Information about the requirements to complete the majors in Sociology and Criminology at SUNY College at Old Westbury.

2. During your time
here at SUNY
College at Old
Westbury, you
will be
introduced to the
thoughts and
perspectives of key
thinkers and
practitioners of the
sociological
tradition.

3. Why study sociology, or criminology?
An answer is provided by C. Wright
Mills (1916-1962), who was an important
sociologist of modern times:

4. Students should be aware that the Department is devoted to helping you develop
your critical, sociological mindset throughout your academic career. Here is our
stated Mission:
The Sociology Department provides students with a liberal arts education based on a
sociological understanding of human behavior, culture, and society through scientific
inquiry. Our majors in Sociology and Criminology provide a foundation for intellectual
development and civic responsibility in a diverse society, and require every student to
complete an original thesis based on primary research. Students who complete either
of our majors will have successfully demonstrated:
* competence in core sociological theories and intellectual traditions
* proficiency in methodological and analytical techniques
* an understanding of the social forces that shape interaction and behavior
* high levels of critical analysis, reasoning, and written communication
The Department’s faculty are committed to preparing students from every background
for graduate degree programs, as well as for careers in teaching, social work, law,
and a variety of research and other professional endeavors.
-- Adopted by the Sociology Department at SUNY College at Old Westbury, Spring
2011

6. Sociology Majors falling under the pre-Fall 2012 catalog must fulfill to the
following requirements:
Must satisfy College requirements for graduation [120
Credits total].
10 courses [= 40 credits] within the Sociology
Department must be completed to graduate with a
B.A. (90 liberal arts credits) or B.S. (60 liberal arts
credits) in Sociology.
Up to 3 courses [an Intro. Course, plus 2 others:
either two electives, or another Foundation Course
and an elective] may be satisfied by transfer credit.
A student must have earned a B+ or better in a
transferred Foundation Course to receive credit for

7. Older Catalog Requirements:
Foundation Courses:
SY 1500: Introductory Sociology
SY 4530:
Sociological Theory I
SY 4500: Cross Cultural Analysis
SY 4540:
Sociological Theory II
(now referred to as
Global Sociology )
SY 4520: Methods of Sociological
SY 5990: Senior
Seminar in
Research (now Research
Sociology
Methods I )

8. Older Catalog Requirements:
Sociological Theory I and Theory II may not be
taken together in the same semester, as Theory I is
a prerequisite for Theory II.
To enroll in SY 5990 [Senior Seminar], students
must be seniors [88 credits], and have completed
and earned a C or better in both SY 4520 [Methods]
and SY 4530 [Theory I], and one additional
Foundation Course, prior to registering for the
Senior Seminar.]
A minimum grade of C or higher is required for
courses counted towards the major. (NOTE: a Cgrade will not count towards the major.)

9. Sociology Majors falling under the NEW 2012-2014 catalog must fulfill to the
following requirements:
Must satisfy College requirements for graduation [120
Credits total].
10 courses [= 40 credits] within the Sociology
Department must be completed to graduate with a
B.A. (90 liberal arts credits) or B.S. (60 liberal arts
credits) in Sociology.
Up to 3 courses [an Intro. Course, plus 2 others:
either two electives, or another Foundation Course
and an elective] may be satisfied by transfer credit.
A student must have earned a B+ or better in a
transferred Foundation Course to receive credit for

10. New Catalog Requirements, 2012-2014:
Foundation Courses:
SY 1500: Introductory Sociology
Sociological Theory I
SY 4520: Research Methods I
Sociological Theory II
SY 4570: Research Methods II
Seminar in
SY 4530:
SY 4540:
SY 5990: Senior
Sociology
And, a ‘Cross Cultural Component’ Course, satisfied by
any one of the following: CR 3094, Drugs and Society; CR
3200, Crime, Media & Culture; SY 3700, Family and Society; SY
4160, Sociology of Culture; SY 4320, Population and Society; SY
4500, Global Sociology; SY 4651, Sociology of Communications and

