Sociology—Prelaw Major (B.A.)

Major code BA4254

College of Arts and Sciences
Sociology and Anthropology
Bentley Annex 162
Athens, OH 45701
socanth@ohio.edu
https://www.ohio.edu/cas/sociology-anthropology/contact

Charlie Morgan, Contact Person
morganc3@ohio.edu

Program Overview

The Prelaw Major in the Sociology and Anthropology department is designed to give students a solid foundation for successful careers in law and law-related fields. Coursework combines training in social inequality and working with diverse populations with the rigorous study of the processes and institutions through which individuals, families, and communities address problems and receive justice in multicultural societies. Students also develop skills in research methods, analytical reasoning and writing, ethical decision-making, problem solving, and public service.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

No selective or limited admission requirements.

External Transfer Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

The Sociology Prelaw Major provides a strong foundation for students who wish to attend law school or pursue careers in law-related fields. Career opportunities include work in government, public service professions, non-governmental organizations, community justice navigation, mediation, social justice organizations, public policy institutes, criminal justice organizations, court administration, offender rehabilitation, prisoner reentry programs, and restorative justice.

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Requirements

Universitywide Graduation Requirements

To complete this program, students must meet all Universitywide graduation requirements .

Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirement

View the College and Liberal Arts and Sciences Distribution Requirements .

Sociology Hours Requirement

Complete a total of 30 semester credit hours of SOC coursework, including all the requirements below.

Sociology Core Courses

Earn a C or better in the following three courses:

SOC 1000 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3000 - Development of Sociological Theory Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3500 - Elementary Research Techniques Credit Hours: 3

Sociology Statistics Courses

Complete one of the following courses:

COMS 3520 - Quantitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
ECON 3810 - Economic Statistics Credit Hours: 3
MATH 2500 - Statistics and Probability Credit Hours: 4
PSY 2110 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours: 4
QBA 2010 - Introduction to Business Statistics Credit Hours: 4

Sociology Electives

Complete two courses not used to satisfy other major requirements at the 3000- or 4000-level.

SOC 3090 - Sociology of Appalachia Credit Hours: 3
or
SOC 3090C - Sociology of Appalachia Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3150 - Social Identities Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3270 - Sociology of Education Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3290 - Race and Ethnic Relations Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3300 - Sociology of Poverty Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3310 - Class and Inequality Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3320 - Access to Justice Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3350 - Economic Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3400 - Population and Society Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3410 - Sociology of Immigration Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3560J - Writing in Sociology & Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3568J - Writing for Social Justice Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3600 - Criminology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3620 - Ethics in Law, Crime, and Justice Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3630 - Juvenile Delinquency Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3640 - Police and Society Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3650 - Sociology of Mental Illness Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3660 - Punishment and Society Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3670 - Corporate and Governmental Crime Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3685 - Human Trafficking Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3720 - Sociology of Masculinity Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4000 - Emergent Topics in Sociological Theory Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4130 - Media and Society Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4140 - Contemporary Social Movements Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4160 - Society and the Individual Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4190 - Group Processes Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4210 - Comparative Studies of Family Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4220 - The American Family System Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4240 - Urban Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4280 - Sociology of Religion Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4300 - Sociology of Organization Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4320 - Political Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4330 - Sociology of Work Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4500 - Data Analysis Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4610 - Crime and Media Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4620 - Sociology of the Courts Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4640 - Law in Societies Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4650 - Social Change Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4670 - Violence Against Women Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4680 - Crimes Against Humanity Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4690 - Crime, Risk, and Governance Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4700 - Sociology of Gender Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4710 - Gender and Justice Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4810 - Environmental Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4910 - Internship in Sociology & Criminology Credit Hours: 3 - 9

Social Inequality Requirement

Complete one course.

SOC 3090 - Sociology of Appalachia Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3290 - Race and Ethnic Relations Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3300 - Sociology of Poverty Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3310 - Class and Inequality Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4700 - Sociology of Gender Credit Hours: 3

Pre-Law Concentration

Complete three courses from the following list. Only one course at the 2000-level may count towards meeting this requirement. The SOC courses will satisfy major requirements in the sociology major and the POLS courses will satisfy social science distribution requirements in Arts and Sciences.

SOC 2300 - Social Inequalities and Social Change Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 2400 - Breaking the Law Credit Hours: 3
or
SOC 2400 - Breaking the Law Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 2700 - Social Justice Credit Hours: 3
or
SOC 2700 - Social Justice Credit Hours: 3
SOC 2800 - Gender, Crime, and Law Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3320 - Access to Justice Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3620 - Ethics in Law, Crime, and Justice Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3650 - Sociology of Mental Illness Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4620 - Sociology of the Courts Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4640 - Law in Societies Credit Hours: 3
SOC 4670 - Violence Against Women Credit Hours: 3

Sociology Capstone

Complete the following course:

SOC 4950 - Sociology Capstone Credit Hours: 3

Preparation for Law

Pre-law coursework in the Sociology and Anthropology department trains students to work with diverse populations and to understand the social and legal processes and institutions through which individuals, families, and communities receive justice in multicultural societies. Students acquire skills required for successful careers in law and law-related fields, including the use of research methodologies, critical thinking, analytical writing, public speaking, processing large texts, ethical decision-making, problem solving, and public service. Law-related internship opportunities are available. Students may also wish to apply to the Law, Justice & Culture certificate program .