Best Sociology Programs in Kansas for 2027

Kansas State gives every sociology major the same three-course core: Introduction to Sociology, a four-credit Methods of Social Research that includes lab and field research experience, and Comparative Social Theories, with STAT 325 taken outside the major. Twenty-one elective credits follow, and two specializations are available, Community, Agriculture, Food, and Environment or Social Inequalities. Seniors with a 2.5 GPA and a faculty letter can take a supervised internship worth 7 to 13 credits, and an undergraduate thesis is an option if graduate school is the goal. With 28 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on the Kansas page.

Required Core

Introduction to Sociology, Methods of Social Research with lab and field work, and Comparative Social Theories

Specializations

Community, Agriculture, Food, and Environment; Social Inequalities

Senior Experience

Supervised internship for 7 to 13 credits, or a supervised undergraduate thesis

Program Sources: Undergraduate Programs | K-State | Kansas State University

KU’s BA in Sociology is built on a research-and-theory backbone: Introduction to Social Research (SOC 280), Elementary Statistics and Data Analysis (SOC 380), Sociological Theory (SOC 480) and a capstone. In the sociology capstone you design and conduct a project on a current social issue or for a local community group and write a professional-quality report. Math 107 comes before statistics, and the BA adds a second-language sequence. Many majors pair sociology with history, philosophy, political science or anthropology, or add a journalism degree. KU awarded 25 degrees in 2023–24, and the program ranks second on the Kansas page.

Research And Theory Sequence

Introduction to Social Research, Elementary Statistics and Data Analysis, and Sociological Theory

Capstone

SOC 699 Capstone in Sociology, a community-focused research project with a written report

Second Language

Language sequence required for the BA

Program Sources: Sociology | The University of Kansas Academic CatalogBA in Sociology | The University of Kansas Academic Catalog

Emporia State teaches sociology as an applied degree with five concentrations to choose from, including Families, Intersectionality and Identities, Rural and Global, and Graduate School Preparation, which adds grant writing, methodology and statistics for students heading to further study. The hands-on side comes from internships at community centers, independent studies you design and study abroad. The department points graduates toward case management, victim advocacy, family services, housing and immigration work, and data analysis. A Bachelor of Science version is offered too. The state page ranks Emporia third, with 12 degrees awarded in 2023–24.

Concentrations

Families; Intersectionality and Identities; Rural and Global; Graduate School Preparation

Hands-On Options

Internships at community centers, independent studies and study abroad

Degree Versions

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science

Program Sources: Applied Sociology | Emporia State UniversitySociology | Emporia State University

Fort Hays State asks for one choice up front. The BA requires ten credit hours of a language other than English, while the BS skips the language and leaves room for more technical coursework. Both degrees run 120 credit hours and follow American Sociological Association standards, starting with SOC 140, Understanding Society, and reaching Social Inequality, which looks at class, race, gender identity and wealth together, and a Grant Writing course. A Sociology Club carries out community service projects around Hays, and Alpha Kappa Delta, the sociology honor society, is open to juniors with a 3.0 in the major. The 27 degrees awarded in 2023–24 make it one of the larger programs on the Kansas page.

Language Requirement

BA: ten credit hours of a language other than English; BS: no language study required

Sample Courses

SOC 140 Understanding Society, SOC 470 Grant Writing and SOC 472 Social Inequality

Student Groups

Sociology Club and the Alpha Kappa Delta honor society chapter

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Sociology | Fort Hays State University

Wichita State’s BA in Sociology has five required courses: Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Sociological Theory, Introduction to Social Research, Introduction to Social Statistics and a Sociology Capstone. Fifteen credit hours of electives then let you follow topics such as deviant behavior, intimate relations and family life, gender and sexuality, aging studies, urban sociology or the social determinants of health. The capstone, SOC 514, doubles as the university’s applied learning requirement, so every graduate finishes with a research or applied project. Only 6 degrees went out in 2023–24, so expect a small cohort. The Kansas page ranks it fifth.