11. New Catalog Requirements, 2012-2014:
Sociological Theory I and Theory II may not be taken together
in the same semester, as Theory I is a prerequisite for Theory
II. Research Methods I and II cannot be taken in the same
semester, and Methods I must be taken prior to Methods II.
To enroll in SY 5990 [Senior Seminar], students must be
seniors [with 100 credits], and have completed and earned a
C or better in both SY 4530 [Theory I] and SY 4540 [Theory II],
and both SY 4520 [Methods I] and SY 4570 [Methods II].
A minimum grade of C or higher is required for courses
counted towards the major. (NOTE: a C- grade will not count
towards the major.)
**Students may not repeat, more than once, any Sociology/
Criminology course used to fulfill their major requirements.**

12. Criminology Majors falling under the pre-Fall 2012 catalog must fulfill to the
following requirements:
Must satisfy College requirements for graduation
[120 Credits total].
10 courses [= 40 credits] within the Sociology
Department must be completed to graduate with a
B.S. in Criminology.
Up to 3 courses [an Intro. course, plus 2 others:
either two electives, or another Foundation Course
and an elective] may be satisfied by transfer credit.
A student must have earned a B+ or better in a
transferred Foundation Course to receive credit for
the course. [Must be from a 4-year accredited

13. Older Catalog Requirements:
Foundation Courses:
SY 1500: Introductory Sociology
Sociological Theory I
CR 1500: Introductory Criminology
of Crime
SY 4500: Cross Cultural Analysis
Seminar in
SY 4520: Methods of Sociological
Sociology
Research
SY 4530:
CR 4550: Theories
SY 5990: Senior

14. Older Catalog Requirements:
Sociological Theory I and Theories of Crime
may not be taken together in the same
semester, as Theory I is a prerequisite for
Theories of Crime.
To enroll in SY 5990 [Senior Seminar],
students must be seniors [88 credits], and
have completed and earned a C or better in
both SY 4520 [Methods] and SY 4530 [Theory
I], and one additional Foundation Course, prior
to registering for the course.]
A minimum grade of C or higher is required for

15. Criminology Majors falling under the NEW 2012-2014 catalog must fulfill to the
following requirements:
Must satisfy College requirements for graduation
[120 Credits total].
10 courses [= 40 credits] within the Sociology
Department must be completed to graduate with a
B.S. in Criminology.
Up to 3 courses [an Intro. Course: Intro. Sociology
and/or Intro. Criminology; plus, 1 other class: either
a suitable elective, or another Foundation Course]
may be satisfied by transfer credit. A student must
have earned a B+ or better in a transferred
Foundation Course to receive credit for the course.

16. New Catalog Requirements, 2012-2014:
Foundation Courses:
SY 1500: Introductory Sociology
Sociological Theory I
CR 1500: Introductory Criminology
of Crime
SY 2600: Social Deviance
Senior Seminar in
SY 4520: Research Methods I
Sociology
SY 4570: Research Methods II
SY 4530:
CR 4550: Theories
SY 5990:

17. New Catalog Requirements, 2012-2014:
Sociological Theory I is not, in the new catalog, a
prerequisite for Theories of Crime. However, students are
advised by the Department to avoid taking two theory
courses in one semester, as this could be overwhelming to
the student.
To have Senior Standing in Criminology, students must be
seniors [100 credits]; satisfied College-wide requirements of
English and Math skills; and, have completed and passed all
foundation courses (SY 2600, SY 4520, SY 4530, SY 4570, and
CR 4550) AND at least one 4000-level elective with a grade of
C or better.
A minimum grade of C or higher is required for courses
counted towards the major. (NOTE: a C- grade will not count
towards the major.)

18.  Social Work
 Environmental Studies
 Pre-Law Studies
 Public Policy
 Media &
Communications
 Please see the College
Catalog for details about
Requirements for these
Minors!

