2019-2020

Sociology, Minor

Department of Sociology

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This minor addresses social organization and how such organization (family, group, nation, religion, etc.) affects behavior. This minor will also assist the student in developing critical skills, such as writing, analysis, and research.

  • A minor is earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree.

    To receive a minor (18 - 24 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. At least 12 units of the minor must be unique to that minor and not applied to any other minor.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

No more than fifty percent of the units used to satisfy minor requirements may be used to satisfy major requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 18

Purpose Statement

The minor program in Sociology provides students with an arena to explore the scientific study of society, beginning with foundational knowledge of major areas within sociology—such as, small group dynamics and inequities of race, class, and gender— following with specialized topics such as social justice, culture and community, environment, and health. This minor offers experience that is useful for students interested in careers such as law, business, marketing, communications, health sciences, social and government services. Students will sharpen their critical thinking skills in this minor, through writing, analysis, and research.

Student Learning Outcomes

By the time of graduation, sociology minors should be able to demonstrate understanding of the following:

1) Foundational sociological knowledge by:

  • Explaining sociology as a discipline, including how it is a unique social science, how it contributes to a liberal arts education, and how the sociological imagination applies to reality;
  • Explaining the role of theory in sociology, including defining the major theories and their role in building sociological knowledge, comparing and contrasting them, explaining the context in which they were developed, applying them to social reality within a global context;
  • Applying basic concepts, such as culture, social change, socialization, stratification, social structure, institutions, and differentiations (e.g., race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality) and their theoretical interrelations to analyze social trends, conflicts, reciprocal relationships between individuals and society, and social policies; and
  • Evaluating the internal diversity of the United States and its place in the global context.

2) Critical use of scientific methods to develop empirical explanations of social phenomena by analyzing and evaluating data to inform the explanation of the phenomenon being studied.

Minor Requirements

  • Take the following 18 units:

    • SOC 101 (3 units)
    • Other sociology coursework with advisor's guidance (15 units)

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.