Bachelor of Arts in Sociology Online
Develop insight into relevant sociological theories that allow you to positively impact your community. This online bachelor’s degree can be tailored to your professional interests by choosing from two in-demand specializations.
Apply By:
1/14/25
Program Overview
Explore relevant social issues in the online sociology bachelor's degree program
Enhance your ability to think critically and theoretically about complex social issues with the online Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. The 100% online coursework for this program focuses on developing your expertise as a writer and public speaker, as well as advancing your understanding of techniques for interpreting and evaluating information.
Expand your knowledge of social organization, structure, and institutions as you prepare for diverse career opportunities that directly impact your community. Designed to meet the needs of working professionals, this bachelor in sociology allows you to transfer up to 90 credit hours and to customize your education by choosing between specializations in Criminology & Justice or Social Service/Social Work.
As a graduate of this B.A. in Sociology online, you will be prepared to:
- Survey and critically analyze some of the most influential classical and contemporary sociological theories
- Apply sociological perspectives to professional experiences
- Explore how sociology uses qualitative research to document and critically analyze complex social issues and practices
- Survey and critically analyze some of the most influential classical and contemporary sociological theories
- Apply sociological perspectives to professional experiences
- Explore how sociology uses qualitative research to document and critically analyze complex social issues and practices
Career opportunities:
- Social Worker
- Human Resource Coordinator
- Paralegal
- Community Health Worker
- Market Research Analyst
- Diversity Manager
- Social Worker
- Human Resource Coordinator
- Paralegal
- Community Health Worker
- Market Research Analyst
- Diversity Manager
Also available:
The Mount has multiple undergraduate degree programs online. Explore our online bachelor’s degrees.
Per Credit Hour:
$324
Transfer Credits:
Up to 90
Credit Hours:
120
Tuition
Earn an exceptional education at an affordable rate
At the University of Mount Saint Vincent, we are committed to providing a high-quality education for less than you would expect. Tuition for the online sociology degree program is affordable and can easily fit into your budget.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.A. in Sociology | $324 | $972 | $38,520 |
Tuition Breakdown:
Per Credit Hour
$324
Calendar
Add these dates to your calendar
The online sociology bachelor's degree program is designed with working adults in mind. We offer multiple start dates and faster course completion time to help you earn your degree when it’s convenient for you.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/27/25 | 1/14/25 | 1/18/25 | 1/23/25 | 1/23/25 | 3/16/25 | 7 weeks |
| Spring 2 | 3/24/25 | 3/12/25 | 3/16/25 | 3/20/25 | 3/21/25 | 5/11/25 | 7 weeks |
Now Enrolling:
Next Apply Date
1/14/25
Start Class
1/27/25
Ready to take the next steps toward earning your online degree?
Admissions
Check the materials needed to apply to the B.A. in Sociology online program
The streamlined admission process at the University of Mount Saint Vincent makes it easier to apply and helps you start your academic journey faster. Please read the full admission requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.
- No ACT/SAT scores required
- Transfer up to 90 credit hours
- GPA of 2.0 or higher
You must meet the following requirements for admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology online program:
- Submit online application
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
- First time freshman must be out of high school for 2 years
Official transcripts and other documents should be sent from the granting institutions to our Office of Admissions:
Email address: [email protected]
Mail address:
Office of Admission
University of Mount Saint Vincent
6301 Riverdale Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10471
Courses
Investigate the curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology online
For the University of Mount Saint Vincent’s Bachelor of Arts in Sociology online, the curriculum comprises 40 courses for a total of 120 credit hours, including five sociology core courses.
SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an introduction to the nature and scope of the science of sociology. Emphasis on societies, social structure and institutions, social groups, and on various social processes associated with social organization, socialization, and social change.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Situate the human being in its interpersonal, social and cultural context (e.g. family, work, social framework)
- Discern the basic elements of the sociological approach: culture and structure and how they complement each other
- Be familiar with the processes of institutionalization, socialization and stratification
- Have a basic understanding of the sociological analysis of gender, ethnicity, religion, family, class, deviance etc.
SOC 307: Survey Research
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course will examine the scientific method both in terms of its abstract structure and the technical details required to carry out research. Special emphasis is placed on survey research design as well as the development of a research design to actually be applied in the SOC 416, Senior Seminar. Additionally, the class will be a survey class that also provides a comprehensive background of methodological knowledge.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand basic elements and principles of quantitative data sets (primary and secondary)
- Basic analytical techniques commonly used for quantitative data in Sociology and Public Policy
- Role of research in Science and Ethical Conduct of Inquiry
SOC 313: Qualitative Research Methods
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will explore how Sociology uses qualitative research to document and critically analyze complex social issues and practices. The course will emphasize the practical skills necessary to conduct a small fieldwork project. Some of the methods taught will include direct observation, ethnography, interviews, and focus groups. Students will also learn to analyze qualitative data such as field notes, interview transcripts, journals, letters, and photographs.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Possess the knowledge of a wide range of qualitative research methods, interview, focus group, observation, and content analysis
- Apply concepts to research projects
- Understand the skills required to initiate, conduct, write up and present a small project
- Apply qualitative research methods to a diverse array of interdisciplinary and extra-institutional projects
- Conduct the pre-field work exploratory research and literature reviews required for project proposal
- Articulate verbally ideas and concepts learned from other researchers and their research
- Learn about ethics in research
- Apply ethical guidelines from the Anthropological Association and consent form from the IRB committee
SOC 324: Sociological Theories
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a survey and critical analysis of the most influential classical and contemporary sociological theories. Class readings include the work of Durkheim, Marx, Weber, Freud, and Simmel, as well as that of key figures within the theoretical perspectives of Symbolic Interactionism, Feminism, Critical Theory, and Postmodernism.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Do a close and comprehensive reading of major sociological theories
- Apply the work of a social theorist to the analysis of a film
- Put the analyses of the major theorists in your own clearly-written and well-organized words
SOC 416: Seminar in Sociology
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The focus of this course is on a student’s development of a research paper that permits application of theoretical and methodological principles, and a presentation of their research to department majors.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Practice analytic skills such as statistical analysis of data and/or exegesis of ethnographic data; linking theoretical problems to data
- Acquire framework for engaging normative and ethical questions-collaborating with peers to facilitate project completion
- Apply knowledge and skills towards completion of their 25-page analysis
SOC 309: Criminology
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is a sociological examination and analysis of crime and theories of crime causation. Topics also include the extent of crime, types of crimes, indices of crime, and societal responses to crime.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Develop skills to identify issues, understand alternative views, interpret and draw inferences from data sources, and apply an integrative approach in writing and oral sharing of understanding for real life application
- Be able to evaluate and properly cite reliable sources of information to support ideas and opinions about issues
- Develop awareness of ethical and moral dimensions of crime and victimization
SOC 310: Sociology of Deviance
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Use sociological theory and research to understand deviance—its causes and its consequences—and the institutions of social control that attempt to keep it in check. Special focus on deviant subcultures, countercultures, and the relationship of rule-breaking to social movements.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Read, decode, and critically analyze course texts
- Apply these theories to various texts: documentary film, an ethnography, popular culture representation of deviant behavior
- Craft a detailed research proposal
SOC 369: Current Controversies in Crime and Justice
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Current and controversial issues in crime and justice will be explored and analyzed in this course. The topics will be debated in a classroom setting that will combine traditional lectures with student presentations and full class discussions.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze evidence and arguments from alternative viewpoints
- Understand basics of conflict resolution
- Understand how to formulate policy recommendations from applied setting
SOC 361: Foundations of Justice
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An analysis of the organizational and human dimensions of agencies in the administration of justice, with emphasis on the nature of law enforcement, the court system and its processes, as well as prisons and rehabilitation agencies.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Critically understand relationships regarding central components of the criminal justice system
- Be able to convey a clear understanding of issues orally and in writing
- Assess data and information pertaining to systemic practice and policy
- Be aware of ethical/moral dimension of citizen rights and enforcement of laws
SOC 364: Law and Society
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is an exploration of the development of legal systems in different societies. Criminal law in the United States will be discussed within the context of social and political influences on its making, administration and enforcement. An underlying question to be examined: “Is law an effective form of social control?”
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand basic processes of law from precept to concrete application
- Understand the role of ambiguity in law, based on diversity of human activity as well as social context
- Develop literacy and communicative skills
- Learn the methods of scientific reporting
SOC 312: Social Work Practice
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students will be introduced to the theories used in social work practice. Issues such as helping people in crisis will also be discussed. The focus will be on generalist practice and the different roles and methods social workers use in working with groups and communities.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the different client systems and the environmental factors that impact a client’s development and potential for growth
- Assess client’s strengths, needs, psychosocial stressors and current functioning in the context of a biopsychosocial assessment.
