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Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Department of Language & Cultural Studies, Anthropology & Sociology

College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Department of Language & Cultural Studies, Anthropology & Sociology

College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences

On-Campus

Program

120 Credit Hours

to Graduate

Full-Time, In-State Tuition

$5,010 Per Semester

Low-Cost Textbooks

For All Students

Understanding our Shared Society and How it Changes

Sociologists study human experience as it unfolds within societies and changes over time. Our field teaches students the intricacies of everyday life and its dynamics, how the family shapes our lives, issues surrounding gender and sexuality, how to better understand human relationships to the environment, conditions and relations of race and ethnic relations, and where the modern world came from and where it might be going.

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Career Outlook

Sociologists will continue to be needed to apply sociological research to other disciplines. For example, sociologists may collaborate with researchers in other social sciences, such as economists, psychologists, and survey researchers, to study how social structures or groups influence policy decisions about health, education, politics, criminal justice, business, or economics.

Employment of sociologists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2023 to 2033.

– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Employment of sociologists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2023 to 2033.

Job Titles Include:

  • Social Science Researcher
  • User Experience (UX) Researcher
  • Human Resources Representative
  • Community Engagement Coordinator
  • Marketing/Sales Representative
  • Community Engagement Coordinator
  • Human Rights Officer
  • Program Director
  • Executive Director
  • Human Resources Representative
  • Social Science Researcher

Sociology has a thriving job market ranging from social analytics to creating social change. EKU sociology graduates work in a variety of industries and positions.

Employers Include:

  • KY River Foothills
  • FAHE
  • U.S. Census Bureau
  • Anew Alternative
  • Appalshop

The Office of Academic and Career Services is a one-stop shop for all your career and professional development needs.

Services Include:

  • Creating/updating your resume and cover letter
  • Interviewing tips and coaching
  • Career documents review
  • Job search

Why EKU?

  • Low-cost textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • No application fee
  • Reduced tuition for active-duty military members and their spouses
  • Award-winning faculty who are nationally respected
  • Participate in research opportunities with faculty and collaboratively publish or present your findings
  • Gain hands-on experience through our internship program
  • Dynamic, supportive learning environment
  • Community outreach opportunities

Program Options

Choose between two specialty concentrations that offer the opportunity to tailor the degree to specific academic and professional goals and give you a competitive edge as you progress. Concentration options include:

This concentration gives students a broad knowledge base within the field, emphasizing electives in a variety of areas of the students’ own choosing. Combined with basic skills in research methods and analysis, the General Sociology concentration widens students’ job opportunities in a rapidly changing economy where specialized jobs often become outdated. Students who major in sociology are taught to think critically, communicate effectively, and respond constructively to the challenges and opportunities they will encounter. A concentration in General Sociology provides a gateway to many different professions.

This concentration equips students with a sociological understanding of social diversity through a variety of lenses including, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, as well as the intersections of these identities. Students who pursue this concentration will also gain a broad knowledge base and research and data analysis training through required courses in the major. Their additional coursework will focus more specifically on gaining knowledge and competencies related to issues of diversity and equity. This concentration allows students to signal desirable skills to future employers such as cultural competency and the ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

Minors & Certificates

Select from a wide range of minors, allowing you to explore interests or make use of prior credits. Suggested minors available for this program include:

  • Anthropology
  • Spanish
  • Psychology
  • Criminal Justice
  • Social Welfare

View the full list of minors available.

You can also choose from numerous undergraduate certificates in specialty areas that complement and enhance your major as you work toward your degree. Suggested certificates for this program include:

  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Veterans Studies
  • Marketing Research and Analytics

View the full list of certificates available for completion as you earn your degree.

Curriculum & Admission

EKU strives to provide a meaningful and engaging curriculum that prepares our students for academic and professional success. Our course offerings include Animals and Society, Sexualities and Social Issues, Sociology of Migration, and Sociology of Mass Media that are sure to capture your attention.

A minimum of 120 credits are required to graduate.

View the degree requirements:

EKU Academic Catalog

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Students may transfer up to 90 hours of credit from accredited institutions. Please note that a minimum of 30 credit hours in this degree program must be completed at Eastern Kentucky University.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admission to EKU for appropriate articulation.

TermApplication
Deadline		Classes
Begin
FallAugust 1August
SpringDecember 1January
SummerMay 1May

All applicants must provide an application and evidence of appropriate scholastic achievement through prior educational experience.

Please note that certain degree programs have special admission requirements. Admission to the University does not mean automatic admission to all degree programs.

The completed application and all required supporting documentation must be received by the University no later than:

• August 1 for fall enrollment
• December 1 for spring enrollment
• May 1 for summer enrollment

To apply for undergraduate admission to Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), submit an application at apply.eku.edu and submit any required materials electronically or by mail to:

Office of Admissions
Eastern Kentucky University
Whitlock Bldg. 112, CPO 54
521 Lancaster Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475-3154.

Enrolling & Advising Information

EKU’s College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences is committed to delivering high-quality enrollment and academic advising for our students. We strive to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and meaningful engagement to help students reach their academic goals and have a rewarding educational experience.

Interested in enrolling? Reach out to your enrollment advisor.

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Kristi Carlisle

College Enrollment Counselor

Call: 859-622-2705
Text: 859-511-1603
class.recruitment@eku.edu

Schedule an Appointment
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Shaker Ezaizat

Enrollment Advisor

859-622-2316
shaker.ezaizat@eku.edu

Schedule an Appointment

Additional Contact Info

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Stories & Features

  • Charles Wright

    EKU Sociology Student
    Sociology really helped me understand how to view the world. I grew up in the impoverished mountains of Appalachia and that made me feel like I couldn’t change things. Sociology helped me see how our society works and how we can help improve it.

  • Dr. Lisa Conley

    EKU Sociology Graduate
    My time studying sociology at EKU was by far the most meaningful of my undergraduate career. The faculty I worked with created an atmosphere where critical thinking was central and supported me to follow my intellectual passions. I felt I had the freedom to explore topics that mattered to me and was limited only by my imagination. They introduced me to ideas and concepts that have shaped my life for the better. I could not be happier with the education I gained from the EKU Sociology department.

  • Jeffery Cawood

    EKU Sociology Student
    EKU’s Sociology program taught me that the world is at my disposal. From the past I can see the present. From the present I anticipate the future. We are never too separated from history, rather we become fixated on the possibilities of the future.

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With the state’s on-going teacher shortage, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) offers innovative approaches to place educators in classrooms across the state. The Kentucky Department of Education’s School Report Card notes a nearly 25% teacher turnover rate for the 2022-23 school year. To help address the shortage, EKU became the first public university in the state to announce […]

Provost’s Faculty Internship Program Welcomes New Cohort

The Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Provost’s Faculty Internship Program develops leadership skills and complements leadership endeavors among faculty by supporting individual development while assisting university-wide academic initiatives. Established by EKU Provost Sara Zeigler and Assistant Provost Russell Carpenter in 2022, the program offers complete mentoring and learning opportunities, collaboration with colleagues in academic and administrative […]

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The Kentucky Institutional Development Awards (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (KY INBRE) recently announced a five-year renewal grant of $20 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), a partner institution of KY INBRE, was awarded an annual subcontract from the grant. The […]

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Contact Information

Department of Language & Cultural Studies, Anthropology & Sociology

Commonwealth Hall
Room 1909
4374 Kit Carson Drive
Richmond, KY 40475

859-622-2996
LanguagesCulturesHum@eku.edu

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