Required Courses

Sociology, Sociological Theory, Social Research, Social Statistics and Sociology Capstone

Applied Learning

SOC 514 Sociology Capstone satisfies the research or applied learning requirement

Elective Topics

Deviant behavior, family life, inequality, gender and sexuality, aging, urban sociology, health

Program Sources: BA in Sociology < Wichita State University Catalog

Sociology at Pittsburg State is an emphasis inside the Social Science major, and the program page leans it toward crime, law and justice. Your topics include Social Research Design, Social Research Analysis, Qualitative Methods and Justice Issues, next to a look at how law enforcement, courts and corrections work. Projects use scientific methods and quantitative analysis to address gender, race, culture and class. The page lists crime analyst, rehabilitation specialist, community liaison officer and policy analyst among the jobs graduates find. With a single degree awarded in 2023–24, this is a very small program, sixth on the Kansas page.

Research Methods

Social Research Design, Social Research Analysis and Qualitative Methods

Justice Focus

Components of the justice system and contemporary justice issues

Degree Map

A downloadable sociology degree map is available

Program Sources: Sociology emphasis | Pittsburg State UniversitySocial Science Major | Pittsburg State University

Washburn’s sociology BA puts mentoring ahead of a fixed track. Over 60% of classes have 20 or fewer students, and you can add directed research, an independent study on a topic you pick or an internship, with funding available through the Washburn Transformation Experience. Service projects connect you to the local community, and study abroad trips such as Explore Korea tie the classroom questions about culture and social structure to another society. Among graduates of the last five years, 17 percent went directly to graduate school in areas such as Library Information Science, Organizational Leadership and Museum Studies. Five students finished in 2023–24, and the Kansas page ranks Washburn seventh.

Applied Options

Directed research, independent study or an internship

Global Experience

Study abroad, including short Explore trips

Specialized Experiences

Community engaged research, project-based learning and issue-oriented service

Program Sources: Sociology degree at Washburn UniversitySociology & Anthropology - Washburn University

Baker University’s 124-credit-hour sociology BA is organized around concentrations. Crime and Criminology asks for 9 credit hours from courses such as Criminology, Youth and Crime, Cyber Deviance, Violence and Law and Society, with at least one internship opportunity. Welfare and Social Well-Being also takes 9 hours, drawn from Sociology of the Family, Aging and Society, Disaster and Social Trauma and Sociology of Medicine, and many of those courses include community service. You work closely with an advisor to shape the plan, and internship partners sit in Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City. Baker is a private campus where 2 students graduated in 2023–24, eighth on the Kansas page.

Crime And Criminology

9 credit hours covering criminology, youth and crime, cyber deviance, violence and law and society

Welfare And Social Well-Being

9 credit hours covering family, aging, disaster and social trauma, and medicine

Internships

Partnerships with agencies in Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City

Program Sources: Sociology | Baker University

KU enrolls every admitted student as a PhD student, and you earn the MA along the way, with a terminal MA available if you decide not to continue. The 48 required hours include Sociological Inquiry, Classical and Contemporary Social Theory, Analytic Methods in Sociology and 24 hours of elective seminars. Rather than one big written test, you compile portfolios that show command of two research topics, reviewed by a three-member faculty committee. You then pass an oral comprehensive exam and defend your dissertation proposal within six semesters after the MA, and finish with a dissertation and a public final oral exam. Six doctorates were awarded in 2023–24 at this Research 1 university.

Required Coursework

48 hours: sociological inquiry, theory, analytic methods and 24 hours of elective seminars

Portfolios

Two research topics of focus, reviewed by a three-member faculty committee

Doctoral Milestones

Oral comprehensive exam with proposal defense, dissertation and public final oral exam

Program Sources: Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology | The University of Kansas Academic Catalog

Kansas State’s sociology doctorate has four areas of specialization: Criminology; Community, Agriculture, Food, and Environment; Politics and Development; and Social Inequalities. Everyone takes the same core in sociological theory and research methods, 15 hours with 6 on theory and 9 on methods, plus 18 hours of electives. Once coursework is done you sit two preliminary examinations, and the degree closes with 30 hours of dissertation research. The department puts a typical doctoral timeline at five years, or four when your master’s came from the same program. One doctorate was awarded in 2023–24 at this Research 1 university.

Specializations

Criminology; Community, Agriculture, Food, and Environment; Politics and Development; Social Inequalities

Core Curriculum

15 hours: 6 in theory and 9 in methods, plus 18 hours of electives

Doctoral Milestones

Two preliminary examinations and 30 hours of dissertation research

Program Sources: The Doctor of Philosophy Program | K-State | Kansas State University