About

Are you interested in learning about our society, the social arrangements within which we live our lives, the diversity of marriages/families, law and criminal justice system, medicine, politics, economics, race, gender, and sexuality? Are you open to majoring in a field that would give you the freedom to explore multiple career paths?

Sociologists study social change, diverse populations and their interactions, and use scientific methods to find answers to complex questions. Majoring in sociology can help you learn skills needed to succeed in the 21st century including but not limited to: critical thinking, analytic problem solving, communication, collaboration, multi-cultural and global understandings, innovation, creativity, and excellent written communication. More than any other discipline, sociology is a meeting place of the social sciences, combining its own ideas and methods with insights from other disciplines in examining the ways societies succeed and/or fail.

ECU Advantage

The sociology department takes pride in its advising system, which allows for personal attention to students, guiding each along the way to his/her ultimate career path. It also affords substantial access to faculty and administrators and flexibility in meeting individual, intellectual agendas. Sociology teaches skills employers want and demand in the 21st century.

Internship programs offer course credit for research within community organizations, city agencies, and research institutions, placing students in real communities dealing with real problems.

The Department of Sociology at ECU has a diverse faculty. It has particular strengths in research methods, economic sociology, migration, marriage and family, sociology of health, aging, sociological theory, social movements, sociology of sport, social psychology, cultural sociology, inequality, gender, and work.

Our sociology graduates go on to a variety of occupations, both professional and academic, including work in the criminal justice system, social service agencies, business, research, and non-profit organizations. Our graduates have also gone on to advanced study in sociology, marriage and family counseling, social work, psychology, medicine, and law.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Melinda D. Kane (404-A Brewster Building; 252-737-2478; kanem@ecu.edu)

Sociology majors must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in SOCI 2110. A maximum of 9 s.h. of research (SOCI 3700), readings (SOCI 4521-4523), and internships (SOCI 4950, 4951) may count towards this degree. 

The degree requires 120 s.h. as follows:

1. General education requirements - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

    2. Demonstrated foreign language proficiency through level 2004 - 12 s.h.

    (For information about the foreign language requirement view Special Requirements for the BA Degree in the Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services section and Placement Testing, Foreign Language in the Admission and Readmission section.)

      3. Core - 16 s.h.
      • SOCI 1100 - Sociological Pathways
      • SOCI 2110 - Introduction to Sociology
      • SOCI 3213 - Methods of Research
      • SOCI 3216 - Introduction to Social Statistics
      • SOCI 4385 - Theoretical Perspectives and Applications
      • SOCI 4800 - Senior Seminar
      4. SOCI electives - 18 s.h.
        5. Minor and electives to complete requirements for graduation.
          For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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