Sociology and Anthropology Program Requirements

B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology (Beginning Fall 2025)

All courses that may apply to the major are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

Requirements

Foundations - 6 credits

  • SOCI 101 – Introduction to Sociology (3)*
  • ANTH 105 – Intercultural Interactions (3)

Methods - 6 credits

  • SOCI 285 – Social Science Research Design & Methods (3)
  • GTLY 330 – Cross Cultural Aging (3)

Theory - 3 credits

  • SOCI 381 – My Life Thru Film (3)

Capstone - 3 credits

  • SOCI 419 – Department Capstone

Electives - 15 credits

Five of the following elective course options including 2 at the 300 level or beyond:

  • ANTH 238 – Global Health (3)
  • ANTH 241 – Medical Anthropology (3)
  • ANTH 209 – World Cultures (3)
  • WGST 275 – Indigenous Women Globally (3)
  • POSC 233 – Central American Violence/Migration (3)
  • SOCI 217 – Latino Healthcare Issues (3)
  • SOCI 221 – Helping Professions in Action (3)
  • SOCI 233 – Populations, Programs and Health (3)
  • SOCI 314 – US Race Relations (3)
  • SOCI 315 – Our Gendered World (3)
  • SOCI 330 – Special Topics
  • SOCI 344 – Social Determinants of Health & Healthcare (3)

no more than two of the following courses may be used as electives for the major:

  • SOCI 2111 – Aging and Life Courses (3)
  • SOCI 2323 – Multicultural Identities and Conflict (3)
  • SOCI 2325 – Groups and Diversity (3)
  • SOCI 2484 – Understanding Racism (3)
  • SOCI 2424 – Death and Dying (3)
  • SOCI 2425 – Understanding Families (3)

Total: 33 credits

Inclusive Childhood Education Major with a Liberal Arts Major/Concentration in Sociology

Students pursuing teaching certification in inclusive childhood education must declare either a second major or a concentration in a liberal arts field. Either choice results in a Bachelor of Science degree. Inclusive childhood education majors who wish to pursue a dual major with sociology take all of the major requirements as listed above, in addition to meeting all of the inclusive childhood education requirements (49–52 credits: see Inclusive Childhood Education for details.). If an inclusive childhood education major wishes to concentrate in sociology, the sociology department in conjunction with the education department, has outlined the following courses which meet the New York state requirement for a liberal arts concentration in this field. Students must earn grades of "C" or higher in all courses in the content area.

  • SOCI 101D – P3 Introduction to Sociology (3) –OR– SOCI 103 – Introduction to Sociology for Health Professions (3)
  • Choose ONE of:
    • SOCI 281 – Understanding Families (3)
    • SOCI 282 – Understanding High School (3)
    • SOCI 283 – Understanding Cities and Communities (3)
  • SOCI 381 – My Life Thru Film (3)
  • ONE SOCI elective at or beyond the 300 level (3)
  • SIX SOCI electives at any level (18)

Total: 30 credits

Minor in Sociology

Only one course taken to meet a major requirement may also be applied to the sociology minor. If a student is a criminology major and wishes to minor in sociology, only SOCI 101D (or SOCI 103) may count for both the major and the minor.

A grade point average of 2.00 is required of courses taken at Fisher that may be applied to the minor.

Requirements

  • Choose ONE of:
    • SOCI 101D – P3 Introduction to Sociology (3)
    • SOCI 103 – Introduction to Sociology for Health Professions (3)
    • SOCI 122 – Sociology in Context (3)
  • FOUR SOCI electives at any level (12)*
  • ONE SOCI elective at or beyond the 300 level (3)

Total: 18 credits

*Although these electives may be chosen at any level, all core foundational courses are excluded (Learning Community, Research-Based Writing, and Data Analysis courses).

Note: Students pursuing a minor in sociology should consult with the sociology department chair and their major advisors to determine the most appropriate courses in sociology for their academic program. Below are two suggested sequences of minor courses for specific majors.

Suggested Minor for Education Majors

(Any 18 credits required for the minor in sociology, keeping within the rules as outlined above)

  • SOCI 101D – P3 Introduction to Sociology (3)
  • SOCI 150 – Introduction to Human Services (3)
  • SOCI 223 – Sociology of the Family (3)
  • SOCI 232 – P3 Sociology of Juvenile Delinquency (3)
  • SOCI 238 – Deviant Behavior (3)
  • SOCI 314 – U.S. Race Relations (3)
  • SOCI 381 – Thinking Sociologically (3)

Suggested Minor for Majors in the Health Professions

(Any 18 credits required for the minor in sociology, keeping within the rules as outlined above)

  • SOCI 103 – P3 Introduction to Sociology for the Health Professions (3)
  • SOCI 120 – SQ Basic Biostatistics (3)
  • SOCI 201 – SQ Principles of Epidemiology (3)
  • SOCI 217D – Latino Health Care Issues (3)
  • SOCI 226 – Sociology of Health and Healing (3)
  • SOCI 322 – Sociology of Aging and the Life Course (3)
  • SOCI 381 – Thinking Sociologically (3)

Note: The program requirements listed are for the current academic year. Past and future program requirements may differ.