College of Arts & Sciences

Sociology

120

Total hours

90%

of faculty have won research or teaching awards

$93k

Median salary for Sociologists

Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2021

Restart your search

Sociology is the study of human behaviors and the interaction between human groups and institutions. Sociologists take an in depth look at social inequalities (including race, gender, and class); the environment; cultural traditions; family relations; health care; globalization; politics and social movements; and crime and justice. At UK, sociology students encounter these topics in the academic classroom but are also encouraged to get involved in the field. We offer numerous opportunities for participation in internships, research, volunteering in the community, and study abroad.

Careers

Grow Your Future

A Sociology degree equips students with marketable skills, such as the ability to:

  • Understand group dynamics and diverse perspectives
  • Construct and dissect persuasive arguments
  • Collect, manage, and analyze complex forms of data
  • Communicate effectively through written and oral presentation

Sociology majors are prepared for entry level positions in health services, non-profit organizations, law, criminal justice, and human resources. The Sociology major is also excellent preparation for law school and for graduate study, not just in Sociology, but also fields such as Public Health, Criminology, Public Policy, and Education. One Sociology graduate even became President of the United States!

Career opportunities in Sociology

  • Crime analyst
  • Lawyer
  • Paralegal
  • Law clerk
  • Police officer
  • Probation officer
  • Domestic violence victim advocate
  • Social service case worker
  • Community organizer
  • Non-profit administration
  • Health care service administration
  • Human resource manager
  • Market researchers and advertiser
  • Teacher
  • Survey researcher
  • Data analyst
  • Professor

Classes & Requirements

What You'll Study

Sociology emphasizes the study of human behavior and basic social processes. Courses offered in the major cover a wide range of topics and issues, such as social inequalities, work, organizations, economy, globalization, family, community, environment, crime, and law and deviance. Students may also pursue special readings courses and experiential education placements or internships through the department. The sociology major provides excellent preparation for careers in a variety of occupations and professions, including planning and community development, law, public relations and advertising, personnel administration, private business and government administration, health and human services, family relations, criminal justice fields, and others.

 

Graduation Requirements

Any student earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree must complete a minimum of 39 hours at the 300+ level. These hours are generally completed by the major requirements. However, keep this hour requirement in mind as you choose your course work for the requirements in the major. Students interested in earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree must complete a minimum of 60 hours in biological, physical, mathematical and/or computer sciences. See the complete description of College requirements for a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences degrees in the Arts and Sciences section of the 2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog.

UK Core Requirements

  • The Nature of Inquiry in Arts and Creativity (3 hours)
  • The Nature of Inquiry in the Humanities (3 hours)
  • The Nature of Inquiry in the Social Sciences (3 hours)
  • The nature of Inquiry in the Natural, Physical and Mathematical Sciences (3 hours)
  • Composition and Communication I (3 hours)
  • Composition and Communication II (3 hours)
  • Quantitative Foundations (3 hours)
  • Statistical and Inferential Reasoning (3 hours)
  • Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA (3 hours)
  • Global Dynamics (3 hours)

Total Credit Hours - 30


Premajor Requirements 

  • Any two Sociology courses at the 100 or 200 level (including CLD 102) [6 hours]

Total Hours - 6

Major Requirements 

Core Requirements

  • SOC 302 - Sociological Research Methods [3 hours]
  • SOC 303 - Quantitative Sociological Analysis or PSY 216 - Applications of Statistics in Psychology [3-4 hours]
  • SOC 304 - Classical Sociological Theory [3 hours]

Other Course work from within the Department

  • Choose 18 hours of 300+ level Sociology courses, at leat 6 of which must be at 400+ level [18 hours]

Course work from outside the Department

  • Choose 15 hours outside of Sociology at the 300+ level. Maximum of 3 hours of 200+ level courses used to satisfy College requirement can also be counted here [15 hours]

Total Hours - 42


Sociology | Bachelor of Arts

B.A. Four Year Plan

Sociology | Bachelor of Science

B.S. Four Year Plan

Not Sure What You Want to Study?

Are you new to Undergraduate Studies and not sure where to begin? If so, we recommend starting with the Advising Syllabus. Need assistance "bouncing back" from academic probation? Visit our Rebound Page. Want to speak with an advisor about course registration, to find out about available resources for classes and major exploration, or just to check in? Schedule an Advising Appointment. How to Determine Academic Status


Imagine Your Future

Sociologists

Sociologists study society and social behavior.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.

Median Salary

$101,770

per year in 2023

Number of Jobs

3,300

in 2023

10 Year Job Outlook

100

new jobs (average)

Work Environment

Sociologists typically work full time during regular business hours.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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A&S Undecided/Exploratory Studies

Understanding that over 70 percent of university students will change their declared major at least once during their college careers, the College of Arts and Sciences has developed an Exploratory Studies program for students who have yet to decide the specific field of study that most closely aligns both their personal interests and their professional career goals and objectives. The Exploratory Studies Program provides students with an extraordinarily diverse educational environment that includes coursework spanning Math and Natural Sciences, Humanities, and Social Sciences and provides students with the unique opportunity to explore multiple areas of interest during their first several semesters on campus. For more information please contact a recruiting representative at asrecruting@uky.edu. 


Enhancing Your Time at UK

While there are endless ways to create an unforgettable journey as a Wildcat, we can only think of one that gives you the chance to step outside the classroom and into exploring new parts of the world around you: participating in an Education Abroad opportunity! Whether it’s in a study, research, service, or internship program, taking your UK experience international with EA is the most hands-on way for you to expand your global perspective while making yourself a more well-rounded, marketable candidate to future employers no matter your field. As you take these first steps towards investing in your future, EA encourages you to take advantage of all the opportunities UK has to offer. Take a look at some of the many suggested opportunities UK Education Abroad & Exchanges has to complement your major! #ukyabroad

 

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