability work, research, or social advocacy, a sociology degree gives you practical skills in research, data analysis, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
A hallmark of the CSU Sociology experience is our faculty and alumni mentoring program. Through this multi-year program, students explore career paths, learn to build professional networks, and understand how to connect their interests and coursework to future opportunities. Internships, community-engaged learning, and professional development provide additional opportunities to gain real-world experience before graduation.
CSU sociology graduates pursue careers in education, law, public policy, criminal justice reform, nonprofit and community organizations, environmental and sustainability fields, food systems, research, business, and many other areas. They also leave well prepared for graduate or professional study.
Advising Information
Are you a current student who would like to learn more about adding or completing a Sociology major? Schedule an appointment with one of our dedicated Academic Success Coordinators by contacting the College of Liberal Arts Academic Support Center.
Next Steps
Are you interested in joining our community?