Sociology (AA)
Program Overview:
Make a Difference in People’s Everyday Lives!
Advocate for a malnourished elderly woman to ensure she is being sufficiently cared for. Listen to a patient with a traumatic brain injury who is concerned about going back to his family. Schedule employee yearly review meetings with employees and their supervisors. Compile data on completed surveys of what Generation Z thinks about Baby Boomers to bring societal awareness. Careers in sociology create endless opportunities to influence policy decisions and, ultimately, the lives of individuals in society.
Sociologists provide a vital service to the world: they observe society and, based on data, offer solutions to systemwide problems related to health, education, politics, criminal justice, business, or economics. It is a field that requires integrity, determination, curiosity, and compassion.
Careers in Sociology
With an Associate in Arts degree in Sociology, you may become a court advocate, community outreach worker, caseworker, human resources assistant, research analyst assistant, or youth counselor. You will likely have the opportunity to work closely with sociologists or licensed social workers and together, play an important role in the lives of everyday people.
Here are some careers and their salaries you could have with a Sociology degree:
Career information below taken from bls.gov December 2019. Go to bls.gov for most current career information.
Provide client services in a variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work.
Data for Los Angeles/Long Beach/Anaheim
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | $42.160/year | $20.27/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| Short-term on-the-job training | 7% increase (as fast as average) |
19,070 |
Care for people who have mental illness and developmental disabilities.
National data
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Certificate | $30,860/year |
$14.84/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| Clinical experience needed | 12% increase (faster than average) |
138,200 |
Compile and keep personnel records. Record data for each employee, such as an address, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports, and date of and reason for termination. May prepare reports for employment records, file employment records, or search employee files and furnish information to authorized persons.
National data
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree or Higher | $40,700/year |
$19.57/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 1% increase (little or no change) |
134,570 |
Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research.
National data
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | $50,420/year |
$24.24/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| Some needed | 13% increase (faster than average) |
34,550 |
Help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives.
National data
| Typical Education Level: | Salary: | Hourly Median Wage: |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | $49,470/year | $23.79/hour |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation: | Job Outlook 2018-2028: | Number of Jobs 2018: |
| None needed | 11% increase (faster than average) |
707,400 |
What You’ll Learn at LASC in Sociology
You can get Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Arts for Transfer (AAT) degrees through LASC’s Sociology program where you will improve your skills in research and understanding of society:
- Develop a critical awareness of societal changes and social relationship structures so you can analyze a broad range of situations within your field.
- Build leadership and teamwork skills through group and research projects, expand your objectivity skills to make measured and rational decisions within your research, and enhance your curiosity and observation skills to find different ways to look at societies and their interactions.
- Discover the complexities within human organization, social life, inequalities, and social justice through the use of sociology-based research methods and academic knowledge so you can solve issues, make comparisons, and gain a better understanding of how societies make the choices they make.
- LASC provides internships so you can build your career connections and create community ties for after you graduate.
- Want to transfer? An Associate in Arts for Transfer (AAT) degree in Sociology will prepare you to pursue a Bachelor’s degree. You’ll be able to save money on your first two years of college learning from engaging, motivated faculty. Plus, you can graduate with guaranteed admission into a CSU! See your counselor for details.
Degrees & Courses You Will Take
Review the LASC Associate in Arts in Sociology (AA) and Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer (AAT) degrees below along with our suggested course of study for these programs. Go to LASC’s current Course Catalog for specific course information:
Major Code: 2208.00
Total Units Required: 60
Upon completion of this program, you will:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology in historical and socio-cultural contexts.
- Give examples of the major properties of sociology research.
| Required Courses: | Units |
|---|---|
| SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 2 American Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 11 Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| SOC 12 Marriage and Family Life | 3 |
| Plus 6 units from the following list Electives: | |
| SOC 7 Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| SOC 19 Introduction to the Social Services | 3 |
| SOC 20 Directed Practice in Social Welfare | 3 |
| SOC 23 Issues of Manhood in US Society | 3 |
| SOC 45 Sociology of Media and Popular Culture: Examining Hip Hop | 3 |
| SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| ENG 102 College Reading and Composition | 3 |
| OR | |
| ENG 103 Composition and Critical Thinking | 3 |
| JOURNAL 101 Collecting and Writing News | 3 |
| OR | |
| JOURNAL 105 Mass Communication | 3 |
| TOTAL UNITS | 18 |
If you are planning to transfer to a CSU or UC, then an Associate in Arts in Sociology is for you! You can complete an Associate in Arts for Transfer Degree (AA-T) in Sociology if you planning to transfer to a CSU Sociology bachelor’s program, and by successfully completing this degree, you are guaranteed admission to a CSU upon completion of this program!
The Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer Degree requirements include:
- completion of 60 CSU transferable units, including the minimum 18 units in the major and the completion of either IGETC or CSU GE;
- a minimum GPA of 2.0.
If you are interested in completing an Associate Degree for Transfer, you must:
- Complete 60 semester units of 90-quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
- The Intersegmental General Education Transfer curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements:
- A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
*As required by Senate Bill 1440 & California Education Code section 66746.
ADTs also require that you must earn a C or better in all courses required for the major area of emphasis. A “P” (Pass) grade is not an acceptable grade for courses in the major.
You should meet with a counselor to determine the necessary course work to complete the general education requirements.
| Required Courses: | Units |
|---|---|
| SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 2 American Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 4 Sociological Analysis | 3 |
| SOC 12 Marriage and Family Life | 3 |
| SOC 11 Race and Ethnic Relations | 3 |
| Select ONE course: | |
| SOC 7 Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| SOC 19 Introduction to the Social Services | 3 |
| SOC 45 Sociology of Media and Popular Culture: Examining Hip Hop | 3 |
| MATH 227 Statistics | 4 |
| TOTAL UNITS | 18 |
Get Ready Before You Start
Interested in a career in sociology? Before your first class starts at LASC, you can start preparing for your sociology career:
- Make an appointment with your LASC academic counselor to review LASC’s program, start to develop a Student Education Plan (SEP), and discuss your career goals. If getting a bachelor’s degree makes more sense for what you want to do, LASC’s associate degree for transfer makes it easy to get into a CSU. And, you will also save thousands of dollars going to LASC for your first couple of years compared to going to a CSU all four years!
- Still in high school? Look for opportunities to volunteer and make positive impacts on wide-ranging issues in your community. Talk with your high school counselor to see if there are opportunities to intern at local nonprofits, human resource departments within local businesses, and shadow someone for the day. Look for summer opportunities in your local community service organizations where you can learn more, and gain more experience in your future career.
Program Learning Outcomes
As a student, upon successfully completing this program, you will be able to:
- Develop a critical understanding of social processes and structures in order to apply the tools of social analysis to a broad range of professional, academic and community situations.
- The methods and knowledge developed by sociologists reflect the complexity and human organization, social life, inequalities, and social justice.
- The ability to observe, organize and write clearly, as well as the development of skills in the analysis of data and collaborations.