Undergraduate Program

    College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Sociology Undergraduate Admission Requirements

    A minimum of 26 credit hours; 23 credit hours must be in courses acceptable toward graduation.

    A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 on all work.

    • Transfer students must have a 2.0 transfer GPA.
    • Continuing UNM students must have a 2.00 institutional GPA.

    Demonstrated academic achievement by satisfying the following:

    • Completion of the University Writing and Speaking Core.
    • Completion of the University Mathematics Core.
    • Completion of the University Foreign Language Core.

    Completion of Department of Sociology major admission coursework with grades of "C" or better:

    • Sociology: SOC 101; one SOC course at any level.
    • Criminology: SOC 101; SOC 205 or 213.

    Major Study Requirements

    Major in Sociology

    The Sociology major requires 34 credit hours of course work, including the following 13 credit hours of required courses: 101, 380, 371, 381L. Students must choose 12 credit hours (4 courses) from the list of upper-division elective courses, available from the department, and select 9 credit hours (3 courses) drawn from all Sociology courses not specifically required.

    The student may select from a number of designated courses that provide a concentration in one of the following subfields of sociology:

    1. Pre-Law. Provides background for careers or further training in police, correctional or legal institutions.
    2. Human Services and Social Policy. Appropriate for future work in public and private agencies, as preparation for law school or for graduate study in social work, public administration and business administration.

    Concentration in Pre-Law

    The concentration in Pre-Law is designed for students interested in law school or other careers in the legal field, and highlights those aspects of law that overlap with crime and criminal justice. The concentration provides students with an introduction to the causes of crime and deviance as well as social and institutional responses to this behavior. Students can choose from courses focusing on the personal and social forces that give rise to crime, as well as courses that examine the role of the legal and criminal justice systems in dealing with criminals and reducing crime rates. To complete this concentration, students must complete 12 credit hours from the following list (Note: 9 of these credit hours must be selected from the 300/400-level courses listed below.): 

    SOC 205 Crime, Public Policy and the Criminal Justice System
    SOC 211 Social Problems
    SOC 213 Deviance
    SOC 312 Causes of Crime and Delinquency
    SOC 412 Sociology of Police and Social Control
    SOC 414 Sociology of Corrections
    SOC 416 Sociology of Law
    SOC 423 Gender and Crime
    SOC 424 Race, Class, and Crime
    SOC 425 From Youthful Misbehavior to Adult Crime
    SOC 426 Drugs, Crime, and Social Control
    SOC 488 Field Observation and Experience
    SOC 491 Directed Study in Criminology


    Concentration in Human Services and Social Policy

    The concentration is designed for students interested in pursuing a graduate degree or a career in human services, social work, social policy, health care, mental health, or education (K-12 and post-secondary). The concentration aims to provide broad thematic coverage of these fields by drawing upon elective courses that address topics critical to understanding the context within which welfare, health, mental health, and educational institutions operate, including social problems, race/ethnic relations, and socio-economic inequality. Students must complete 12 credit hours from the courses listed below. (Note: 9 of these credit hours must be selected from the 300/400-level courses listed below.)

    SOC 200 Foundations of Social Welfare
    SOC 211 Social Problems
    SOC 216 Dynamics of Prejudice
    SOC 225 Marriage, Family, and Their Alternatives
    SOC 300 Social Welfare: Programs and Policies
    SOC 303 Sociology of Political Behavior
    SOC 308 Sociology of Gender
    SOC 310 Sociology of Aging and the Aged
    SOC 340 Sociology of Medical Practice
    SOC 342 Social Epidemiology
    SOC 345 Youth and Society
    SOC 400 The Welfare State
    SOC 415 Social Stratification
    SOC 420 Race and Cultural Relations
    SOC 421 Sociology of Education
    SOC 427 Sociology of Madness
    SOC 441 Complex Organizations
    SOC 445 Sociology of Work
    SOC 488 Field Observance and Experience
    SOC 490 Directed Study (limited to topics approved for the concentration)


    Further details are available on each concentration from the Department of Sociology and undergraduate advisors in the Department.

