Best Sociology Programs in Mississippi for 2027

Ole Miss gives you two routes into sociology. The BA covers social research methods, both quantitative and qualitative, plus theory, and the BS leans harder on computational social science and quantitative analysis. For the BA, the 30-hour major runs from Introductory Sociology through Methods of Social Research and Sociological Theory to Proficiency in Sociology, a zero-credit requirement, and 21 more hours of sociology electives. At least 12 hours must be earned in residence. The BA’s general education also asks for six hours of a language at the 2000 level or above. Eight students earned the degree in 2023–24.

Core Courses

Introductory Sociology, Methods of Social Research, Sociological Theory and Proficiency in Sociology

BS Option

Greater emphasis on computational social science and quantitative analysis

Major Size

30 hours, including 21 hours of sociology electives

Program Sources: Sociology (BA) | University of Mississippi Academic CatalogSociology (BS) | University of Mississippi Academic Catalog

Mississippi State sequences its 39-hour sociology major by level. You open with Introduction to Sociology, move through Cultural and Racial Minorities and one of Social Inequality, Society and the Individual or Organizations in Modern Society, then pick up the tools: Social Theory I and Introduction to Social Research. The upper-division core asks for seven more courses at the 3000 or 4000 level, at least five of them at the 4000 level. Social Research Practice caps the major as a capstone. Faculty research areas listed by the department include communities, environment and health. Eight students earned the degree in 2023–24.

Tools and Skills

Social Theory I and Introduction to Social Research

Upper-Division Core

Seven courses at the 3000 or 4000 level, with at least five at the 4000 level

Capstone

Social Research Practice

Program Sources: Sociology Course of Study | Department of Sociology

Jackson State teaches sociology inside its Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology, and the published four-year plan shows how the major is paced. Introduction to Sociology and Modern Social Problems come early. Methods of Sociology Research arrives junior year, followed in the senior year by Social Statistics, Social Theory, Race and Ethnic Relations and a Seminar in Sociology. Along the way you take Cultural Anthropology and Social Psychology, plus a modern foreign language and a computer literacy option. The department says it builds competent social scientists and teachers and prepares graduates for further study in sociology. Six students earned the degree in 2023–24.

Core Sociology Courses

Introduction to Sociology, Modern Social Problems, Methods of Sociology Research and Social Theory

Senior Year

Social Statistics, Race and Ethnic Relations and a Seminar in Sociology

Degree

Bachelor of Arts with 12 hours of required sociology and nine hours of sociology electives

Program Sources: Undergraduate Sociology Program – Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology | Jackson State University

Southern Miss pairs core courses in research methodology and theory with electives on social institutions, social justice and inequality, all within a 30-hour major. Sixteen students earned the Sociology BS in 2023–24, which makes it one of the larger programs on the Mississippi bachelor’s list. Students can write a thesis through the program’s thesis option, or take Independent Studies, and they present at USM’s Undergraduate Symposium on Research and Creative Activity, the Southern Sociological Society and the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Faculty projects you can join cover border and immigration issues, health and mental illness, deviance, social movements and educational inequalities.

Major Size

30 hours of required coursework in the major area

Research Options

Program thesis option or Independent Studies with a faculty mentor

Faculty Projects

Border and immigration issues, health and mental illness, deviance, social movements and educational inequalities

Program Sources: Sociology | Undergraduate Programs | The University of Southern Mississippi

Tougaloo’s Sociology B.A. is a 33-hour major built from eight core courses and three electives. The core includes Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, Social Problems, Sociological Theory and Methods in Social Research, which follows a statistical thinking course taken across the School of Social Sciences. Seniors take two seminars. In the first you write an empirical research proposal, with a survey instrument and IRB approval, and present it orally. The second has you carry it out and write the senior paper. You also take the sociology comprehensive exam, and electives include Sociology of Medicine, Criminology and Disaster Preparedness.

Senior Seminars

Senior Seminar I builds a research proposal, and Senior Seminar II carries it out

Methods Sequence

Foundations in Statistical Thinking, then Methods in Social Research

Exit Requirement

Senior Comprehensive paper and a 2.50 average in sociology courses

Program Sources: Department of Sociology and Social Work | Tougaloo College

Rust College houses its Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in the Division of Social Sciences, alongside political science, criminal justice, social science education and social work. The division states that graduates should be able to conduct social research and to understand the principles that influence human societies. Sociology faculty teach Introduction to Sociology, Methods of Social Investigation, Introduction to Statistics and The Black Family, and the division’s course list includes Social Science Research Methods. One faculty member lists teaching research methods and leading student presentations at professional conferences. One student completed the degree in 2023–24.

Division

Social Sciences, alongside political science, criminal justice and social work

Research Courses

Methods of Social Investigation, Introduction to Statistics and Social Science Research Methods

Faculty Courses

Introduction to Sociology and The Black Family

Program Sources: Division Of Social Sciences - Rust College

At East Mississippi, sociology is a university-related emphasis inside the Associate of Arts, which is built for students who plan to transfer and finish a bachelor’s elsewhere. The plan totals 60 semester hours of general education courses and electives, and sociology courses fall within the social and behavioral science block, with a faculty advisor guiding your choices. The catalog points you to the Mississippi Articulation and Transfer Tool so you can build a transfer guide for a public Mississippi university. The Social Science and Business Division lists Sociology among its transfer programs. Only one student earned the degree in 2023–24.

Transfer Pathway

Associate of Arts with a university-related emphasis, guided by Mississippi’s articulation agreement

Degree Plan

60 semester hours including English, public speaking, math, lab science, history and a foreign language sequence

Planning Tool

Mississippi Articulation and Transfer Tool for building a transfer guide

Program Sources: Associate of Arts - University Transfer Pathway - East Mississippi Community College