Bachelor of Science in Sociology Online
The bachelor's in sociology program from NKU provides an understanding of the roles of people within communities and society and helps you develop a diverse set of in-demand skills that give you a professional advantage in a variety of careers and industries.
Now lower tuition to make your undergraduate journey even more affordable! $320 per credit hour with Path to Success Scholarship*
Program Overview
Discover what our online bachelor’s degree in sociology offers you
Enrich your ability to think critically about societies and learn to understand and appreciate behavioral differences among people in the NKU Bachelor of Science in Sociology online. You will graduate this program equipped with the knowledge gained in examining how social influences affect different individuals, groups, and organizations.
Our 100% online curriculum emphasizes sociological concepts, theories, and methods as powerful analytical tools for making connections between personal problems and larger social issues. Learn to use research, data analysis, and high-level analytical thinking to solve complex problems. Elective coursework includes criminology, marriage and the family, the sociology of work and occupations, and popular culture.
In this online bachelor’s in sociology program, you will:
- Study how people interact with one another in society and how communities are intertwined
- Examine dominant-minority intergroup relations, prejudice, discrimination, and other intergroup processes
- Gain an understanding of theories involving social class, distribution of wealth, power, and prestige in the U.S.
- Analyze the interaction of technology and society, including the social changes and issues that arise with technological advancement
- Study how people interact with one another in society and how communities are intertwined
- Examine dominant-minority intergroup relations, prejudice, discrimination, and other intergroup processes
- Gain an understanding of theories involving social class, distribution of wealth, power, and prestige in the U.S.
- Analyze the interaction of technology and society, including the social changes and issues that arise with technological advancement
Job opportunities with a sociology degree:
- Social Scientist
- Political Analyst
- Human Resources Manager
- Market Research Analyst
- Survey Researcher/Pollster
- Social Scientist
- Political Analyst
- Human Resources Manager
- Market Research Analyst
- Survey Researcher/Pollster
Also available:
Northern Kentucky University offers value in a broad range of online undergraduate programs.
Tuition
Find out how and when to pay your tuition
The B.S. in Sociology online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. Financial aid may be available to students who qualify. For additional information, visit the Financial Aid section on our FAQ page.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | University Fee Per Credit Hour |
|---|---|---|
| B.S. in Sociology | $485 | $16 |
| With Path to Success Tuition* | $320 | $16 |
*The Path to Success Scholarship is available to first-time NKU OnlineA students only; existing students may not participate. The Scholarship cannot be combined with any other offer and is not available for the RN to BSN online program. Students who step out of the program for more than a year (thus requiring a new application) will no longer receive the offer; instead, they must pay the tuition or scholarship rate available at the time of new enrollment. Excludes some program-specific fees that will be divided and assessed by credit hour based on the number of hours taken. Tuition and fees subject to change at any time.
Tuition Breakdown:
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Ranked among the "Top Public Schools" by U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Calendar
Jot down these important dates for our students
The B.S. in Sociology is delivered in a flexible online format with six starts a year and 7-week courses. View the full calendar to see all upcoming dates. When you're ready to get started, be sure to submit your application, registration, documents, and tuition by the corresponding deadlines.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/13/25 | 1/3/25 | 1/7/25 | 1/10/25 | 1/13/25 |
| Spring 2 | 3/17/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/10/25 | 3/14/25 | 3/17/25 |
| Summer 1 | 5/12/25 | 4/30/25 | 5/5/25 | 5/9/25 | 5/12/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/30/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 6/27/25 | 6/30/25 |
Now enrolling:
Admissions
Find your fit for our online sociology program
The admission process is the first step toward earning your online sociology bachelor’s degree. Please reach out to one of our enrollment specialists if you have any questions.
Admission Requirements:
- Official transcripts from each college attended
- 2.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Online application fee waived for active/veteran military
B.S. in Sociology Online Admission Requirements
Applicants for the B.S. in Sociology online program are evaluated on a holistic basis and must meet the following requirements:
Transfer Admission
Transfer applicants are students who have graduated from high school and have previously attempted coursework for credit (other than college credits taken while in high school) at another accredited college or university.
Students with a minimum 2.0 GPA from an accredited institution and 24 or more transferable credit hours must submit the following:
- Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
- If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee. The fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
- Official transcripts from each college attended
Students with a minimum 2.0 GPA and fewer than 24 transferable credit hours are evaluated based on the freshman admission standards and must supply the following:
- Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
- If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee. The fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
- Official transcripts from each college attended
- Final and official high school transcript or GED scores
- New transfer students who apply to the University with fewer than 24 college credit hours earned and a 2.75 and greater unweighted high school GPA will be offered admissions regardless of ACT/SAT scores. Please note: Nursing and respiratory care programs require ACT/SAT scores.
