Best Sociology Programs in Kentucky for 2027

The University of Kentucky pairs the sociology major with a Criminology Minor and an Undergraduate Certificate in Social Science Research, so you can add research credentials to the degree. The internship process shows how the department works. Through SOC 399, Practicum in Sociology, you sign a learning contract with a worksite, and each credit equals 48 work hours, so a three-credit internship means about 9 hours a week over 16 weeks. Past sites include the Lexington Housing Authority, God’s Pantry and the Blackburn Correctional Complex. Its 21 degrees in 2023–24 help put it first on the Kentucky page.

Practicum

SOC 399 Practicum in Sociology with a signed learning contract

Credit To Hours

1 credit equals 48 work hours; 3 credits equals 144 hours

Add-On Credentials

Criminology Minor and Undergraduate Certificate in Social Science Research

Program Sources: Internships | University of Kentucky College of Arts & SciencesUndergraduate Program | University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences

Social justice is in the title at Morehead State, and it shows in the course list. The 15-hour core runs from Introduction to Sociology through Sociological Theory, Sociological Research and Quantitative Data Analysis, or Mapping Social Life if you prefer. You then pick a global elective such as Global Inequality or Cultural Anthropology, and two inequality electives from courses like Class, Power, and Privilege, Sex and Gender, and Race, Identity and Intersectionality. Majors take an exit examination and a senior seminar. At 34 degrees in 2023–24, Morehead is one of the larger programs on the Kentucky page, ranked second.

Core Courses

Introduction to Sociology, Sociological Theory, Sociological Research and a quantitative or mapping course

Inequality Electives

Two courses from options such as Class, Power, and Privilege and Sex and Gender

Assessment

Exit examination and senior seminar for all majors

Program Sources: Sociology and Social Justice Major – Bachelor of Arts

Louisville gives you three versions of the sociology BA, two tracks and one non-track, and all of them share one six-course base: Introduction to Sociology, a social problems, social justice or race course, Introduction to Social Statistics, Introduction to Research Methods, Social Theory and Diversity and Inequality. Research methods and theory both need a C or better. You finish with a Culminating Undergraduate Experience, which can be an Engaged Sociology course or a Senior Thesis. The department’s themes include Diversity and Inequality, Sociology of Culture, Health, Medicine, and Well-Being, and Urban Studies. Louisville ranks third on the Kentucky page, with 23 degrees in 2023–24.

Core Courses

Introduction to Sociology, Social Statistics, Research Methods, Social Theory and Diversity and Inequality

Culminating Experience

A designated course such as Engaged Sociology or Senior Thesis

Degree Options

Two tracks and one non-track version of the BA

Program Sources: Sociology (BA) | University of Louisville Academic CatalogsSociology | College of Arts & Sciences

Western Kentucky’s sociology major is a 32-hour BA that must be paired with a minor, certificate or second major. The core combines Introductory Sociology and Systems of Social Inequality with Social Statistics and its lab, Social Research Methods, Sociological Theory: Perspectives on Society and a first-year College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology course. Fifteen hours of electives follow, and you can draw on criminology courses such as Juvenile Delinquency, Race, Class, and Crime and Issues in Policing, or on Introduction to Social Justice and Field Methods in Ethnography. WKU ranks fourth on the Kentucky page after awarding 17 degrees in 2023–24.

Required Core

Introductory Sociology, Systems of Social Inequality, Social Statistics with lab, Research Methods and Theory

Elective Pool

15 hours from criminology, social justice, anthropology and sociology courses

Companion Requirement

A minor, certificate or second major

Program Sources: Sociology, Bachelor of Arts (775) < Western Kentucky University

Murray State’s sociology major sits inside 120 total hours and asks for 18 to 19 hours of required courses, 21 hours of required electives and an 18-hour minor. The required list includes SOC 100T Transitions, Social Theory, Writing and Inquiry in the Social Sciences, Research Methods, a Senior Seminar and a statistics course. Electives range from Global Sociology and Sociology of Migration to Sociology of Work, Qualitative Research Methods and Sociology of Youth Violence. Faculty research on social inequalities, media and culture, gender and immigration, and they work with students on research and publishing. Murray awarded 5 sociology degrees in 2023–24. It ranks fifth on the Kentucky page.

