Sociology Bachelor of Arts
(Applied Sociology Emphasis)
Online Degree Completion Program

Online Sociology Bachelor Completion Program
Academic Program Coordinator

Angie Henderson, Ph.D.
sociologyonline@unco.edu
(970) 351-2195

A Degree Completion Program

This online degree completion program is designed for those who have some college credit and want to attain a liberal arts degree (120 total credit hours) with transferable skills that will prove useful in a variety of professions and industries.

• It is recommended but not required that you have 60 hours of transferable college credit or an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree.
• The Course of Study section below has more information on the required Liberal Arts Core courses and required Sociology coursework. The more completed coursework you are able to transfer toward these requirements, the less coursework you will need in this completion program.

Admission Requirements

• You must meet the UNC undergraduate admission requirements for the academic year for which you are applying. See the UNC Catalog for current admission requirements.
• A strong candidate for transfer admission to UNC will have at least a 2.4 cumulative G.P.A. from all schools attended and students with lower than a 2.4 G.P.A. will be considered on an individual basis.

Eligibility by State

UNC has secured approval from almost every state, as required by new federal regulations, so that students are eligible to apply to online programs at UNC. However we are unable to accept applications at this time for our online programs from students residing in a few select states because their requirements, particularly application fees, for such approval are prohibitive. Please verify your Eligibility by State before applying.

Note: All international students residing outside of the United States are eligible to apply to our online programs. Students attending online while residing outside of the United States do not need student visas for admission.

Transferring Credit

In order to be considered a transfer student at the University of Northern Colorado, you must have completed more than 12 semester hours of transferable college credit after graduating from high school.  To be able to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UNC, you must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours on the UNC campus. Twenty of the last 30 semester credit hours must be earned in UNC courses.

You may transfer in to UNC:

• Up to 90 college credit hours with a 2.4 cumulative G.P.A. from all higher education institutions attended.
• Credits in courses comparable to those at UNC earned at a regionally-accredited institution with a grade of C or better will be considered for transfer.
• Review process: official transcripts are reviewed by both UNC Admissions and the Sociology program. Transfer students are advised on placement in the 120 credit hour program following this Transfer Evaluation. See more details about the UNC Transfer Evaluation at http://www.unco.edu/admissions/transfer/transferguidesoverview.asp. You will also send a Sociology content evaluation sheet to the Sociology department. See the Get Started section below for more information.
  
• A student who has earned a liberal-arts based Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree or equivalent program as determined by the UNC Admissions Office will receive credit for such work and be excused from Areas 1-8 of the Liberal Arts Core requirements. See Course of Study section for details.
• More information about how to start this process and submit your academic transcripts to the Sociology Department is in the Get Started section below.

A Program Designed for Adult Learners

This online bachelor's degree completion program is designed for busy adults who need to fit their college completion into busy lives, no matter where they live. You can begin the program in any term (Summer, Fall or Spring) and can earn at least 12 credits per term while only taking two courses at a time (take more credits if you choose). The Sociology online program coursework is designed to take two years for those who have no other relevant Sociology coursework beyond the LAC courses.

Fall and Spring Semesters

• At least two 16-week courses available each term.
• Three sequential 6-weeks courses are offered (beginning one week before the traditional semester start date).
• Example fall and spring schedule if you take one semester-length course and all three 6-week courses. You can take 12 credits and only be working on two courses at a time.
  

Summer Sessions

• Multiple courses are offered in the summer term in the two 6-weeks sessions. If you take two 3-credit hour courses each session you will earn 12 credits in the summer term.

Orientation to Online Learning
Before you begin your first academic course, we strongly recommend that you register for and complete the short Orientation to Online Learning course—especially if you do not have recent experience taking classes online. This free non-credit, non-graded course provides students with an introduction to online learning at UNC and provides important skills, knowledge, and resources to help students succeed.

The course is available each term and is self-paced.

Credits Required for Graduation from the Sociology BA: Applied Sociology Emphasis Online Program

120 total credit hours required. See the Admission Requirements and Transfer Credit section above for details about transferring your current college credit in to satisfy the 120 hour requirement, including the Liberal Arts Core coursework and what courses can be applied toward the Sociology requirements. Contact the Academic Program Coordinator with any questions about the degree requirements.

Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Coursework (40 credit hours)

UNC requires a set of courses intended to provide a core of liberal arts knowledge and skills that will make you a continual learner across disciplines. Many of these courses will hopefully be fulfilled from your transferred credit. If you are missing any of this coursework, many are available online through UNC (many LAC course offerings are during Summer sessions; UNC does not currently have online LAC courses in the following subjects: Math, and Science with lab).

Credits required:
Area 1: Communication/Composition (6 hours)
Area 2: Mathematics (3) *Must include STAT 150 (preferred) or Math 124 or higher
Area 3: Arts & Humanities (6-9 hours from 2 subcategories)
Area 4: History (3)
Area 5: Social & Behavioral Sciences (3-6 hours) *Must include SOC 100
Area 6: Physical & Life Sciences (7)
Area 7: International Studies (3)
Area 8: Multicultural Studies (3)

**A student who has earned a liberal-arts based Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree or equivalent program as determined by the UNC Admissions Office will receive credit for such work and be excused from Areas 1-8 of the LAC requirements. Note: the Sociology department requires SOC 100 and the appropriate math course even if LAC requirements are waived by UNC.

Required Sociology Credits (41 credit hours)

At least 50% of the courses taken to complete the major must be upper division (300-400 level). A 2.0 G.P.A. within the Sociology major is required.

Required Courses (20+ hours)
SOC 231 Introduction to Sociological Practice (3)
SOC 351 Classical Social Theory (3)
SOC 352 Contemporary Social Theory (3)
SOC 361 Methods of Sociological Research I (3)
SOC 363 Methods of Sociological Research I Lab (1)
SOC 362 Methods of Sociological Research II (3)
SOC 364 Methods of Sociological Research II Lab (1)
SOC 492 Practicum in Applied Sociology (3-9)

Required Concentration (9+ hours)
Choose from:

• Life Course and Social Identity
• Institutions
• Deviance, Delinquency and Crime
• Social Policy

View the Sociology Online Bachelor Completion Program Curriculum Guide (pdf) for available courses for each concentration option and for course descriptions to determine if your prior Sociology coursework may be eligible to safisfy specific Sociology major coursework requirements.

Elective Major Coursework
The remainder of the 41 credits may be made up of elective Sociology options within the same concentration area, other concentrations, etc.

Upcoming Online Sociology Courses—Check out which courses are available for upcoming terms.

Tuition

This program is offered through the UNC Office of Extended Studies, which means a flat per-credit tuition rate for all students in the program. There are no student fees. Certain courses may carry specific course fees for additional services and materials.

Tuition rates are set each academic year (which begin each Fall semester). The tuition rate for the 2012-13 school year for this program is $325 per credit hour.

Financial Aid

Students who cannot pay for tuition alone are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA priority filing date for each academic year (which begins each August) is March 1. Late submissions of the FAFSA are still accepted but may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.

Bachelor’s students require enrollment in a minimum of 6 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full time enrollment is based on 12 credits.

To apply for federal financial aid assistance
Fill out the FAFSA form at www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Extended Studies degree seeking students may contact Aimee Rogers in Financial Aid for more specific help at (970) 351-2502 or visit UNC Financial Aid website.

Students can also find information in the Guide to Federal Student Aid at studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html

Step 1: Contact Us With Any Questions

You can start the Online Sociology Bachelor's Completion Program any term! Contact the Off-Campus Program Coordinator (information above) with any program questions or use the "Send Me Information" function to have us contact you.

Step 2: Apply to UNC

Apply Now! Important directions to help you with the entire admissions process are listed in the Online Sociology BA Completion Degree Admissions Process sheet (pdf).

Make sure to have sealed official transcripts sent to UNC for all previously earned credit. UNC admissions will use your submitted transcripts to determine credit towards overall degree completion. Please notify Sociology that you have applied.

Step 3: Submit a Transcript Evaluation Form to the Sociology Department

Complete the Sociology Online Bachelor's Degree Completion Transcript Evaluation Form (pdf) and send it to the Sociology department as listed on the form.

Transcripts are pre-screened by a Sociology advisor. You will receive an email regarding the status of courses completed toward the your sociology coursework and Liberal Arts Core coursework, as well as advisor contact information and your next steps. You will then develop a program of study with your advisor.