Associate of Arts - Sociology - Transfer Degree

Students completing the program will be able to... • Define and apply sociological concepts. • Identify, explain and provide possible solutions to social problems. • Identify and apply the major theoretical paradigms, functionalist, conflict and interactionist perspectives to analyze social and cultural issues. • Demonstrate knowledge of research methods and ethical considerations in conducting research. • Utilize critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate complex social issues. • Utilize data to study social phenomena. • Make connections between individuals’ lives, their biographies and their social context.

The sociology major is a valuable liberal arts major for students planning careers in social research, criminology, demography, or social psychology, but also for those pursuing a course of study in public administration, gerontology, education, social work and market research. Sociology provides a useful background for those planning to enter law, business, marketing, medicine, community planning and services, architecture, and politics. In many professional programs in human services, courses in sociology are part of the required training. Sociologists with graduate degrees may teach at the high school, college or graduate levels. They may also become research sociologists in both the public and private sectors and work in areas of public policy, the law and international studies. Applied sociologists may work with social service agencies and community programs on behalf of others, including underrepresented or neglected populations.

Sociology at Diablo Valley College offers a broad range of courses including the urban environment, marriage and families, minority and race relations, social problems, social research and gender studies.

The associate in arts in sociology for transfer is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in a similar major at a CSU campus. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major.

In order to earn the degree, students must: • • Complete 60 CSU-transferable units. • Complete the California State University-General Education pattern (CSU GE); or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern, including the Area 1C requirement for Oral Communication. • Complete a minimum of 18 units in the major. • Attain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. • Earn a grade of “C“ or higher in all courses required for the major.

Students transferring to a CSU campus that accepts the degree will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system, or those students who do not intend to transfer.

Some courses in the major satisfy both major and CSUGE/IGETC general education requirements; however, the units are only counted once toward the 60 unit requirement for an associate degree. Some variations in requirements may exist at certain four-year institutions; therefore, students who intend to transfer are advised to refer to the catalog of the prospective transfer institution and consult a counselor.