Selected Educational Outcomes

Students will:

  1. Analyze theories, methods, and core concepts of the discipline(s) they elect to study in the department.
  2. Apply theory and discipline-based perspectives to a variety of practice settings and real world problems.
  3. Develop oral and written skills required to communicate effectively with people and organizations representing diverse social and cultural backgrounds.
  4. Develop a professional identity as a sociologist or anthropologist.

Examples of Outcome Assessments

The Sociology and Anthropology major’s educational outcomes will be assessed using multiple strategies. Examples of these include the following:

  1. Sociology and Anthropology faculty will meet periodically to plan and assess achievement of student and program outcomes.
  2. The Senior Capstone experience will provide a basis for assessing written and oral presentation skills.
  3. A senior survey or exit interview will be conducted for all graduates.
  4. When available, university-wide data pertaining to the major or its graduates will be used for program assessment and improvement.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Sociology and Anthropology

Core Curriculum 60
Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum)42
Core Field of Study
Introduction to Anthropology
Introduction to Sociology
and Introduction to Social Problems
Foreign Language and Culture
If a student has taken any of the above courses to meet requirements in other areas of the Core Curriculum, credit hours must be taken from the following list of courses: CS 1000, ECON 1500, GEOG 1101 or GEOG 1102, MATH 2620, PHIL 2010, PSYC 1101
Senior College Curriculum60
Courses Required for the Major
SOCI 3000Social Statistics3
Foundation Areas (take one from each area)15
Theory
Anthropological Theory
Sociological Theory
Research Methods
Anthropological Research
Social Research Methods
Self, Society, and Culture
Culture and Personality
Cultural Anthropology
Mass Media and Popular Culture
Social Deviance
Social Psychology
Sociology of Queer and LGBT Communities
Social Inequalities
Africa: Inequalities Past and Present
Sociocultural Change
Race and Ethnic Relations
Social Stratification
Poverty and Social Welfare
Sociology of Gender
Social Institutions
Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft
Anthropology of Law
Sociology of Religion
Sociology of Sport
Medical Sociology
Family Sociology
Organizations and Work
Concentrations (choose from below)18
Anthropology Concentration
Applied and Clinical Sociology Concentration
General Electives24
At least 6 hours of coursework numbered 3000 or above must be taken in a single discipline outside the major.
Total hours required for the degree120

Anthropology Concentration

ANTH 3120Archaeology of Eastern North America3
or ANTH 3140 World Prehistory
ANTH 3040
ANTH 3170
Cultural Anthropology
and Language and Culture
6
ANTH 3010Biological Anthropology3
or CRJU 4110 Forensic Criminalistics
Electives
Select six hours from below:6
Biological Anthropology
Culture and Personality
Archaeological Techniques
Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft
Africa: Inequalities Past and Present
Indians of North America
Experimental Archaeology
Anthropology of Law
Sociocultural Change
Internship in Anthropology
Special Topics in Anthropology
Forensic Criminalistics
Senior Capstone
Total Hours18

Applied Sociology Concentration--Track One

SOCI 3200Applied Sociology3
SOCI 4800Issues in Sociological Practice (either course can be taken twice with different topics)6
or SOCI 4810 Issues in Sociological Practice
Foundation Area C, D, E elective3
SOCI 4540Internship in Sociology3
SOCI 4990Senior Capstone3
Total Hours18

Applied Sociology Concentration--Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track

The Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track is an undergraduate-to-graduate degree program. Students in this track will complete 9 graduate hours that will count toward the completion of the B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology. These 9 hours may then be applied toward the completion of degree requirements for the Master of Science in Sociology degree at Valdosta State University upon graduate admission. To be admitted, students must have completed at least 60 credit hours, have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, and must submit the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track application to the Undergraduate Sociology Coordinator. Once admitted, a specific course of study will be developed with the student's advisor. Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate will count toward the 120-hour graduation requirement but will not count toward the student's undergraduate GPA or the calculation of academic honors. Upon acceptance into the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track, students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing. Students who do not maintain good standing or who do not wish to continue with the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track may complete the remaining requirements for the B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology.

Students interested in continuing their graduate education may apply for admission to the M.S. in Sociology program in their senior year or upon completion of their undergraduate degree. Students in the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track will not be required to take additional admission tests but must meet all other graduate admission requirements. Students who have completed the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track will complete an additional 21 hours of graduate SOCI classes to meet the M.S. in Sociology degree requirement of 30 hours. Upon application to the Graduate School, students who have made a "C" or less in any of their graduate courses taken as undergraduates will be subject to the M.S. in Sociology Special Retention Policy regarding deficiency points.

SOCI 3200Applied Sociology3
Three SOCI courses at the 5000- to 8000-level (excluding SOCI 7800)9
SOCI 4540Internship in Sociology3
SOCI 4990Senior Capstone3
Total Hours18

Additional Department Requirement

The grade in each SOCI or ANTH course taken for the major must be a “C” or better.