Sociology, B.A.
DEPARTMENT
Department of Sociology
Matthew Jendian, Chair
Social Science Building, Room 227
559.278.2234
www.fresnostate.edu/sociology
MN in Sociology, Minor
BA in Sociology, B.A.
0MN in Humanics, Minor
MN in Humanics, Minor
Sociology majors receive strong grounding in traditional and contemporary social theory, methods of conducting social
research, and techniques of analyzing social data. Courses with a service-learning component provide students with an
opportunity to engage in participant-observation studies, while the Social Research Laboratory (SRL) gives them a chance to
participate in survey research. Encouraging student research is one of the hallmarks of sociology at Fresno State.
The program also offers advanced courses on topics ranging from medical sociology, religion, and family to popular culture,
deviance, and social movements and social change.
REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Sociology Major
Major requirements (45 units)
Tier One Lower-Division: SOC 1 (or 1S) and 3 (or 3S) (6 units)
Tier Two Upper-Division: SOC 125 and 130W (or 130WS ) or Upper-Division Writing Exam (See Major Advising Note 3)
(4-8 units)
Tier Three (Theory and Methods): SOC 151; 152 or 153; 175; and 176 (16 units)
Sociology Upper-Division electives (15-19 units)
General Education requirements (51 units)
Electives and remaining degree requirements* (24-30 units)
(see Degree Requirements); may be used toward a double major or minor
Total (120 units)
* This total indicates that 6 units of SOC 3 or 3S in G.E. Foundation A3 and SOC 1 or 1S in G.E. Breadth D3 also may be
applied to the sociology major. Consult the department chair or faculty adviser for additional details.
Major Advising Notes
1. Tier One Lower-Division courses — SOC 1/1S and SOC 3/3S — must be completed with a grade of C or better before
enrollment in Tier One Upper-Division courses.
2. Tier Two Upper-Division courses — SOC 125 and 130W/WS — must be completed with a grade of C or better before
enrollment in Tier Three courses, generally before the second semester of the junior year.
3. Upper-Division electives may be taken in any sequence.
4. Students majoring in sociology are permitted to pass the Upper-Division Writing Examination (UDWE) in lieu of taking
SOC 130W/WS, thus completing only two courses for 8 units in Tier One Upper-Division Core. However, students must
still complete a minimum of 45 units of sociology coursework for the B.A. If the student requests 1 unit of ENGL 100W
for passing the UDWE, that unit will be applied to the overall elective unit total for the B.A.
5. CR/NC grading is not permitted in the sociology major, except for courses offered only under CR/NC grading.
6. General Education and elective units may be used toward a double major or minor (see double major or department
minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
www.fresnostate.edu
California State University, Fresno 2015-2016 CATALOG | 1
7. No General Education Integration or Multicultural/International course offered by the Sociology Department may be
used to satisfy the General Education requirements for majors in the department.
FACULTY
All full-time faculty hold Ph.D.s and share a commitment to excellence in teaching. Their areas of special interest are diverse,
including social change, deviance, women in society, social stratification, social psychology, social theory, and research
methods. All are involved in the Center for the Study of Social Life in the San Joaquin Valley, which promotes scholarship
and research with a regional focus. Most of the faculty are actively involved in research. Recent faculty research has included
studies of opinions on women's issues, willingness to pay additional taxes, prayer, stereotypes and ethnic prejudice, and the
social organization of sport.
Name
Degree
Hagaman-Cummins, Natasha D
Email
Phone
nhagaman@csufresno.edu
Helsel, Deborah G
Doctor of Philosophy
deborahh@csufresno.edu
Huigen, Robin C
Master of Arts
robinh@csufresno.edu
559.278.7496
Jendian, Matthew A
Doctor of Philosophy
matthewj@csufresno.edu
559.278.2891
Jones, Andrew R
Doctor of Philosophy
anjones@csufresno.edu
559.278.8806
Kennedy, Gregory L
Master of Arts
gregoryk@csufresno.edu
Kennedy, Vera G
Doctorate of Education
vekennedy@csufresno.edu
Kubal, Timothy J
Doctor of Philosophy
tkubal@csufresno.edu
Medrano, Catherine R
Master of Arts
cmedrano@csufresno.edu
Nelson, Edward E
Doctor of Philosophy
ednelson@csufresno.edu
Nkosi, Janine D
Doctorate of Education
jnkosi@csufresno.edu
Palacio, Robert S
Doctor of Philosophy
bobp@csufresno.edu
Randles, Jennifer M
Doctor of Philosophy
jrandles@csufresno.edu
Simmons, Donnie R
Master of Arts
dsimmons@csufresno.edu
Sullivan, Christopher B
Doctor of Philosophy
chsullivan@csufresno.edu
Vang, Linda M
Doctorate of Education
lindavan@csufresno.edu
Werner, Tania L
Doctor of Philosophy
tpacheco@csufresno.edu
Whitley, Sarah L
Doctor of Philosophy
swhitley@csufresno.edu
Young-Alfaro, Morghan V
Doctor of Philosophy
moyoung@csufresno.edu
www.fresnostate.edu
559.278.5145
559.278.2275
559.278.5146
559.278.7574
California State University, Fresno 2015-2016 CATALOG | 2