A Guide for Community College Students
A 2 + 2 Plan
Leading
to a Bachelor of Arts or
Bachelor of Science
Degree in Sociology
All degree
requirements are subject to the provisions and notices in the Undergraduate
Catalog. Information
is valid through August 2010.
B.A. or B.S. Degree in Sociology
What Is Sociology?
Sociology is the study of society. Generally, sociologists study groups,
organizations, and cultures, and how individuals function within them. Some
aspects of sociology focus on specific areas of societal concern, such as
crime and criminal justice, health care, or aging. After graduation,
sociology majors take jobs in business, social services, criminal justice,
health care, community service, and other fields, or continue their
educations in graduate school or law school.
Sociology At NIU
Distinguished Faculty. All of our permanent faculty members have
earned the Ph.D. degree, and many have national reputations in their fields
of specialization.
Good Teachers. When recruiting faculty members, we have paid
particular attention to faculty candidates' records of (or potential for)
superior teaching. As a result, our faculty includes an unusually high
proportion of truly excellent teachers.
Modest Class Sizes. Our 100- and 200-level courses are usually
taught in sections of 50-55 students, and our upper-division courses
typically have 40-45 students in each section.
Writing Across the Curriculum. Every sociology class is required
to have some sort of writing requirement. These may include essay exams,
book reviews, journals, term papers, or other assignments. We believe it is
important for our graduates to be able to communicate effectively in
writing. All majors also take at
least 6 credit hours at the 400-level, where they complete a culminating
experience that combines theory, methods, and writing.
Advising. The Department of Sociology maintains its own staff of advisers to help students plan their courses of study,
clarify graduation requirements, and deal with unusual problems or
circumstances.
Computer Lab. The SOCQRL (Sociology Quantitative Research
Laboratory) has over 20 networked computers with many useful software
applications B
WordPerfect, SAS, SPSS,
Netscape Communicator, and others. The lab is dedicated to use by sociology
students and faculty, and is staffed by graduate assistants familiar with
both the software and the computer assignments given by various faculty
members. As a result, the quality of assistance available is greater than
is typical of most general-access computer labs.
Decisions, Decisions
As a student, you need to decide whether to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or
a Bachelor of Science degree.
Students who have strengths in studying foreign languages usually
pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree, while those whose strengths are greater
in math and computer science typically pursue a Bachelor of Science degree.
In consultation with a department advisor, you can plan your course of
study from the full range of courses offered by the department, based on
your interests and career goals.
How Do I Get In?
Due to the number of interested students, sociology at Northern is a
limited admissions major. To declare a major in
sociology, you must have a GPA of 2.00 or better, and must have completed
each of the following NIU courses (or their community college equivalents)
with a grade of C or better: ENGL
104 or ENGL 105, SOCI 170,
SOCI 280, and STAT 208 (for
B.A. students) or MATH 206, MATH 210, MATH
229, or STAT 301 (for B.S.
students). Although it is possible to declare a Apre-sociology@
major, you are encouraged to fulfill these requirements as soon as
possible.
What Courses Should I Be Taking Now?
If you are planning to complete a B.A. at Northern, you should take the
equivalents of NIU's ENGL 104,
SOCI 170, and STAT 208 at your
community college, as well as the foreign language sequence. If you are
planning to complete the B.S., you should take the equivalents of ENGL 104, SOCI 170, MATH
210, and MATH 211 at your
community college. SOCI 288 (Criminology) is now SOCI 381; and SOCI 289
(The Criminal Justice System) is now SOCI 383. Your adviser can check the Articulation
Handbook to identify the appropriate courses for you. Be sure to save your course syllabi.
Where Can I Get More Information?
Your community college adviser can advise you further on appropriate
courses to take at your community college. Your adviser also has the NIU Articulation
Handbook, which identifies comparable courses at NIU and your community
college.
For more information about sociology at NIU, call the director of
undergraduate studies or the department chair at (815) 753-0365, visit our
home page (www.sociology.niu.edu), send a fax to us at (815)
753-6302, or write us:
Department of Sociology
Northern Illinois
University
DeKalb, Illinois
60115-2891
For a current NIU Undergraduate Catalog and application materials,
contact:
Office of Admissions
Northern Illinois
University
DeKalb, Illinois
60115-2857
(800) 892-3050 (toll-free in Illinois)
or
(815) 753-0446
www.niu.edu/admissions
Suggested Semester Plans
Following is a generic 2+2 plan for a B.A. or B.S. in sociology. You
will need to consult an adviser about the specific electives to take to be
sure all graduation requirements are being met.
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Fall
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Spring
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ENGL
103
|
3
|
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ENGL
104
|
3
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SOCI 170
|
3
|
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SOCI Elective
|
3
|
|
For Lang1/MATH2
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3-4
|
|
For Lang1/MATH2
|
3-4
|
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Soc Science Gen Ed
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3
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Science Gen Ed3
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3-4
|
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Humanities Gen Ed
|
3
|
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Humanities Gen Ed
|
3
|
|
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15-16
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|
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15-17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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MATH Core4/SOCI
Elective
|
3
|
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SOCI Elective
|
3
|
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COMS
100
|
3
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Soc Science Gen Ed
|
3
|
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For Lang1/MATH2
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3-4
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For Lang1/MATH2/Elective
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3-4
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Science Gen Ed
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3-4
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Interdisciplinary Gen Ed
|
3
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Humanities Gen Ed
|
3
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Gen Ed Elective
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3-4
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|
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15-17
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|
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15-17
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|
|
|
|
|
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SOCI 280
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3
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SOCI 300 level
|
3
|
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SOCI 300 level
|
3
|
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SOCI UL Core5
|
3-4
|
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SOCI 300 level
|
3
|
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SOCI UL Core5
|
3
|
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Elective (any level)
|
6
|
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Elective 300/400 level
|
3
|
|
|
15
|
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Elective (any level)
|
3
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|
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15-16
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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SOCI UL Core
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3-4
|
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SOCI 400 level
|
3
|
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SOCI 300/400
|
3
|
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Elective 300/400 level
|
6
|
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SOCI 300/400
|
3
|
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Elective (any level)
|
6
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Elective (any level)
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6
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15-16
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15-16
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1Required for B.A. degree. Previous foreign language
background may reduce or fulfill this requirement; consult the NIU catalog
for further information on the B.A. requirement in foreign language.
2Required for the B.S. sequence.
3Students who are pursuing a B.A. should complete STAT 208 in the science area of distributive
studies.
4B.A. students must fulfill the core competency requirement
in mathematics.
5The SOCI upper-level core is SOCI 301, SOCI 302, SOCI 377A,
and SOCI 377B. They may be taken in any order, with exception of SOCI
301, which is a prerequisite for SOCI 302..
Minimum 120 total; 40 at the 300-400 level
For a current NIU Undergraduate Catalog and
application materials, contact:
Office of Admissions
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois
60115-2857
(800) 892-3050 (toll-free in Illinois)
or (815) 753-0446
www.niu.edu/admissions
Northern
Illinois University
is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital
status, national origin, disability, status based
on the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), or status as a
disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. Further, the Constitution and Bylaws of
Northern Illinois University provides for equal treatment regardless of
political views or affiliation, and sexual orientation.
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