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Sociology

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses

Cosumnes River College offers courses and a degree in the study of human behavior in society. The discipline is concerned with the study of systems and how individuals work and interact within them.

Degrees Offered

A.A.-T. in Sociology

Dean Emilie Mitchell
Department Chair Nyenbeku George
Phone (916) 691-7656
Email mitchee@crc.losrios.edu

Associate Degree for Transfer

A.A.-T. in Sociology

Cosumnes River College Sociology Associate in Arts for Transfer Program is designed to facilitate successful transfer to baccalaureate sociology degree programs. This degree provides students with the lower division breadth and depth of the field of sociology. Additionally, this degree exposes students to the core principles and practices in the field. Students will learn to: identify and comprehend their individual relationship to structures in the larger society; apply effective critical thinking skills to interpret sociological phenomena; assess the significance of important social movements in American society; define and identify various theoretical perspectives across the discipline of sociology; and analyze, interpret, and critically think about sociological ascriptions to race, gender, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and other sociological concepts.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code	Course Title	Units
SOC 300	Introductory Sociology	3
SOC 301	Social Problems	3
SOC 302	Introduction to Social Research Methods	3
PSYC 330	Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (3)	3 - 4
or STAT C1000E	Introduction to Statistics (4)
A minimum of 6 units from the following:		6
SOC 305	Critical Thinking in the Social Sciences (3)
SOC 310	Marriage and the Family (3)
SOC 321	Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States (3)
SOC 341	Sex and Gender in the U.S. (3)
Total Units:		18 - 19

The Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer (AA-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, including (a) a minimum grade of "C" (or "P") for each course in the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) either the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

(PSLO1) Identify and comprehend their individual relationship to structures in the larger society.
Individuals will comprehend the magnitude of their influence on social structures in society, and the social structures that influence them.
Demonstrate an awareness of the sociological resources available within the structures of society.
Effectively utilize social structures as resources in society to facilitate their own movement and/or progress in society.
(PSLO2) Apply effective critical thinking skills to interpret sociological phenomena.
Apply sociological approaches to assess a social context.
Distinguish between macro-level and micro-level orientations of assessment of given social contexts.
Investigate and determine which social contexts require objective or subjective analysis.
(PSLO3) Assess the significance of important social movements in American society.
Demonstrate an awareness of the consistent goals, perspectives, and factors leading to social movements.
Assess the significance of social movements of marginalized people in society.
Explain the outcomes of social movements in American society.
(PSLO4) Define and identify various theoretical perspectives across the discipline of Sociology.
Discuss and Explain Social Conflict Approach.
Discuss and Explain Symbolic Interactionist Approach.
Discuss and Explain Structural Functionalist Approach.
(PSLO5) Comprehend how social practices facilitate the functioning of social structures as they are responsible for maintaining the society as a whole.
Examine and assess the effects of sociocultural customs and traditions on social structures and institutions.
Analyze and evaluate values and norms present in the behavior of individuals and groups occupying society’s social structures and institutions.
Investigate the relationship between religion, language, customs and traditions, and how they facilitate comprehension of values and influence social practices.
(PSLO6) Analyze, interpret, and critically think about sociological ascriptions to race, gender, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and other sociological concepts.
Discuss and explain how ascriptions to sociological concepts affects and shapes individuals and groups’ life chances and opportunities.
Demonstrate content knowledge of how and why particular ideas are ascribed to sociological concepts.
Explain and assess the socialization that individuals and groups undergo due to ideas ascribed to sociological concepts.

Career Information

Sociologists with advanced degrees and professional certificates have a broad range of employment opportunities including, but not limited to, teacher, social worker, probation officer, employment counselor, urban planner, and data analyst. NOTE TO TRANSFER STUDENTS: The Associate Degree for Transfer program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a campus of the California State University (CSU). Other than the required core, the courses you choose to complete this degree will depend to some extent on the selected CSU for transfer. In addition, some CSU-GE Breadth or IGETC requirements can also be completed using courses required for this associate degree for transfer major (known as "double-counting"). The Associate Degree for Transfer may not provide adequate preparation for upper-division transfer admissions; it is critical that you meet with a CRC counselor to select and plan the courses for the major, as programs vary widely in terms of the required preparation.

Sociology (SOC) Courses

SOC 300 Introductory Sociology

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025); Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025)
C-ID:C-ID SOCI 110
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

This course is a study of human behavior in society, including social groups, culture, personality, social stratification, social change, collective behavior and social institutions. A field trip may also be included at the discretion of the instructor. Field trips may require a nominal fee. Additionally, virtual field trips may be listed as an alternative to meet the same objectives as a face to face (on ground) course.

