The Social Sciences, Human Services and Criminal Justice department offers a program in Sociology leading to an associate in arts degree. This program offers a comprehensive general education preparation, as well as a solid foundation for continuing on to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree in sociology.
Sociology is the scientific study of society. It is a social science that studies social interactions and social structures, as well as stability and change in social life. It considers how social relationships influence individual behavior, and how societies (the sum total of those relationships) develop and change over time. Sociology covers everything from the analysis of brief, wordless contacts between strangers on a train to the rise of social movements and of global, socio-technological processes.
Applied sociology uses the “sociological imagination” to analyze and address problems in human behavior and society; such efforts include urban planning and community organizing.
BMCC has articulation agreements with several four year colleges to allow you to seamlessly continue your education there.
BMCC is committed to students’ long-term success and will help you explore professional opportunities. Undecided? No problem. The college offers Career Coach for salary and employment information, job postings and a self-discovery assessment to help students find their academic and career paths. Visit Career Express to make an appointment with a career advisor, search for jobs or sign-up for professional development activities with the Center for Career Development. Students can also visit the Office of Internships and Experiential Learning to gain real world experience in preparation for a four-year degree and beyond. These opportunities are available to help BMCC students build a foundation for future success.
Explore career paths for Sociology (pdf)
Required Common Core
- This course studies the social world and how it has evolved over time, as well as how individuals are influenced and structured by social interactions in small groups and by larger social forces. The course covers major sociological theories and research methods, and key concepts such as culture, socialization, social class, race/ethnicity, gender, technology, social inequality, and social change.
- This Sociology Capstone will focus on special topics within the field and expertise of the instructor. It will provide a culminating experience for students by allowing them to explore a topic in-depth, engage in independent research, develop their analytic abilities and critical thinking skills, and apply concepts and theories to new cases. The capstone course will introduce students to the major theoretical perspectives, the basic research methodologies and research design issues, and the central analytical models in Sociology. Over the course of the semester, each student will engage in independent research that culminates in a research paper or project and a presentation to the class. Prerequisite: [ENG 100.5 or ENG 101] and SOC 100 and two (2) SOC major electives of which one (1) must be a 200-level course
- No more than two courses in any discipline or interdisciplinary field can be used to satisfy Flexible Common Core requirements.
- Choose three (3) courses from SOC xxx (except SOC 100; please note two must be 200-level).
- Choose two (2) social science courses from the following disciplines: anthropology, criminal justice (CRJ 102, 202, 204), economics, gender and women’s studies, geography, history, human services (HUM 101), philosophy, political science or psychology.
- Choose one course from AFN, ASN, ETH or LAT.
Please note, these requirements are effective the 2024-2025 catalog year. Please check your DegreeWorks account for your specific degree requirements as when you began at BMCC will determine your program requirements.