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Students can opt for either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science program. The B.A. curriculum offers a comprehensive introduction to the discipline, covering its evolution, core concepts, methodological training, and specialized focus on key sociological areas. This program equips graduates with valuable career skills across diverse professional environments while laying the groundwork for advanced studies in sociology or related disciplines.
Sociology systematically examines human social behavior and group dynamics. Its subject matter spans the full spectrum of social life, from intimate family units to criminal networks, and from local community organizations to global nation-states. Sociologists explore interaction patterns between individuals and groups, revealing how various social contexts—including educational institutions, religious communities, workplaces, and digital networks—influence behavior and generate social cohesion or discord. The discipline employs diverse research techniques (including surveys, interviews, observational studies, digital data analysis, and demographic research) to uncover hidden social structures.
Sociology provides critical insights into systemic inequalities related to race, gender, and class by analyzing how social groups distribute resources, maintain boundaries, and perpetuate disparities. Additionally, it illuminates societal transformation processes, whether driven by major crises like global health emergencies and financial downturns, or through organized collective action such as activist campaigns and worker organizations.
The majority of Penn State’s applications come from traditional, first-year students. The following types of students are considered first-year applicants (or freshman applicants, as some refer to them): Current high school student in his or her senior year; Student who has earned a high school diploma or a GED and has no post-secondary coursework; Student who has attempted 17 or fewer credits (semester hours) of college coursework at a regionally accredited college/university before attending Penn State; Current high school student who may have enrolled in another institution(s) before graduating from high school (dual enrollment); Student who may have attended Penn State on a nondegree basis.
English Language Proficiency
The following are ways in which you can satisfy the language proficiency requirement: TOEFL: A minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 550 on the old paper exam and a minimum of 20 in each section of the new paper exam (code #2660); IELTS: A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 on the academic test.