Sociology is the study of society and social life, and as such, looks at a diverse range of topics concerning the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists examine the structure of groups, organizations and societies as a whole, as well as how people act and interact within those social contexts. Sociology is a rapidly evolving and ever expanding discipline that is particularly well suited to addressing issues and problems in a fast-paced and complex contemporary world. Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives on the social world that can help students to gain a better understanding of themselves and the society of which they are a part. The field features a range of theoretical approaches that can generate new ideas, stimulate debate and challenge taken-for-granted notions about the nature of social reality and the status quo. The field also offers a range of research methodologies that allow for systematic and scientific investigation of social phenomena, rather than using common sense, propaganda, opinion or other such subjective explanations for human behavior. Sociological theories and methods can be applied to studying virtually any aspect of social life: culture and technology; crime and deviance; politics and economics; the self and socialization; family and group dynamics; class, race and gender; social movements and social change.

The Associate in Arts for Transfer degree in Sociology provides students with the foundational knowledge necessary to make a successful transition into a Baccalaureate Degree at any of the CSU campuses. The Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) is a special degree offered at California Community Colleges. Students who earn an AA-T or AS-T degree are guaranteed admission to a campus within the California State University (CSU) system in a similar major, although not necessarily to a specific campus. Students who complete an AA-T or AS-T are given priority consideration when applying to a particular program that is similar to the student’s community college major and will be given a special GPA advantage when applying to CSU impacted campuses or majors.