• Students  from Grand Valley State University may earn either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in sociology. The B.A. requires a third-semester proficiency in a foreign language, while the B.S. requires intermediate level statistics. A minor is also available.
  • A sociology degree also serves as a strong base for several graduate programs, including occupational therapy and social work.
  • As a liberal arts school, the Grand Valley campus and community actively engages in social issues and service, which creates unique opportunities for sociology students.
    • The Sociology Club meets regularly throughout the academic year, engaging in fundraising; social, career, and graduate school planning activities; and providing a forum for discussing topics relevant to the discipline.
    • Act on Racism (AOR) is an anti-racism theater group founded in 2005. Members develop and participate in skits and dialogues about the history and persistence of racism in America. The group performs throughout the greater Grand Rapids area.
    • The Grand Valley Theta chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society, promotes excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology, research of social problems, and other social and intellectual activities that will lead to an improvement in the human condition.

    Coursework

    Students take core courses in scientific methodology and theory and then choose from a wide variety of electives on topics such as:

    • Culture
    • Families
    • Gender and sexuality
    • Globalization
    • Race and ethnicity
    • Religion
    • Social class inequality
    • Social psychology
    • Career Options
    • Graduates are prepared for entry-level work in fields like:
    • Business management
    • Civil services
    • Corrections
    • Human resources
    • Nonprofit administration
    • Social services