The Medical Sociology track explores how social factors influence health, illness, and the healthcare system. It focuses on how societal forces shape our understanding, treatment, and experience of disease. Through a sociological lens, students gain insight into the complexities of health and healthcare access. This track prepares students for both graduate study and careers in health-related fields by fostering academic excellence and professional readiness. Graduates develop strong critical thinking, analytical, and technical skills, along with expertise in research and report writing. A key component of the program is the completion of an original research project by each student.
Sociology: Medical Sociology Track (B.S.)
Sociology: Medical Sociology Track (B.S.) may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via 性视界传媒 online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
Degree Requirements
Core Requirements: Basic Level
3 Total Credits
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- SYG2000 - Introduction to Sociology (3)
- SYG2010 - Social Problems (3)
Core Requirements: Advanced
14 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- SYA3400C - Applied Social Statistics (4)
- SYA4300C - Research Methods (4)
- SYO3530 - Social Power and Inequality (3)
- SYO4400 - Medical Sociology (3)
Medical Sociology Electives
21 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete at least 7 of the following:
- SYA4410 - Geographic Information Systems for Public Health and Society (3)
- SYD3805 - Sociology of Sexualities (3)
- SYD4020 - Birth, Death, and Population Trends (3)
- SYG4244 - Food and Society (3)
- SYO3408 - Animals and Health (3)
- SYO3410 - Mental Health in Society (3)
- SYO4401 - Social Determinants of Health (3)
- SYO4401 - Social Determinants of Health (3)
- SYO4424 - Men, Masculinities, and Health (3)
- SYO4428 - Sociology of Health Care (3)
- SYP3060 - Sociology of Sex and Reproduction (3)
- SYP3551 - Alcohol in Society (3)
- SYP4014 - Sociology of Happiness (3)
- SYP4550 - Drug Use in Society (3)
- SYP4730 - Aging in Society (3)
- SYP4731 - Health and Positive Aging (3)
- SYP4732 - Minority Aging and Health (3)
- Students may enroll for up to a total of 6 credit hours of Internship and/or Independent Study during their 性视界传媒 undergraduate career. Arrangements for internships are coordinated by the Director of the Department Undergraduate Program and require approval prior to beginning the work.
Interdisciplinary Restrictive Electives
15 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: Students should consider health-based minors and certificate programs that complement the degree experience. Associated minor or certificate programs are those identified in Program Details > Recommended Minors and Certificates. Students must satisfy course prerequisites before enrolling in the classes.
- When no official minor or certificate is selected, students may complete 15-18 credit hours of health-related courses from outside Sociology (e.g., Anthropology, Psychology, Health Sciences, Communication, Public Health) with the approval of the Director of the Department Undergraduate Program. Students must satisfy course prerequisites before enrolling in the classes.
Required Methods
3 - 4 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- SYA3352 - Spatial Sociology I: Intro to GIS (3)
- SYA4310C - Qualitative Research Analysis in Sociology (4)
- SYA4354 - Geographic Information Systems Applications (3)
- SYA4900 - Applied Sociology (4)
- SYO3573 - Social Networks: Theory & Applications (3)
- HSA4702 - Health Sciences Research Methods (3)
- HSC4730 - Applied Health Research Methodology (3)
- STA2360 - Introduction to Data Science (3)
- STA4173 - Biostatistical Methods (3)
- COM3311 - Communication Research Methods (3)
- IDS3053 - Interdisciplinary Research Methods (3)
- SOW3401 - Social Work Research (3)
- ANT4802 - Ethnographic Research and Field Methods (3)
- Earn at least 3 credits from the following types of courses: Honors Undergraduate Thesis I (4970H), Directed Research (4912), or other approved research-based or High-Impact Practice (HIP) Research-Intensive course.
Required: Capstone
4 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- SYA4450 - Data Analysis: Capstone (4)
Grand Total Credits: 60 - 61
- To fulfill the 120 hours required in this degree, select electives primarily from 3000 and 4000 level courses from within the Sociology Department, as well as from other departments.
Foreign Language Requirements
Graduation
Recommended Minors and Certificates
Students should consider health-based minors and certificates to complete the Interdisciplinary Restricted Elective requirement that complement the degree experience. When no official minor or certificate is selected, students may complete 15-18 credit hours of health-related courses from outside Sociology (e.g., Anthropology, Psychology, Health Sciences, Communication, Public Health) with the approval of the Director of the Department Undergraduate Program.
- Aging Studies Minor/Certificate
- Cognitive Sciences Minor
- Health Information Management Minor
- Health Communication Certificate
- Health Sciences Minor
- Health Services Administration Minor
- Human Services Minor
- Medical Anthropology Minor
Advising Note: Students cannot 鈥渄ouble count鈥� courses for both the Sociology major and the chosen minor/certificate. Careful planning will be required. Approval required by the Sociology Undergraduate Director.
Departmental Exit Requirements
- A minimum of "C" (2.0) or better in each course used for the major.
- Students must have at least a "C" (2.0) or better overall in the major.
- For assessment purposes, students are required to take a standard exit exam, for which there is no credit or grade, toward the end of their final semester before graduation.
University Minimum Exit Requirements
- A 2.0 性视界传媒 GPA
- 48 semester hours of upper division credit completed
- 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at 性视界传媒.
- A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
- Complete the General Education Program, the State Writing and Math Requirement, and nine hours of Summer credit.
- Application and admissions through The Burnett Honors College and the department. More information about Honors in the Major can be found at honors.ucf.edu/research.
Related Programs
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Social Work (B.S.)
- Psychology (B.S.)
- Social Sciences (B.S.)
- Health Sciences (B.S.)
Advising Notes
- Student majors are assigned a faculty advisor. To meet with your advisor, you should check their office hours or contact them via email or the department office phone to set up an appointment. If you do not know who your advisor is, contact the main office.
- Contact your Academic Success Coach (ASC) in the College of Sciences Advising Services (COSAS) office (CSB 250) for more information about overall progress toward your degree, GEP and other university requirements, academic probation, special problems as well as general academic advising.
Transfer Notes
- Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
- Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information (e.g., syllabus, course catalog description).
- Submit your requests for course evaluations at https://sciences.ucf.edu/cosas/ and click on "COS Course Evaluation".
- Although the statewide Common Program Prerequisites accept any lower division sociology course, SYG 2000 - Introduction to Sociology must be taken because it is the basic course and prerequisite requirement in Sociology.