SOC 301 Social Problems

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025); Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025)
C-ID:C-ID SOCI 115
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

This course is a survey of social problems in American society. It will examine their causes and evaluate proposed solutions. A special emphasis will be placed on local issues. A field trip may also be included at the discretion of the instructor. Field trips may require a nominal fee. Additionally, virtual field trips may be listed as an alternative to meet the same objectives as a face to face (on ground) course.

SOC 302 Introduction to Social Research Methods

Units:3
Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
Prerequisite:SOC 300 with a grade of "C" or better
Advisory:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 (formerly known as ENGWR 300), and completion of STAT C1000E (formerly known as STAT 300), PSYC 330, ECON 310 or POLS 382 with grades of "C" or better.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L1B (effective Fall 2025); Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025); Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025)
C-ID:C-ID SOCI 120
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

This course examines theoretical and ethical principles in social science research with an applied emphasis on research design, utilization of qualitative and quantitative techniques, data coding, data cleaning and organization, descriptive and inferential analysis, and the writing of research reports. Students will be introduced to the application of statistical software for quantitative areas of course work. A field trip may also be included at the discretion of the instructor. Field trips may require a nominal fee. Additionally, virtual field trips may be listed as an alternative to meet the same objectives as a face to face (on ground) course.

SOC 305 Critical Thinking in the Social Sciences

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:ENGL C1000 (formerly known as ENGWR 300) or the equivalent.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L1B (effective Fall 2025); Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025)
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

This course examines the definitional and contextual nature of social issues. It develops a critical thinking approach that integrates interdisciplinary principles and utilizes literary criticism, logic, argumentation, and persuasion to analyze and compare the content and validity of social problems. This course specifically explores how the media and scientific community collect, interpret, and report social data. Combining critical thinking tools with the sociological perspective will help students to question the assumptions that surround social phenomena and influence human behavior. A field trip may also be included at the discretion of the instructor. Field trips may require a nominal fee. Additionally, virtual field trips may be listed as an alternative to meet the same objectives as a face-to-face (on-ground) course.

SOC 310 Marriage and the Family

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025); Local GE L7B (effective Fall 2025); Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025)
C-ID:C-ID SOCI 130
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

This course examines the social, historical, cultural, and structural factors that impact families and influence societal definitions and expectations of the concepts of marriage and family. The intersection of race, ethnicity, class, age, gender, and sexuality will be explored. A field trip may also be included at the discretion of the instructor. Field trips may require a nominal fee. Additionally, virtual field trips may be listed as an alternative to meet the same objectives as a face-to-face (on-ground) course.

SOC 321 Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025); Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025)
C-ID:C-ID SOCI 150
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

This course examines the inequities experienced by racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Emphasis is placed on assimilation models to illustrate conventional thinking centering on the processes of becoming part of American society. In order to expand conventional thinking of these processes of becoming part of American society, emphasis is also placed on systems that perpetuate racial oppression, racial hierarchy (stratification), and theories of race that ascribe to both the histories and contemporary inequalities that shape life chances and opportunities for racial and ethnic groups in the US. A field trip may also be included at the discretion of the instructor. Field trips may require a nominal fee. Additionally, virtual field trips may be listed as an alternative to meet the same objectives as a face-to-face (on-ground) course.

SOC 341 Sex and Gender in the U.S.

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025); Local GE L7B (effective Fall 2025); Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025)
C-ID:C-ID SOCI 140
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

This course provides a study of the changing roles of women and men in the US. Theories of women's and men's gender role socialization, gender-related inequalities, health and body issues, and a current examination of the women's and men's movements will be explored. A field trip may also be included at the discretion of the instructor. Field trips may require a nominal fee. Additionally, virtual field trips may be listed as an alternative to meet the same objectives as a face-to-face (on-ground) course.

SOC 495 Independent Studies in Sociology

Units:1 - 3
Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

An independent studies project involves an individual student or small group of students in study, research, or activities beyond the scope of regularly offered courses. See the current catalog section of "Special Studies" for full details of Independent Studies. A field trip may also be included at the discretion of the instructor. Field trips may require a nominal fee. Additionally, virtual field trips may be listed as an alternative to meet the same objectives as a face-to-face (on-ground) course.

SOC 499 Experimental Offering in Sociology

Units:0.5 - 4
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

This is the experimental courses description.