Double Major Options

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The sociology program pairs well with a host of other majors on campus. You do not have to go over 120 hours to complete two majors at the same time! Why double major?

  • Expand your career options
  • Finish both degrees in 120 credits
  • No need for a minor

Consider the following programs as a way of boosting your marketability as you look for a job!

Sociology-Gerontology double major

The sociology-gerontology double major is especially good for students who want a broad sociological experience but are considering work in the field of gerontology. Sociologists work in a range of human services, social research, and advocacy while gerontologists emphasize work and research related to aging in the world today. The great thing about this double major is that you can complete both programs in 120 hours and you do NOT need a minor!

Here is one way to configure these programs to be completed in four years and just 120 credits hours:

Sociology (33 hours)

  • General Requirements (18 hours)
    • SOC 150 Introduction to Society
    • SOC 301 Research Methods
    • SOC 302 Statistics for Social Research
    • SOC 325 Introduction to Sociological Theory
    • SOC 398 Public Sociology & Community Studies
    • SOC 492 Program Assessment and Career Prep
  • Cultural Competence (3 hours)
    • SOC 375 Social Forces & Aging (also fulfills a GER requirement)
  • Community Engagement (3 hours)
    • Fulfilled by GER 598
  • SOC 341 Medical Sociology (counts toward the GER Health Sciences course requirement)
  • (9) additional hours of sociology electives

Gerontology (33-36 hours)

  • Core Requirements (12 hours)
    • BMS 260 Introduction to Aging
    • GER 480 Policies and Older Adults
    • GER 470 Community Resources for Older Adults
    • GER 350 Psychology of Adulthood and Aging
  • Communications Skills (3 hours)
    • COM 390 Communication & Aging
  • Health Related Course (requirement covered by SOC 341)
  • Practicum (9-12 hours)
    • GER 598 Supervised Practicum (6-12 hours)
    • GER 599 Seminar in Gerontology
  • (9) hours of gerontology electives

Sociology-Psychology double major

The sociology-psychology double major is designed for students who plan to work in fields where "people skills" are important or for students who just want a better understanding of why people do what they do. Whether you plan to work in counseling, social services, or management, a double major in sociology and psychology will give you a more holistic understanding people in context. It is also good for students who plan to attend graduate school in either sociology or psychology. Two psychology courses count toward the sociology major: PSY 200 (Psychological Statistical Methods) and PSY 359 (Theories of Social Psychology).

Here is one way to configure these programs to be completed in four years and just 120 credits hours:

Sociology (30 hours)

  • General Requirements (15 hours)
    • SOC 150 Introduction to Society
    • SOC 301 Research Methodology
    • SOC 325 Introduction to Sociological Theory
    • SOC 398 Public Sociology & Community Studies
    • SOC 492 Professional Development and Leadership (3)
  • Cultural Competence (3 hours)
    • SOC 336 Race and Ethnicity or SOC 337 Sociology of Gender or SOC 420 Social Inequality or SOC 375 Social Forces and Aging
  • Community Engagement (3 hours)
    • SOC 152 Social Problems in the Community or SOC 499 (Applied Internship)
  • (9) additional hours of sociology electives

Psychology (34 hours)

  • Required Core (13 hours)
    • PSY 121 Introductory Psychology
    • PSY 150 Introduction to the Psychology Major (1)
    • PSY 200 Psychological Statistical Methods
    • PSY 302 Experimental Psychology
    • PSY 411 Psychology of Diverse Populations
  • Developmental (3 hours)
    • PSY 331 Psychology of Childhood or PSY 350 Psychology of Adulthood or PSY 370 Mental Health and Aging or PSY 441 Psychology of Adolescence
  • Learning and Cognition (3 hours)
    • PSY 306 Learning Processes or PSY 422 Memory and Cognition or PSY 523 Psychology and Language
  • Biological Processes (3 hours)
    • PSY 336 Ethology or PSY 506 Perception or PSY 521 Physiological Psychology or PSY 525 Motivation and Emotions
  • Applied (3 hours)
    • PSY 359 Theories of Social Psychology (counts as Sociology elective)
  • (9) hours of electives (six hours must be numbered 300 or higher)