According to the American Sociological Association (ASA), sociology can be defined as follows:
- Sociology is the study of society.
- Sociology is the social science focused on studying the social lives of people, groups and societies.
- Sociology examines our behavior as social beings, covering everything from analyzing brief contacts between anonymous individuals to the investigation of social processes on a global scale.
- Sociology is the scientific study of social aggregations, the entities human beings traverse throughout their lives.
- Sociology is the overarching unification of all studies of humankind, including history, psychology and economics.
Degree
A.A., Sociology Transfer Pathway – 60 credits
The Sociology Transfer Pathway A.A. offers students a powerful option: the opportunity to complete an Associate of Arts degree with course credits that directly transfer to designated Sociology bachelor’s degree programs at Minnesota State Universities. The curriculum has been specifically designed so that students completing the pathway degree and transferring to one of the seven Minnesota State Universities* enter the university with junior-year status. All courses in the Transfer Pathway associate degree will directly transfer and apply to the designated bachelor's degree programs in a related field.
The Sociology Pathway consists of the Required Pathway Curriculum, the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC), and the Health and Physical Fitness Requirement, to bring your credit total to 60 credits.
* Universities within the Minnesota State system include Bemidji State University; Metropolitan State University; Minnesota State University, Mankato; Minnesota State University Moorhead; Southwest Minnesota State University; St. Cloud State University; and Winona State University.
Coursework Program Planning GuideRequired Sociology Pathway Curriculum – 10 Credits
The courses below must be completed successfully according to the university's grade standards AND address the required outcomes in the transfer pathway for Sociology. Sociology courses beyond the requirements are not guaranteed to transfer into a Sociology major at a Minnesota State university; however, they may be taken to fulfill college and university electives
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Introduction to Sociology - 4 credits | ||
SOC 1100 | Introduction to Sociology (Goal 5, 9) | 4 cr |
Organizations and Institution - 3 credits | ||
SOC 1130 | Family and Society (Goal 5, 7) | 3 cr |
Sociology Elective: Social Inequality and Stratification - 3 credits
Choose one of the following courses: |
||
SOC 1127 | Social Inequalities: Race Class & Gender (Goal 5, 7) | |
SOC 1145 | Gender in Society (Goal 5,7) | |
SOC 2010 | Sociology of Genocide (Goal 5, 9) |
Electives - 18 credits
Electives may be courses numbered 1000 level or higher from any discipline. This may include additional courses from Sociology or the MnTC. Examples of non-MnTC courses that may be taken include the following disciplines: ACCT, BUS, CS, CRDV, EDU, EMS, ENGR, HLTH, HSER, ITC, PA and PE.
Health/Physical Education - 2 credits
For a list of the requirements and courses, go to: inverhills.edu/MnTC
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Health | 1 cr | |
Physical Education | 1 cr |
Additional General Education Requirements – 30 credits
The Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) requires a minimum of 40 credits, some of which will be satisfied by the required pathway curriculum. You must complete the MnTC courses that are specifically designated below. You may choose the other courses from each goal area from the list located at: inverhills.edu/MnTC
To streamline your degree, you are encouraged to choose MnTC Goal 1-6 courses that also meet MnTC Goal areas 7-10.
