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The Department of Sociology offers the Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology degree fully online through MS State Online. Students will gain the skills needed to think scientifically and practically about societies, human behavior, and social dimensions, all while being able to compete in a competitive marketplace or in graduate programs.

Our emphasis on methodology and real-world experience makes us unique among undergraduate programs in Sociology. Students will learn to collect, analyze, and interpret data, prepare publications and reports on research findings, and learn to apply theory and methodology as professional sociologists. Students graduating with an Applied Sociology degree can expect to find meaningful employment in any number of jobs in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors of society.

What's next?

Take the classes from the following categories to complete the major:

  • 18 hours of Required Applied Sociology Courses
  • 18 hours of Elective Applied Sociology Courses
  • Enough General Elective Courses to make 124 hours to graduate

By completing a bachelor’s degree in applied sociology online there is a chance to find:

By completing a bachelor's degree in psychology online there is a chance to find:

Immediate Employment:

  • Administration
  • Advertising
  • Banking
  • Counseling
  • Health Services
  • Journalism

Pursue Advanced Training:

  • Law School
  • Business School
  • Community Planning
  • Architecture
  • Medicine
  • Politics
  • Academics

Other Areas:

  • Group and Recreation Work
  • Market and Marketing Research
  • Non-profit Organizations
  • Teaching
  • Criminal Justice
  • Social Services
  • Social Research
  • Sales

Degree Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology degree:

  • Complete a minimum of 124 hours
    • Up to 62 hours may be transferred from an accredited community college
    • 18 hours must be from Required Applied Sociology Courses
    • 18 hours must be from Elective Applied Sociology Courses from Categories
      • Category 1 (6 hours) – Social Problems in Society
      • Category 2 (6 hours) – Community, Policy, and Practice
      • Category 3 (6 hours) – Applied Sociology Methods
  • Students must have a GPA of 2.00 on all college work prior to entering the major
  • A grade of C or better is required for all Applied Sociology courses to count toward the degree

Transfer Credit

  • Students may transfer up to 62 hours from an accredited community college.
  • You may not transfer any credits from a community college after you have a total of 62 credits accepted by and/or earned at Mississippi State University.
  • Last 36 hours must be from Mississippi State University.
  • Transfer students must have an average GPA of 2.00 to be admitted.
  • Upon admission to the university, the Registrar's Office will evaluate transfer credit to determine how it transfers to Mississippi State University.

Program Structure

75-78 Hours of University and College Core Courses
+36 Hours of Required Applied Sociology and Elective Courses
+ General Electives to make 124 credit hours
124 Hours to Graduation

Core Curriculum

All students who enter MSU must meet the common core curriculum requirements as set by the Board of Trustees, Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi to qualify for any bachelor's degree.

  • English Composition (6 hours)
  • Foreign Language (9 hours)
  • Humanities (18 hours)
    • 9 hours must be Art & Sciences Core
    • 9 hours can be General Education Courses
  • Mathematics (6 hours)
  • Fine Arts (3 hours)
    • 3 hours must be Art & Sciences Core
  • Natural Sciences (9-12 hours)
  • Social Sciences
    • 6 hours must be Art & Sciences Core (6 hours)
    • 12 hours can be Electives (12 hours)
  • Free Elective (3 hours)
    • Choose from any SO, ASO, SW, SRM course
  • Public Speaking (3 hours)
  • Major Core and Electives
    • See Applied Required and Major Elective Courses

Required Applied Sociology Courses (18 Hours)

Course Number Course Title Hours
ASO 1003 Introduction to Applied Sociology 3
SO 1103 Contemporary Social Problems 3
SO 3003 Social Inequality 3
SO 3053 Organizations in Modern Society 3
ASO 3213 Applied Sociology Research Methods 3
ASO 4803 Applied Sociology Capstone 3

Elective Applied Sociology Courses (18 Hours)

Choose two from the following three categories of the following courses:

Social Problems in Society (Choose 2)

Course Number Course Title Hours
SO 3703 Racial and Ethnic Inequality 3
SO 4273 Sociology of Education 3
SO 4423 Health and Society 3
SO 4703 Population Problems and Processes 3
CRM 3103 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice 3

Community, Policy, and Practice (Choose 2)

Course Number Course Title Hours
SO 4213 Poverty Analysis 3
ASO 4153 Internship in Applied Sociology 3
SO 4503 Gender and Work 3
SO 4733 Community: Organization and Relationships 3
CRM 3113 Community Crime and Prevention and Policy 3

Applied Sociology Methods (Choose 2)

Course Number Course Title Hours
ASO 3103 Program Evaluation 3
ASO 3203 Survey Design and Evaluation 3
ASO 4103 Applied Data Management 3
ASO 4203 Focus Groups and Interviewing 3
GR 4303 Principles of GIS 3

Students who wish to major in the department should plan their programs with the departmental major advisor as soon as possible after entering the University and should consult with their advisor before each registration period. The program is arranged individually to combine the most varied advantages consistent with the student’s interest and purposes.

Admissions Process

New Admissions

If you have never attended Mississippi State University, please complete the online Undergraduate Admissions Application. All new admits will pay a non-refundable application fee online.

  • You will choose Applied Sociology as your major and Online Education as your campus.
  • Request that official ACT or SAT scores be sent to MSU.
  • Request that your high school send your official transcript. Faxed transcripts will not be accepted.
  • Submit a separate official final transcript from each college or university attended; faxed transcripts will not be accepted. An applicant may not ignore previous college attendance and must list all colleges attended on the application for admission. You must be in good standing at the last college or university attended.
  • If you are able to submit official transcripts and other documentation electronically, you may send them to admit@msstate.edu.
  • If you are unable to submit official transcripts and other documentation electronically, you may send them via U.S. Postal Service to:
    Office of Admissions & Scholarships
    P.O. Box 6334
    Mississippi State, MS 39762

Academic Advising

After gaining admission to the university, you must contact your advisor to determine the courses that are most appropriate for you to take. Approximately two months prior to the upcoming semester, your advisor will send an email to your MSU email account, making course recommendations based on your program of study.

Mississippi State University uses email as its official means of communication with all MSU students. Please check your MSU email account (NetID@msstate.edu) daily. Information on setting up your MSU email can be found at the link for student services.

Ashley Vancil-Leap

Ashley Vancil-Leap, Ph.D.

Department of Sociology

  • Assistant Teaching Professor
662.325.7584

Program Reminders

  • If you want to deviate from the program of study recommended for you, check with your advisor
  • If you take courses not on your recommended program of study, there is a risk that the classes will not count toward your BS degree
  • You must get a grade of "C" in all classes required in the Psychology Major Core

All programs of study are subject to review by the Registrar's Office for graduation, even from a signed program of study. Courses that do not equal MSU courses exactly may or may not apply to your program as core courses. You can see these course translations through the CAPP report found at my.msstate.edu. To access the report, log into your myState account and click on the "hamburger" icon in the top left corner in order to access the Banner tab; click or hover over the myBanner for Students tab in order to view the Academic Records column where you can click on the CAPP Compliances link.

Undergraduate Catalog


Contact Information

Headshot of Ashley Vancil-Leap

Ashley Vancil-Leap, Ph.D.

Department of Sociology

  • Assistant Teaching Professor
662-325-7584
Headshot of Mark Jimmerson

Mark Jimerson

Online Education

  • Online Program Coordinator
662-325-2655