Support Your Community Through Human Services
You care about others and want to support them in difficult circumstances. IUP’s Sociology/Human Services, BA, program will prepare you to make this positive difference in your community.
Sociology and human services are linked. By learning about human behavior and the structures that make up a society, you’ll understand the root causes of society’s challenges and know how you can help.
A degree in sociology from IUP gives you a high-quality education at an affordable price. You’ll be able to step into your career ready to contribute.
What You’ll Learn
Sociology is a social science that examines how human experience is shaped by broader social forces including cultural norms, social inequalities, and the structure of society as whole. By understanding how society and individual experiences are linked, Sociology prepares students to implement change at all levels of society.
Our talented and caring faculty will prepare you to become a qualified human services professional. As a sociology student, you’ll take core curriculum classes in sociology, then have the flexibility to choose electives based on your interests and goals.
You will learn about important topics like:
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Child abuse
- Delinquency
- Disabilities
- Discrimination
- Inequality
- Intimate partner violence
- Poverty
The sociology program is a great option if you want to pursue a graduate degree in social work, counseling, education, or law.
Imagine Your Future
With a BA in sociology, you'll serve as an advocate for those who need a voice: children, the elderly, veterans, the unhoused, domestic and sexual violence survivors, those with intellectual disabilities, and those experiencing substance abuse disorders and other mental health issues.
This type of work requires competence and compassion, and society has a great need for workers in community prevention and education programs.
With a heart to help and a degree from IUP, you will find many opportunities to make a real difference.
Our Sociology graduates have excelled in these jobs:
- Community health workers
- Community service managers
- Social and human services assistants
- Substance abuse and mental health counselors
The opportunities for a graduate with a BA in sociology are growing. Industries suited for human services majors are projected to grow faster or much faster than average through 2031.
Classes and Requirements
The Sociology, BA, program at IUP will teach you the theories and practices of sociology to prepare you for a career in human services. You’ll learn the foundations of clinical sociology and how to conduct sociological research – skills you'll need in your career.
Our helpful faculty will give you the foundational skills, and you'll have flexibility to study topics that interest you. You'll also complete a 6-credit internship, which gives you hands-on experience in your chosen field.
If you want to get to your career sooner, you can start your Master of Arts in Sociology program as an undergraduate. You’ll take graduate-level courses in your senior year that count in both your undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Full Academic Catalog Listing
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
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Student Organizations for Sociology Majors
The Sociology Club is very active on campus, hosting events where former students share their career or graduate school experiences with current students.
You could join the international sociology honor society, Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD). Members of AKD use what they’ve learned in sociology to help others. Membership is open to students who meet the minimum GPA requirements.
Popular Minors Our Majors Pursue
While pursuing your BA in sociology, you could consider several relevant minors:
- Child and Adult Advocacy Studies (CAAST)
- Criminology
- Human Development and Family Science
- LGBTQ Studies
- Psychology
- Sustainability Studies
- Women's and Gender Studies
Start your MA in Sociology as an Undergraduate
To get a head start, you have the option to start your graduate degree in sociology while still finishing your undergraduate degree. Once you are accepted into the early admission Sociology MA program, you can apply up to 40 percent of graduate program credits earned to satisfy the requirements for the undergraduate degree.
The Early Admission program will not only fast track your career, it also saves you money – you'll be paying undergraduate tuition for part of your graduate education. Undergraduate students in their junior year may apply for early admission into the Sociology MA program. Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA to be considered for early admission and must have completed at least 15 credit hours in their undergraduate major. Applicants are considered regardless of their major.
Admitted students must maintain their GPA at/above 3.0 to continue in the early admissions program.
Earn a Minor in Sociology
Compassionate and skilled professionals who understand what drives human behavior are in high demand in the workforce. If you’re pursuing a degree in psychology or business, for example, you can make yourself more marketable by adding a minor in sociology.
The minor in sociology is 18 credits. After your required courses, you choose from two different tracks:
- Sociology/General
- Sociology/Human Services
Required Courses
- Clinical Sociological Practice
- Foundations of Sociological Practice
- Principles of Sociology
Controlled Electives: Select one of the following
- Sociological Theory
- Social Stratification
- Two additional courses in SOC, one of which must be 300-level or above
To sign up, contact Dana Hysock Witham at dhysock@iup.edu.
Full Academic Catalog Listing
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
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Earn a Certificate in Sociology for Human Services
If you're interested in human services but aren't able to pursue the minor program, you could also pursue the certificate program. Earning a certificate only requires 12 credits instead of 18, and you’ll learn the foundations of human services that can help you excel in your career.
The certificate program is two core courses, then at least one elective from the social stratification and controlled electives.
Core Courses
- Clinical Sociological Practice
- Foundations of Sociological Practice
Social Stratification Electives: Select one course from the following
- Disability and Society
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities
- Social Stratification
- Sociology of Gender
Controlled Electives: Select one course from the following
- Child Abuse
- Delinquency and Youth
- Sociology of Human Sexuality
- Sociology of Aging and the Life-course
- Social Perspectives on Intimate Partner Violence
- Social Welfare Policy
Full Academic Catalog Listing
The course catalog is the official reference for all our degree and course offerings. Check it out for a full listing of the classes available and requirements for this degree.
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