Required Courses

Transitions, Social Theory, Writing and Inquiry, Research Methods, Senior Seminar and statistics

Required Electives

21 hours including Global Sociology, Sociology of Migration and Qualitative Research Methods

Minor

An 18-hour minor is required

Program Sources: Sociology Program | Murray State

Northern Kentucky frames the sociology B.S. around six career areas: nonprofit, government, business, education and continuing education, graduate school, and self-employment. The degree offers co-ops and internships, class projects that address social issues, research studies, and written work you publish collaboratively with faculty. Internship examples include the Hamilton County Juvenile Court, the Ohio Innocence Project and the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, and majors have also completed co-ops and research practicums with Cengage Learning, U.S. Bank and DHL Express. Students often join the SAPiens Student Society or the National Sociology Honor Society. The Kentucky page puts NKU sixth, based on 10 degrees awarded in 2023–24.

Career Areas

Nonprofit, government, business, education, graduate school and self-employment

Applied Experience

Co-ops, internships, research practicums and class projects on social issues

Student Groups

SAPiens Student Society and National Sociology Honor Society

Program Sources: Sociology, B.S.: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Eastern Kentucky splits its sociology BA into two concentrations. General Sociology builds a broad knowledge base and lets you choose your own electives, while Diversity in Society looks at race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality and the intersections between them, with options such as Sociology of Migration and Social Inequality. Everyone takes the same core of Immersion in Sociological Thought, Research Methods in Sociology and a Capstone Seminar in Sociology. EKU also expects at least 39 hours of upper-division coursework spread across the degree. EKU sits seventh on the Kentucky page, with 10 degrees conferred in 2023–24.

Concentrations

General Sociology or Diversity in Society

Core Courses

Immersion in Sociological Thought, Research Methods in Sociology and Capstone Seminar in Sociology

Upper-Division Hours

At least 39 hours at the 300 level or above across the degree

Program Sources: Sociology, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) | Eastern Kentucky University Academic Catalog

Berea majors take five core courses, Sociology of Everyday Life, Cultural Anthropology, Methods of Social Research, Theories Guiding Sociology and Sociological Methods in Action, then add five more sociology course credits of their own choosing. The department strongly encourages study abroad and at least one summer internship, and almost every major completes one. Internships have focused on foster care, legal defense, refugee resettlement, education and the opioid epidemic, and recent study abroad terms have gone to Spain, Namibia, Bhutan and New Zealand. Majors are expected to build the writing and quantitative-analysis skills to carry out research on topics they care about. Berea conferred 10 degrees in 2023–24 and ranks eighth on the Kentucky page.

Core Courses

Sociology of Everyday Life, Cultural Anthropology, Methods of Social Research, Theories Guiding Sociology, Methods in Action

Distribution Courses

Five additional sociology course credits

Study Abroad And Internships

Strongly encouraged, with at least one summer internship

Program Sources: Sociology - Berea College

Asbury’s sociology program pairs big questions about the good life, social responsibility, justice and human flourishing with the technical skills of empirical data gathering and analysis, from a Christian perspective. Each student works with a faculty advisor who also mentors, and pathways can borrow courses from communication, social work, ministry and philosophy. Beyond class you can join independent or collaborative research projects, enter the annual SEARCH competition, study abroad in places like Kampala, Uganda and Paris, or intern with Springtide Research Institute or Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Alumni work in public health, international development, ministry and community development. Asbury graduated 5 majors in 2023–24 and holds ninth place on the Kentucky page.

Pathways

Electives can include communication, social work, ministry and philosophy courses

Research And Internships

Independent research, the SEARCH competition and internships with groups like Springtide Research Institute

Study Abroad

Opportunities in places like Kampala, Uganda and Paris, France

Program Sources: Sociology Major (B.A.) | Asbury University

Kentucky’s sociology PhD opens with 21 core credit hours: two quantitative data analysis courses, classical and contemporary theory, Social Investigation in the second fall, and 6 hours of approved methods courses. You then specialize in Crime, Law, and Deviance; Environment and Society; Health and Medical Sociology; or Social Inequalities, and 12 of your 15 elective hours stay in that area. A comprehensive assessment exam in the fall of year two decides who moves up to the doctoral level, and written and oral qualifying exams, a prospectus hearing and a final oral exam follow. Three doctorates were awarded in 2023–24 at this Research 1 university.

Specialization Areas

Crime, Law, and Deviance; Environment and Society; Health and Medical Sociology; Social Inequalities

Core Sequence

Quantitative analysis, classical and contemporary theory, and Social Investigation

Doctoral Milestones

Year-two assessment exam, qualifying exams, dissertation prospectus and final oral exam

Program Sources: Degree Requirements | University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences