Sociology majors on the BGSU Ohio campus examine local, national, and global population data to examine changes, causes, and consequences.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Minor 

Sociology

The BGSU sociology major or minor provides an essential foundation for understanding the society we live in, and how our relationships with people and institutions affect wide-ranging outcomes from family formation to immigration, cohabitation, crime, as well as various inequalities, such as racial, gender, and socioeconomic.

Sociologists focus on social issues such as poverty, segregation, housing and employment, crime and punishment, population changes, social justice, and human interaction with the environment. 

Sociology has practical applications in business, governments and nonprofits, as well as academic institutions. The courses you will take to earn a major or minor in sociology provide a unique foundation for careers in law, human services, community organizing, and social policy and research.

Students in sociology are critical consumers of information. They have unique insight into human diversity and assessing social problems, making sociology a relevant pre-professional degree for a broad range of career fields.

High profile faculty and research

Sociology at BGSU is a nationally recognized program. Our faculty are nationally and internationally known and have received many awards and honors for their research. BGSU sociology students can gain research experience with distinguished faculty by conducting an independent project or participating in faculty research projects.

The BGSU Sociology Department houses two national research centers, the Center for Family and Demographic Research and the National Center for Family and Marriage Research, both of which are widely recognized for their outstanding contributions to social science. The centers provide critical resources that enhance student scholarship across multiple disciplines.

Sociology is also home to the state Attorney General’s Center for Justice Research, led by Dr. John Boman. The CJR provides funding to state researchers who address critical criminal justice policy efforts in Ohio.

The BGSU Sociology Department houses two national research centers widely recognized for their outstanding contributions to social science.

Career - what can you do with a sociology degree?

A BGSU major in sociology supplies many of the skills a 21st-century employee needs to tackle new problems throughout one’s career.  

Employers value research, critical thinking, and analytical skills across all realms of the economy. Sociology builds and hones these skills, which are essential for many areas of employment.   

Sociology is excellent preparation for a graduate degree or a pre-professional degree. Many of our recent sociology graduates have gone on to law, medical, and business schools.

Scholarships

Students may apply for three scholarships endowed by alumni, former faculty and other supporters of the Department of Sociology.

Career paths

  • Criminology
  • Criminal Justice
  • Health Care
  • Human Services
  • Public Administration
  • Population Analysis
  • Social Work
  • Policy Research

Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

View Average Salaries

Internships and Research Opportunities

Sociology internships may be completed in a range of fields, providing experiential learning and credentials. For example, internships were recently conducted in a social justice organization running a digital campaign on gentrification and as a human resources management intern in a grocery chain.  

Research experience provides students with the specialized skills needed to compete successfully in today’s job market. Sociology students obtain extracurricular experience conducting research as part of the BGSU CURS program, as well as working on grant-funded research with sociology faculty.

Curriculum

To ensure a basic foundation, all BGSU sociology degree students are required to take the introductory sociology course and at least one course in research methods, statistics, and social theory, as well as a Capstone course that integrates knowledge from all prior courses and allows students to produce a final research product.

Areas of Interest

Declaring an area of interest is optional. Sociology majors and minors with specific career aspirations may wish to focus their course selections in one of the following areas:

Criminology/Corrections

Our criminology courses introduce students to the causes and consequences of criminal behavior and how society deals with criminal offenders. Criminology is excellent preparation for careers in both the adult and juvenile justice systems, including police departments, court systems, and the probation and corrections networks within each, jails and prisons, or legal advocacy and non-profit organizations.

Family

Courses in family and social services help prepare students for careers in agencies responsible for the planning, delivery, and administration of services for family well-being, such as Child Protective Services or human services organizations. Courses explore how social variables, including gender, age, race, and class, impact family dynamics, and how those dynamics interact with other social institutions like schools or religion.

Population Studies

Students who are interested in the composition and health status of various populations, communities, and organizations will delve into diverse topics in this area, including health, population dynamics, environmental issues, and research methods. Coursework in this area of interest provides training for careers in business planning, local government and economic development, and health and non-profit organizations. Population analysts are employed in all levels of government and policy institutes such as the Census Bureau and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC).

Dr. Margaret Weinberger (left) director of Undergraduate Studies in sociology with students during a research poster review.

Sample courses

  • Race, Ethnicity & Inequality
  • Sociology of Gender
  • Social Psychology
  • Health and Society
  • Wealth, Power & Inequality
  • Alcohol, Drugs and Society
  • Environmental Sociology
  • Crime and Punishment

Alpha Kappa Delta - sociology honor society

Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) is the International Sociology Honor Society founded in 1920 at the University of Southern California by Dr. Emory S. Bogardus. The name, Alpha Kappa Delta, represents the first letters of three Greek words: anthropon (mankind), katamanthanein (to investigate thoroughly or to conduct research) and diakonesein (for the purpose of service). The name, freely interpreted, signifies the importance of social research for the purpose of service. There are more than 600 chapters of the AKD International Honor Society and more than 97,000 lifetime members.

BGSU Sociology Graduate Student Association

In order to foster our continuous growth as professionals, scholars, and community members, we, the graduate students of Bowling Green State University’s Department of Sociology, shall organize together and strive to provide training and opportunities above and beyond that which may be gained through standard seminar and assistantship experiences.

The organization works to strengthen the graduate student community through membership in a cohesive and inclusive organization; coordinates workshops, conferences, and various other activities that promote personal, academic and professional development; and encourages scholarly collaboration to promote the advancement of social science research.

Finding Your Voice in Social Justice Learning Community

In the Finding Your Voice in Social Justice Learning Community, you will learn about activating social change from university and community leaders and organizers. We will introduce you to campus resources and help you foster connections with other students, faculty, BGSU leaders, and community organizers.

We hope to create bridges between home and campus communities through these efforts, build connections among students, and connect students to resources available at BGSU. 

American Sociological Association

The American Sociological Association, founded in 1905, is the national professional membership association for sociologists and others who are interested in sociology. ASA’s mission is to serve sociologists in their work, advance sociology as a science and profession, and promote the contributions and use of sociology to society. ASA members include students, scholars, and teachers working in a full range of educational institutions and people employed in government agencies and nonprofit and private sector organizations.

Updated: 09/13/2024 09:38AM