    The Department accepts the grade of C in required and elective Sociology courses as counting toward graduation but requires that the student achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in the Sociology major or minor and a 2.00 overall grade point average. A cumulative grade point average of 2.25 or better in all courses completed is required for regular admission to the Sociology major.

    Major in Criminology

    In order to be admitted to the criminology major, students must complete SOC 101 and (205 or 213).

    The Sociology Department offers a specialized program in Criminology, designed to give students a comprehensive introduction to the field. Courses focus on the characteristics and causes of crime and deviance and on the origins, nature and consequences of societal reactions to crime and deviance, giving particular attention to the criminal justice system. Basic instruction is also given in sociological theory and research methods.

    A cumulative grade point average of 2.25 or better in all courses completed is required for regular admission to the criminology major.

    The program is particularly appropriate for students wishing to pursue one of the following career options:

    • graduate work in the social sciences with a special emphasis on criminology or criminal justice
    • a career in criminal justice (e.g., law enforcement, corrections, crime prevention), especially in agencies or departments involved in planning and evaluation
    • a career in law, social work or counseling

    Students must complete 34 credit hours of course work in criminology–28 credit hours core and 6 credit hours of pertinent electives as advised.

    Core courses: 101; 205; 213; 312; 371; 380; 381L; two of 412, 414, 416, 423, 424, 425, and 426. Generally, students should follow core courses in sequence, beginning with 100-level requirements, proceeding to 200-level requirements, and so on.

    Electives: Students must choose 6 credit hours (two courses) from the approved list available from the Department of Sociology, or any upper-division Sociology course. Students may not count the same course as both a core course and an elective. Some upper-division electives require other courses as prerequisites.


    Minor Study Requirements

    Minor in Criminology

    The Criminology minor requires a total of 21 credit hours (seven courses). The core courses are 101; one of 205, 213, 312; and two of 412, 414, 416, 423, 424, 425 or 426 (two of these are required, but additional courses from the set may be used as electives). The 21 credit hours must also include 6 credit hours from the approved list available from the Department of Sociology, or any upper-division Sociology course. Students may not count the same course as both a core criminology course and an elective.

    Minor in Sociology

    The Sociology minor requires a total of 21 credit hours (seven courses). The core courses are 101, 380 and 371. The 12 elective credit hours (four courses) are drawn from all sociology courses not specifically required above but must include at least 6 credit hours (two courses) from the upper-division elective courses, available from the department.

    Criminology majors may not minor in sociology without a specially approved degree plan constructed in consultation with the undergraduate advisor.


    Departmental Honors

    Superior sophomore or junior students majoring in sociology or criminology with a GPA of 3.5 in the major and 3.25 overall are invited to apply for admission to the department's six-credit Undergraduate Honors Thesis Program, beginning in their junior year. Students participating in this program are eligible to graduate with departmental honors if recommended by the faculty on the basis of outstanding performance. Honors students are required to take SOC 399 (Advanced Workshop in Sociology) in the Spring term to be followed by 499 (Senior Honors Thesis) in a subsequent semester. See the Department's Honors Coordinator for specific requirements.


    Courses

    NONE 101. Introduction to Sociology. (3)



    NONE 200. Foundations of Social Welfare. (3)



    NONE 205. Crime, Public Policy and the Criminal Justice System. (3)



    NONE 211. Social Problems. (3)



    NONE 213. Deviance. (3)



    NONE 216. The Dynamics of Prejudice. (3)



    NONE 221. Global Issues. (3)



    NONE 225. Marriage, Family and Their Alternatives. (3)



    NONE 230. Society and Personality. (3)



    NONE 300. Social Welfare: Policies and Programs. (3)



    NONE 305. Environmental Sociology. (3)



    NONE 306. Peace and Conflict. (3)



    NONE 307. Nonviolent Alternatives. (3)



    NONE 308. Sociology of Gender. (3)



    NONE 310. Sociology of Aging and the Aged. (3)



    NONE 312. Causes of Crime and Delinquency. (3)



