Overview

The Sociology (Aging and the Life Course Concentration) discipline at the California State University San Marcos also offers comparative, cross-national, and cross-cultural perspectives throughout the curriculum. Sociological knowledge is vital to the understanding of contemporary problems such as crime, poverty, overpopulation, mental illness, and aging. Studying this field is highly relevant to careers in human services, research, and government that address these problems.

To study the broad subject of sociology, a student needs to acquire information (what we know), methodology (how we know), and theory (how we explain). A major in sociology will require students to develop backgrounds and strengths in each of these domains. Sociology students also need to acquire critical thinking skills necessary to understand the underlying sources of and policy responses to contemporary social problems. Students may choose to concentrate in a particular content area of sociology, such as health, education, and welfare; aging and the life course; critical race studies; or children, youth, and families.

Student Learning Outcomes

The primary aim of our curriculum is to provide students with the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand social life in an increasingly complex world. We want our graduates to be able to use the key insights and analytic methods of sociology to improve the social conditions in which they and others coexist. We expect holders of a California State University San Marcos bachelor’s degree in sociology to be able to address large- and small-scale social problems through constructive empirical inquiry, critical analysis, and strategic action. The Sociology Department’s curriculum cultivates the theoretical, methodological, and advocacy skills integral to meeting these goals. The list below summarizes the primary knowledge and skills students graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology will possess.

Students who graduate with a B.A. in Sociology will be able to:

Analyze and interpret the diversity of social experience using a sociological perspective, especially in relation to race, class, gender, age, sexual preference, religion and nationality.

Assess competing theoretical approaches to societal problems of publics with differing and multiple interests; specify structural or institutional sources of these social problems; and propose and assess policies, interventions and/or modes of advocacy that will enact positive change.

Locate, analyze, assess, and communicate sociological scholarship.

Articulate the applicability of and demonstrate ability to employ a range of research strategies—quantitative and qualitative—to particular research questions, theoretical orientations, and social contexts.

Articulate the ethical and social justice implications of sociological inquiry.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Sociology

The Child in Society

Graduate Research

Families and Intimate Relationships

Human Relationships Across the Life Course

Morality and the Law

Mental Health and Society

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-31 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-06-01 00:00:00 , International
Starting 2027-08-31 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-31 00:00:00 , National

Language

English

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IELTS

5.5

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

San Marcos, United States

Disciplines

Area & Cultural Studies Sociology View 807 other Bachelors in Area & Cultural Studies in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

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TOEFL^® IBT

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PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

5.5

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Other requirements

General requirements

National

Completion of preparatory A–G Courses

Test Scores (SAT and ACT)

Your official GPA for admission to any California State University, including CSUSM, may be different than the GPA on your high school transcript. This is because we calculate your high school GPA using your 10th–12th grade A-G courses.

International

University Application

All official academic records

Official English translations of all academic records

Affidavit of Financial Support

Copy of your Passport

Are or will be a high school/secondary school graduate or equivalent

Equivalent of a "B" (3.0) grade point average

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

16530 USD / year

≈ 16530 USD / year
Out-of-State

16530 USD / year

≈ 16530 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

6450 USD / year

≈ 6450 USD / year

Living costs

San Marcos

United States

1100 - 1600 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Sociology (Aging and the Life Course Concentration).

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Student Learning Outcomes

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

San Marcos

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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