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Why do societies change? Why does inequality persist? How do social media, politics, work, family, culture and institutions shape the choices we make and the lives we lead?
Sociology gives you the tools to understand questions like these — and the research, data, communication and organizational skills to build a career around solving them.
Mizzou's online Bachelor of Arts in Sociology examines how social forces shape the decisions people make. Everything from the groups and institutions they participate in, to the opportunities and outcomes they experience gets investigated. You'll explore topics including culture, crime and deviance, health, family, and social change while learning to analyze social problems through both quantitative and qualitative research.
This program prepares you for a career in any number of industries, including:
- Market and consumer research.
- Human resources.
- Government.
- Public policy.
- Criminal justice.
- Nonprofit leadership.
- Community development.
- Social services.
- And more.
Through research methods and capstone coursework, you will learn to design and conduct original research. You’ll be building practical skills for the workplace and preparing for graduate or professional study.
Already a Tiger?
This program offers an accelerated degree option for current Mizzou students. These allow qualified students the opportunity to complete their Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Public Affairs (MPA) at an accelerated pace.
Quick facts
Official name
Bachelor of Arts in SociologyCampus
Program type
Bachelor's degreeAcademic home
College of Arts & Science | Department of SociologyDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning CommissionFreshman credit hours
120Freshman estimated cost
$74,580.00Transfer credit hours
60Transfer estimated cost
$37,290.00*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
About the online sociology program
Mizzou's online bachelor's degree in sociology gives you the tools to investigate social questions systematically. You will learn how to collect and interpret data, design surveys and interviews, identify social and organizational patterns, evaluate evidence, communicate findings and understand how different communities and populations experience institutions.
As a sociology student, you will:
Analyze how social institutions, culture and economic conditions shape individual lives and communities.
Use qualitative and quantitative research methods, including surveys, interviews, statistics and other forms of evidence.
Build data literacy by identifying and interpreting patterns in social, organizational and demographic data.
Translate research findings into clear written and oral communication for different audiences.
Examine how race, social class, gender, age and other dimensions of inequality influence social experiences and opportunities.
Apply sociological theories to contemporary social problems and organizational challenges.
Develop skills in research design, evidence-based problem solving and decision-making.
Learn from faculty actively engaged in sociological research.
Career prospects
A sociology degree prepares graduates to understand people, organizations and social systems. They also learn practical tools to collect evidence, analyze patterns and communicate findings. Those capabilities are valuable in roles that require research, problem solving, organizational insight and working with varied communities and populations.
Some of the industries and roles your online BA in sociology prepares you for include:
Market and consumer research: survey design, interviewing, audience analysis and interpreting patterns in consumer behavior.
Human resources and organizational development: understanding workplace dynamics, organizations and employee experiences.
Government and public policy: research, program evaluation, demographic analysis and evidence-based decision-making.
Criminal justice and community services: understanding institutions, communities, inequality and social behavior.
Nonprofit and community leadership: needs assessment, program development, advocacy and community engagement.
Communications and public-facing roles: audience analysis, research, writing and presenting complex information clearly.
Graduate and professional study: preparation for law, public administration, social work and advanced study in the social sciences.
Program structure
Curriculum for the online bachelor’s in sociology covers theories and research techniques through introductory to advanced courses and electives. Students further complete a capstone project that can be research based, a thesis or an internship in line with their professional goals.
The major requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, including entry and basic courses (12 credit hours) and post-basic courses and electives (18 credit hours). Students earn 120 total credit hours between their major and Mizzou’s general education and College of Arts and Science’s foundation requirements.
The program is 100% online: no campus visits are required. Online courses have varying lengths. The length of your program depends on how many credit hours you transfer and whether you study part or full time.
Core course work covers
Core courses for the online bachelor’s in sociology expose you to:
- The nature and structure of group dynamics, including in formal and informal settings, and their social influence
- Sociology theories that shape modern American society
- Research techniques for conducting surveys, designing studies and interpreting results
Review the structure and all course descriptions for the online bachelor’s in sociology.
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
VariesTypical course load
Varies if full time or part timeAccreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
Faculty spotlight
Dr. Eileen Avery is Professor of Sociology at University of Missouri Columbia. Her research focuses on how larger structural forces (economic, cultural, and geographical) influence health, wellbeing, and social control. Dr. Avery teaches Sociology of Health (SOCIOL 3440), Urban Sociology (SOCIOL 3000), Criminology (SOCIOL 3600), and Urban Life and Icelandic Culture (Sociology 3000W, an online-hybrid study abroad course which includes a trip abroad in Iceland).
Dr. Stephen Christ is Assistant Teaching Professor of Sociology at the University of Missouri Columbia. His research and teaching interests are at the intersections of race, culture, and society. His previous research has examined the everyday experiences of Mexican immigrants in the United States that contribute to Mexican-American identity formation. Dr. Christ teaches Introduction to Sociology (SOCIOL 1000), Social Deviance (SOCIOL 1650), and Sociology of Immigration (SOCIOL 4545). He is also developing new courses in a variety of different areas.
Dr. Kathryn Rittenhour is Assistant Teaching Professor of Sociology at the University of Missouri Columbia. Her research and teaching interests are at the intersections of gender, sexuality, and culture. More specifically, she explores how gendered and sexual scripts enable and constrain attitudes and behaviors to identify those contexts and interactions that increase opportunities for sexual agency and successful consent negotiations. Dr. Rittenhour teaches Social Problems (SOCIOL 1010), Sociology of Gender (SOCIOL 3320), and is developing additional courses in the area of sexuality and society.
Dr. Hermsen is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Missouri, Columbia. Her teaching and research interests are at the intersections of inequalities, families, and the sociology of work. She is currently working on a project analyzing the narratives of food insecure Missourians. Dr. Hermsen regularly teaching the Sociology of the Family (SOCIOL 3420), Social Research (SOCIOL 3950), and Social Inequality.
Chris Conner is an assistant professor in the College of Arts and Science Department of Sociology at the University of Missouri. He serves as the online course coordinator and teaches drugs and society and mentors student research projects.