    NONE 326. Sociology of New Mexico. (3)



    NONE 328. Sociology of Native Americans. (3)



    NONE 331. Social Movements. (3)



    NONE 340. Sociology of Medical Practice. (3)



    NONE 345. Youth and Society. (3)



    NONE 346. Health and Social Inequalities I. (3)



    NONE 347. Health and Social Inequalities II. (3)



    NONE 351. The Urban Community. (3)



    NONE 354. Introduction to Latin American Society I: Social Sciences. (3)



    NONE 371. Sociological Theory [Classical Sociological Theory]. (3)



    NONE 380 [280]. Introduction to Research Methods. (3)



    NONE 381L [381]. Sociological Data Analysis. (4 [3])



    NONE 398. Special Topics in Sociology. (3, no limit Δ)



    NONE 399. Advanced Undergraduate Workshop in Sociology. (3)



    NONE 400. The Welfare State. (3)



    NONE 412. Sociology of Police and Social Control. (3)



    NONE 414. Sociology of Corrections. (3)



    NONE 415. Social Stratification. (3)



    NONE 416. Sociology of Law. (3)



    NONE 418. Selected Topics in Criminology. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



    NONE 420. Race and Cultural Relations. (3)



    NONE 421. Sociology of Education. (3)



    NONE 422. Sociology of Religion. (3)



    NONE 423. Gender and Crime. (3)



    NONE 424. Race, Class and Crime. (3)



    NONE 425. From Youthful Misbehavior to Adult Crime. (3)



    NONE 426. Drugs, Crime and Social Control. (3)



    NONE *427. Sociology of Madness. (3)



    NONE 428. Sociology of Mexican Americans. (3)



    NONE 441. Complex Organizations. (3)



    NONE 445. Sociology of Work. (3)



    NONE 452. Community Organizing and the Struggle for Justice in America. (3)



    NONE 461. Social Dynamics of Global Change. (3)



    NONE *478. Seminar in International Studies. (3)



    NONE 481L. Research Methods in Sociology. (4)



    NONE 488. Field Observation and Experience. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



    NONE 490. Directed Study. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



    NONE 491. Directed Study in Criminology. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



    NONE 499. Senior Honors Thesis. (3)



    NONE 500. Classical Sociological Theory. (3)



    NONE 506. Seminar: Comparing Nations. (3)



    NONE 507. Topics in Sociological Theory. (3, no limit Δ)



    NONE 509. Gender and International Development. (3)



    NONE 510. Social and Political Movements. (3)



    NONE 513. Constructing and Analyzing Contemporary Sociological Theory. (3)



    NONE 514. 20th Century European Theory. (3)



    NONE 515. Criminological Theory. (3)



    NONE 516. Crime, Law, and Social Control. (3)



    NONE 518. Special Topics in Criminology. (3)



    NONE 520. Racial and Ethnic Relations. (3)



    NONE 521. Sociology of Education. (3)



    NONE 523. Proseminar. (1)



    NONE 528. Sociology of Mexican Americans. (3)



    NONE 531. Sociology Teaching Seminar. (3)



    NONE 532. Sociology of Religion. (3)



    NONE 540. Medical Sociology and Health Policy. (3)



    NONE 551 - 552. Problems. (2-3, no limit Δ; 2-3, no limit Δ)



    NONE 570. Sociological Research: Special Topics. (3, no limit Δ)



    NONE 580. Methods of Social Research I. (3)



    NONE 581. Advanced Social Statistics I. (3)



    NONE 582. Advanced Social Statistics II. (3)



    NONE 583. Special Topics in Advanced Social Statistics. (3, no limit Δ)



    NONE 584. Interdisciplinary Seminar on Problems of Modernization in Latin America. (3)



    NONE 585. Sociological Fieldwork Methods: Ethnography, Interviews, Focus Groups. (3)



    NONE 595. Special Topics in Sociology. (3, no limit Δ)



    NONE 596. Professional Paper. (1-6, no limit Δ)



    NONE 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



    NONE 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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