- New transfer students with a 2.7499 unweighted high school GPA and less will be required to submit ACT or SAT test scores:
- Required ACT scores:
18 (English, math, reading) - Required SAT scores:
Prior to March 2016: 430 (math, writing); 450 (critical reading)
March 2016 to present: 480 (evidence-based reading and writing); 470 (math)
- Required ACT scores:
Freshman Applicants
A freshman applicant is a prospective student who has not attempted coursework at an accredited college or university (other than college credit earned while in high school or during the summer immediately following high school graduation).
Students who are 21 years or older and have never attended college (other than college credits taken while in high school) must supply:
- Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
- If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee. The fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
- Official high school transcripts or GED scores
Students who are under 21 years old and have never attended college (other than college credits taken while in high school) must supply:
- You might qualify to apply Direct Admit to NKU, view the direct admit requirements.
- An online application form
- A $40 nonrefundable application fee
- Official high school transcripts or GED scores
- Freshmen applicants must have at least a 2.0 unweighted high school GPA to be considered for admissions.
- Freshman applicants with a 2.75 and greater unweighted high school GPA will be offered admissions regardless of ACT/SAT scores. Please note: Nursing and respiratory care programs require ACT/SAT scores.
- Freshman applicants with a 2.7499 unweighted high school GPA and less will be required to submit ACT or SAT exam scores:
- Required ACT scores:
18 (English, math, reading) - Required SAT scores:
Prior to March 2016: 430 (math, writing); 450 (critical reading)
March 2016 to present: 480 (evidence-based reading and writing); 470 (math)
- Required ACT scores:
NKUWrite (English and reading) and ALEKS (math) scores are encouraged for placement. Some courses may require placement testing depending on transfer credit or ACT scores. Our Testing Services office can help you schedule these tests.
Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:
Northern Kentucky UniversityOffice of Admissions
Lucas Administrative Center
400 Nunn Drive
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.
Direct Admit for Freshmen Applicants
High school seniors with a current, unweighted GPA of 2.75 or higher can be directly admitted to NKU. No application, essays, or fees are required.
How Direct Admit works:
- Are you a high school senior with an unweighted GPA of 2.75 or higher?
- Will you be a new, first-time freshman?
- Are you a resident of the United States?
If you answered "yes" to all of the above, you are eligible to receive a direct admissions offer from NKU. Once you receive the email from NKU offering you direct admissions, click the embedded link to accept Direct Admit. Your personal NKU enrollment specialist will reach out promptly to begin solidifying your spot at NKU.
Direct Admit is a conditional admission offer for qualified students as determined by your current high school GPA.* Submit your unofficial transcripts to verify your current GPA. Final admission to NKU will be determined by official final transcripts submitted upon your high school graduation. You will work with NKU and your high school counselor to submit all unofficial and/or official final transcripts. Learn more about Direct Admit.
Click the button to begin!
*Conditional based on submission of high school transcript.
If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, we still offer a streamlined path to admissions! Please follow the instructions under "Freshman Applicants" above.
Courses
View the courses for our online B.S. Sociology degree program
For the Bachelor of Science in Sociology online, students must complete 36 credit hours in the discipline, 29 of which must be at the 300 or 400 level. Students majoring in sociology are required to complete six core courses (15 credit hours) and choose seven electives.
A minimum grade of C (2.00) is required for each of the core courses. Students can choose between SOC 100 or SOC 101:
Students must take 37 credit hours of general education courses, selected from the following categories. Note, some general education courses may be part of the major/minor/focus requirements. If so, those courses may be used to count for both general education and the major/minor/focus.
- General Education Courses:
- Communication; Written (3)
- Communication; Written II (3)
- Communication; Oral (3)
- Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry;
- Mathematics and Statistics (3)
- Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry;
- Natural Sciences with lab (4)
- Scientific and Quantitative Inquiry;
- Natural Sciences without lab (3)
- Self and Society;
- Cultural Pluralism (3)
- Self and Society;
- Individual and Society (3)
- Self and Society;
- Individual and Society (3)
- Culture and Creativity (3)
- Culture and Creativity (3)
- Global Viewpoints (3)
Credit for prior learning acknowledges your experiences and can save you time and money on your degree.
You might be closer to graduation than you think!