Goal | Description | Credits |
---|---|---|
Goal 1 | Communication
|
3 courses |
Goal 2 | Critical Thinking
|
|
Goal 3 | Natural Science (1 course must include lab)
|
2 courses |
Goal 4 | Mathematical/Logical Reasoning
|
1 courses |
Goal 5 | History/Social Sciences/Behavioral Sciences
|
3 courses |
Goal 6 | Humanities/Fine Arts/Literature
|
3 courses |
Goal 7 | Human Diversity
|
|
Goal 8 | Global Perspective
|
1 course |
Goal 9 | Ethical and Civic Responsibility
|
|
Goal 10 | People and the Environment
|
1 course |
Total Credits: | 30 |
Recommended Full-Time Course Of Study
Note: Not all courses will be available every semester. For a complete list of Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) Goal Area course choices, please visit: www.inverhills.edu/MnTC
Semester 1 - 15-16 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
First Year Experience Course (Goal 2) | 1-2 cr | |
SOC 1100 | Introduction to Sociology (Goal 5, 9)* | 4 cr |
ENG 1108 | Writing & Research Skills (Goal 1a, 2) | 4 cr |
COMM 1100 OR COMM 1110 OR COMM 2230 |
Interpersonal Communication (Goal 1, 7) OR Public Speaking (Goal 1, 2) OR Small Group Communication (Goal 1, 2) |
3 cr |
MnTC Goal 6a | 3 cr | |
Total Credits: | 15-16 |
Semester 2 - 15 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SOC 1130 | Family and Society (Goal 5, 7)* | 3 cr |
ENG 1111 OR
ENG 1114 OR ENG 1130 |
Research Writing (Goal 1b) OR
The Research Paper OR Writing & Research for the Professions |
2-3 cr |
MnTC Goal 4 | MATH 1103 recommended | 3-4 cr |
MnTC Goal 6b | 3 cr | |
MnTC Goal 81 | 3 cr | |
Total Credits: | 15 |
Semester 3 - 15 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SOC Elective * | 3 cr | |
MnTC Goal 3a | 3 cr | |
MnTC Goal 6c | 3 cr | |
MnTC Goal 101 | 3 cr | |
General Electives2 | 3 cr | |
Total Credits: | 15 |
Semester 4 - 14-15 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MnTC Goal 3b | 3-4 cr | |
MnTC Goal 5 (non-SOC) course | 3-4 cr | |
HLTH 1155 | Lifetime Fitness and Wellness (Health/PE) | 2 cr |
General Electives2 | 6-7 cr | |
Total Credits: | 14-15 |
*Course required for major
1 These credits may be taken as electives if Goal Areas 8 and 10 are completed as part of another course.
2 Electives may be 1000 level courses from any discipline, including additional MnTC Courses.
Examples of non-MnTC courses that may be taken include the following disciplines: ACCT, BUS, CS, CRDV, EDU, EMS,
ENG, HLTH, HSER, ITC, PA and PE.
Recommended Part-Time Course Of Study
Note: Not all courses will be available every semester. For a complete list of Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) Goal Area course choices, please visit: www.inverhills.edu/MnTC
Semester 1 - 9-10 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
First Year Experience course (Goal 2) | 1-2 cr | |
SOC 1100 | Introduction to Sociology (Goal 5, 9)* | 4 cr |
ENG 1108 | Writing & Research Skills (Goal 1a, 2) | 4 cr |
Total Credits: | 9-10 |
Semester 2 - 9 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SOC 1130 | Family and Society (Goal 5, 7)* | 1-2 cr |
ENG 1111 OR
ENG 1114 OR ENG 1130 |
Research Writing (Goal 1b) OR
The Research Paper OR Writing & Research for the Professions |
2-3 cr |
MnTC Goal 3a | 3-4 cr | |
Total Credits: | 9 |
Semester 3 - 9 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SOC Elective* | 3 cr | |
MnTC Goal 3b | 4 cr | |
HLTH 1155 | Lifetime Fitness and Wellness (Health/PE) | 2 |
Total Credits: | 9 |
Semester 4 - 9 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MnTC Goal 81 | 3 cr | |
MnTC Goal 6a | 3 cr | |
COMM 1100 OR COMM 1110 OR COMM 2230 |
Interpersonal Communication (Goal 1, 7) OR Public Speaking (Goal 1, 2) OR Small Group Communication (Goal 1, 2) |
3 cr |
Total Credits: | 9 |
Semester 5 - 9-10 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MnTC Goal 4 | MATH 1103 recommended | 3-4 cr |
MnTC Goal 6b | 3 cr | |
MnTC Goal 5 (non-SOC) course | 3 cr | |
Total Credits: | 9-10 |
Semester 6 - 9 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
MnTC Goal 101 | 3 cr | |
MnTC Goal 6c | 3 cr | |
General Electives2 | 3 cr | |
Total Credits: | 9 |
Semester 7 - 4-6 credits
Course Number | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
General Electives2 elective | 4-6 cr | |
Total Credits: | 4-6 |
*Course required for major
1 These credits may be taken as electives if Goal Areas 8 and 10 are completed as part of another course.
2Electives may be 1000 level courses from any discipline, including additional MnTC Courses. Examples of non-MnTC courses that may be taken include the following disciplines: ACCT, BUS, CS, CRDV, EDU, EMS, ENG, HLTH, HSER, ITC, PA and PE.