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Sociology

Why do people make the choices they make? How do groups form? Why are you the way you are? Gain an understanding of these major life questions with a degree in sociology.
 
In this program, you’ll learn how to think critically about social inequality, racial and ethnic conflict, law and justice, social and political movements, family, gender and sexuality, and many other social issues. This program helps you go beyond your personal experiences to broaden your perspective on social life and develop a deep understanding of important trends in modern society.
 
A degree in sociology can open doors to careers in many fields. You will gain skills to better interact with colleagues, conduct research or pursue professional opportunities in social services, sales and marketing, management, law, human resources and teaching.
 
Many people who study sociology go on to pursue careers or additional education in criminal justice, mental health, medicine, social work, public health, teaching or related fields.

AA-DTA Program Learning Outcomes

Communication Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Create, organize, present, and adapt effective verbal and nonverbal messages to diverse audiences in diverse contexts
2. Explain the active listening process and the skills necessary  to understand verbal and nonverbal information
3. Demonstrate the ability to critically think: summarize, interpret, and evaluate written discourse 
4. Write clear, well-focused and well-organized papers using documentation
5. Select and integrate textual evidence within academic essays
6. Create expository essays using traditional academic forms and standards
7. Appropriately use college-level language skills, i.e., grammar and punctuation

Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Recognize a problem and identify the information required to solve it
2. Develop and apply appropriate algebraic models (e.g. numerical, graphical and symbolic) to obtain a solution to the problem
3. Explain the process of reasoning used to arrive at the solution

Humanities Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate, in writing or verbally, awareness that different contexts and/or world views produce different human creations
2. Identify and explain diverse cultural customs, beliefs, traditions, and lifestyles
3. Identify ideologies, practices and contributions that persons of diverse backgrounds bring to our multicultural world
4. Use evidence or sound reasoning to justify a position

Social Sciences Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Describe the methods used for conducting research within the various disciplines of the social sciences
2. Evaluate the credibility of information regarding topics within the social sciences and differentiate between information derived from empirical sources and information derived from opinion, folklore, and/or emotions
3. Identify the impact of social, cultural, historical, political, geographical, and/or religious factors on behavior
4. Express increased engagement and confidence in the ability to apply course material for the purpose of improving self,  relationships,  community, society, and/or the world

Math and Science Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Select, use, or develop an appropriate model including numerical, graphical, or symbolic representations
2. Use evidence or sound reasoning to justify a position or draw conclusions using appropriate terminology and symbolism
3. Demonstrate laboratory skills including making qualitative and quantitative observations about natural systems
4. Ascertain and critically evaluate the interrelationships within complex systems

Health Distribution Area Outcomes:
1. Our students will be able to develop an appreciation of  physical activity as a lifelong pursuit and means to better health.
2. Our students will be able to recognize the physical and mental benefits of increased activity.
3. Our students will be able to examine the effects of nutrition, rest and other lifestyle factors that contribute to better health.
4. Our students will be able to demonstrate motor skill performance of various physical activities.
5. Our students will be able to define the various health components of fitness and determine the lifestyle factors for development of physical fitness and training strategies.
6. Our students will be able to identify common health and fitness myths and trends involved with the evolving nature of physical education. 
7. Our students will be able to utilize physical activity as a tool to manage stress.

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Prepare for College-level Math

Math placement is required for this program. If your math placement is below MATH& 146, you’ll need to take the following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
AE 48 → MATH 87 → MATH 88 → MATH& 146

Prepare for College-level English

English placement is required for this program. If your English placement is below ENGL& 101, you’ll need to take following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
AE 36 → AE 46 and 47 (taken together) → AE 67 → ENGL 99 → ENGL& 101 → ENGL& 102

Associate in Arts (AA) is the community college degree designed to transfer to most bachelor's of arts degrees at all public and many private Washington four-year institutions. A candidate for the AA-DTA degree must complete 90 quarter credits in academic courses numbered 100 and above with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and meet specific distribution requirements.