- Have a primary understanding of evidence based treatment interventions including motivational interviewing
- Understand the dynamic role of a social worker across varied professional settings and familiarity with social work core competencies
- Understand the stages of assessment in clinical practice including engagement, assessment, problem formulation, intervention, and termination
SOC 321: Social Policy
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The course introduces students to some of the major policy initiatives and programs in the U.S. and beyond and encourages them to think about major conflicts and debates in social welfare today in 21st century priority practice areas like disability, welfare, hunger, healthcare, education, employment, services for children and elders, mental health, and substance abuse through the lenses of diversity in practice, human rights, and justice. There is a strong focus in the class on antipoverty policy.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to apply social psychological principles, concepts, & theories
- Communicate effectively through writing
- Demonstrate knowledge of processes that lead to prejudice and discrimination
- Demonstrate understanding of how social psychological principles may vary across cultures
- Demonstrate competence in evaluating how empirical evidence is used to determine validity of social psychological theories and concepts
SOC 323: Introduction to Social Work
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The foundation of social work as a profession, its historical and philosophical development, its social purpose, value assumptions and theoretical base. A review of the current methodologies for social work practice. Case studies, analyses of programs, policies and issues.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the history of social work
- Knowledge behind the dynamic role of a social worker across varied professional settings and familiarity with social work core competencies
SOC 375: Internship Program
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students work in agencies related to their prospective careers (e.g., legal services, urban planning, polling bureaus, corrections, probation offices, counseling centers, social work agencies, etc.). Students should obtain the permission of their advisor before registering for an internship and then register through the Career Services/Internships office. Six credits of internship are permitted: three credits will count for sociology concentration major credit (SOC 375) and the other three for sociology elective credit (SOC 475).
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain, reflect, and critique elements of the internship experience
- Perform internship duties & develop professional skills
- Understand the role of research in Science and Ethical Conduct of Inquiry
SOC 302: Race and Ethnicity
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the history of racial and ethnic relations in the United States analyzed in terms of sociological theories, concepts, and research findings. The course is a critical study of patterns of intergroup relations including conflicts, discrimination, and ethnic and racial identity formation.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Decode and analyze course texts in writing; think historically and critically about socially constructed categories of race and ethnicity and layout the terms of the most relevant intellectual debates
- Write and deliver incisive, historically and theoretically sophisticated analyses
- Write and speak in an engaged, creative, and inquisitive manner about what’s interesting, important, or controversial in class readings
- Research a contemporary case and analyze it through the lens of one or more class concepts
SOC 311: Individual in Society
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course focuses on the influence of social structure, social processes and social change on individual attitudes and behavior. Topics include socialization and the development of self, attitude, organization and change, social influence processes and social power, group structure and processes, and the effects of variables such as ethnicity, class, and religion on personality behavior.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze key concepts regarding self and social structure
- Understand how to identify and describe a specific context of interaction between individual and society
- Assess how to potentially manipulate inequities between the individual and society
SOC 327: Power and Conflict
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course examines the nature of political power and the dynamics of change in the United States and around the world. It will examine theories of distribution of political power, devices used by different groups to influence social change, and alternative modes for the distribution of political power. Special emphasis will be given to the role of social movements in political and social structures
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the central sociological theories of power and resistance
- Decode complex texts and write clearly about each one and about several in relation to one another
- Apply theories of power, resistance, and ideology to the case of a social movement in a work of secondary research
SOC 331: Sociology of Organizations and Work
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Many spheres of human activity are dominated by organizational life. This course surveys complex organizations. Among the topics discussed are: organizational structure and types of organizations; organizations and technological change; organizational culture; informal processes within organizations; and how organizations interact with their environment.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Develop intermediate competency for understanding core topics associated with the study of organizations such as: bureaucracy, power, conflict, rationality, authority, work, and technology
- Explore diverse frameworks for engaging normative and ethical questions
SOC 475: Internship Program
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Students work in agencies related to their prospective careers (e.g., legal services, urban planning, polling bureaus, corrections, probation offices, counseling centers, social work agencies, etc.). Students should obtain the permission of their advisor before registering for an internship and then register through the Career Services/Internships office. Six credits of internship are permitted: three credits will count for sociology concentration major credit (SOC 375) and the other three for sociology elective credit (SOC 475).
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain, reflect, and critique elements of the internship experience
- Perform internship duties & develop professional skills
A Leader in Social Mobility
Ranked #1 in “Top Performers on Social Mobility” in U.S. News & World Report’s Regional Colleges in the North Rankings, 2025.