19. “The
Seven
Liberal
Arts,
ruled
over by
philosoph
The General Education Program at SUNY College Old
y”
Westbury is divided into several different knowledge
areas. Students must meet both Math and English
Proficiencies. Further, courses must be taken to
satisfy all of the following knowledge areas:

20. Courses must be taken in the following areas:
Domains/Knowledge Areas
Creativity and the Arts
Western Tradition
American Experience
Major Cultures
Foreign Language
Natural Science (with lab)
plus one course for each of the following:
Humanities
Social Science
Diversity
that in the course of completing your major,
some of the General Education areas will be filled. Theory I [SY 4530]
satisfies the ‘Western Tradition,’ while Cross Cultural Analysis (Global
Sociology) [SY 4500] fulfills ‘Major Cultures.’ The ‘Social Science’ area is
also easily filled [i.e., Intro. Sociology SY 2500], and the Department also
has several electives that will satisfy the Diversity requirement.

21. IN ADDITION:
There are Math and English requirements that are part of
General Education.
Students should meet these requirements as soon as
possible, in order to ensure moving through either the
Sociology or Criminology major on-time.
For example, you MUST have completed College Algebra
before enrolling in a Methods course.
You must also meet College Proficiency in English
(English Comp. I & II) before enrolling in 4000-level
courses.

22. Always remember that you are part of a program:
think of the connections between the courses that
you are taking in your Major! You are learning
important perspectives that will allow you to think
critically, not just in terms of future employment, but
also in your life.

23. Read
Question
Write
Enhance Your
Education
at SUNY College at Old Westbury

25. (Putting the Pieces Together)
*Remember the Requirements for Your Major
*Remember the Requirements for the General Education Program
**Here are the instructions for obtaining your Degree Evaluation:
*Access Your Degree Evaluation On-Line: https://my.oldwestbury.edu
Enter User ID and Password
Select Student Services Tab
Select Degree Evaluation
Select the Most Current Term, and ‘Submit’
Scroll to Bottom of Page and Select ‘Generate New Evaluation’
Select Detail Requirement, and ‘Submit’

26. Anyone may seek an advising appointment. First-year
and transfer students should especially see a
Sociology Department Faculty member!
Please be prepared with any necessary advising
forms: advising will go smoothly, if you provide your
Degree Evaluation, and you have filled out a form with
a list of courses that fit your schedule!

30. By accessing your course information via
‘myoldwestbury,’ you will be able to see
what books are required for your classes.
Such information must be provided by law.
As long as the information has been
submitted, then you have the opportunity to
prepare yourself for book purchases in
advance of the first class. Professors will
order books into the Campus Bookstore,
but knowledge of what books are required
can allow you to avoid delays at the
beginning of the semester!

31. •120 Credits to graduate
the University
•Completed the
requirements of your
Major
•Satisfied the General
Education requirements
•Fulfilled English and Math
proficiences
•Have a 2.0 GPA or
greater
•45 Credits have to be at
OR above the 3000 level!
[This is the last section on
the Degree Evaluation.]

32. Better Understanding of
Business, Industry, &
Organizations
How do sociological
variables such as race,
ethnicity, social class, etc.
affect organizations and
government?
Sociology and
Criminology
‘Applied Sociology’
Or, go on to Graduate
School for further study
and to pursue your own
research and teaching!

33. •Now is the time to be thinking about
graduate or professional school for
Fall 2014!

34. Explore sociology more at a professional conference!
Held at the Baltimore Hilton: Baltimore, MD
February 20 – 23, 2014
www.essnet.org
Poster presentations by Undergraduates
Submit a theme via the website; submissions must be in by December 15, 2013
$30 for student membership/$10 to register for the conference
(forms available on the website)

35. The Sociology Department is now creating a student database, so that we can
send you important announcements and departmental events.
Please fill out the online form at:
https://sites.google.com/site/owsocdatabase/

36. Plenty of useful, additional information about
the Sociology Department
at SUNY College at Old Westbury may be found on the
Department’s website, accessible from the College’s own
website.
[Go to: Academics  School of Arts and Sciences 
Sociology
Visit Department Site]
https://webfs.oldwestbury.edu/faculty_staff/hellerj/sociology

37. We are all here for YOU!
Make the Sociology Department your home!