Program Map for

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Total Program Credits: 93


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ENGL&101
English Composition I  
5
GUID 102
Strategies for Success  
3
MATH&146
Introduction to Statistics  
5
 
Health/PE Group B Electives   1
2
Total Credits
 
15

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
ENGL&102
Composition II  
5
SOC& 101
Introduction to Sociology  
5
 
Science Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
Science Electives: Choose 5 credits Science Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ASTR&101
Intro to Astronomy  
5
BIOL 100
Environmental Biology  
5
ENVS&101
Intro to Env Science  
5
GEOL&101
Intro Physical Geology  
5

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
 
Humanities Group A Electives  
5
 
Science Electives  
5
 
Social Science Group B Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
Humanities Group A Electives: Choose 5 credits Humanities Group A Electives: Choose 5 credits  
CMST 226
Gender Communication  
5
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
Science Electives: Choose 5 credits Science Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ASTR&101
Intro to Astronomy  
5
BIOL 100
Environmental Biology  
5
ENVS&101
Intro to Env Science  
5
GEOL&101
Intro Physical Geology  
5
HIST 107
World History since 1500  
5
HIST&116
Western Civilization I  
5
HIST&117
Western Civilization II  
5
POLS&101
Intro to Political Science  
5
POLS&202
American Government  
5
POLS&203
International Relations  
5

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
 
Foreign Language 1 Electives   2
5
 
Humanities Group C Electives  
5
 
Science Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
Foreign Language 1 Electives: Choose 5 credits Foreign Language 1 Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ASL& 121
Am Sign Language I  
5
FRCH&121
French I  
5
SPAN&121
Spanish I  
5
Humanities Group C Electives: Choose 5 credits Humanities Group C Electives: Choose 5 credits  
HUM 107
Introduction to Cultural Studies  
5
HUM 201
Humanities, Past, Present, and Future  
5
PHIL&101
Intro to Philosophy  
5
PHIL 110
Intro to Ethics  
5
Science Electives: Choose 5 credits Science Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ASTR&101
Intro to Astronomy  
5
BIOL 100
Environmental Biology  
5
ENVS&101
Intro to Env Science  
5
GEOL&101
Intro Physical Geology  
5

Fifth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
 
Foreign Language 2 Electives   3
5
 
Health/PE Group A Electives  
3
 
Humanities Electives  
5
 
Sociology Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
18
Foreign Language 2 Electives: Choose 5 credits Foreign Language 2 Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ASL& 122
Am Sign Language II  
5
FRCH&122
French II  
5
SPAN&122
Spanish II  
5
Health/PE Group A Electives: Choose 3 credits Health/PE Group A Electives: Choose 3 credits  
HLTH 101
Health and Wellness  
3
HLTH 104
Stress Management  
3
HLTH 174
First Aid  
3
HLTH 270
Nutrition for Fitness  
3
PE 170
Introduction to Physical Education and Recreation  
3
Humanities Electives: Choose 5 credits Humanities Electives: Choose 5 credits  
CMST 226
Gender Communication  
5
CMST 227
Intercultural Communication  
5
ENGL 247
American Multicultural Literature  
5
FILM 141
Introduction to Film  
5
Sociology Electives: Choose 5 credits Sociology Electives: Choose 5 credits  
SOC& 201
Social Problems  
5
SOC 230
Sociology of Gender  
5

Sixth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
SOC 221
Race and Ethnic Relations  
5
 
Foreign Language 3 Electives   4
5
 
Social Science Group A or B Electives  
5
Total Credits
 
15
Foreign Language 3 Electives: Choose 5 credits Foreign Language 3 Electives: Choose 5 credits  
ASL& 123
Am Sign Language III  
5
FRCH&123
French III  
5
SPAN&123
Spanish III  
5

1 Any two-credit activity course from Group B
2 SPAN, FREN, or ASL & 121 if you haven’t completed two years of foreign language in high school OR SOC 201
3 SPAN, FREN, or ASL & 122 if you haven’t completed two years of foreign language in high school OR any elective
4 SPAN, FREN, or ASL & 123 if you haven’t completed two years of foreign language in high school OR any elective

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 9,425
$ 11,538
$ 21,349
Books
$ 150
$ 150
$ 150
Course Fees
$ 112
$ 112
$ 112
Institutional Fees
$ 3,212
$ 3,212
$ 3,212
Total Costs
$ 12,898
$ 15,012
$ 24,822

Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

  • Ian Bailey
    Ian Bailey
    Sociology Instructor
    B.A., University of California; M.A., PhD., Cornell University
    Ian.Bailey@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7052
  • Kimberley Kenney
    Kimberley Kenney
    Instructor
    Kimberley.Kenney@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7079
  • Keith Pereira
    Keith Pereira
    Sociology
    B.A., M.A., University of Montana
    Keith.Pereira@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-8174

Have a question? Let's hear it.

Michael Buckley

Department Chair

Michael.Buckley@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8845

Gwendolyn Cash-James

Dean Arts and Sciences
Gwendolyn.James@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8883

Erin Smith

Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences
Erin.Smith@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8016