2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Dec 05, 2025

2025-2026 Academic Catalog

Combined Sociology, BA & Public Administration, MPA (PAD-MPA-PREG)

Program Description

The combined BA/MPA degree program allows students to earn a BA in Sociology and Master of Public Administration (MPA), with up to nine (9) semester credit hours of approved graduate courses at the 5000, 6000, or 7000 level to be double-counted and applied to both the BA and MPA degree requirements.

Admission Requirements

To participate in the combined-degree program, students must meet the following qualifications:

Senior standing for the semester they start the combined-degree program.
3.0 or better cumulative grade point average on all undergraduate work
Undergraduate advisor’s approval, and
A recommendation from the Master of Public Administration (MPA) advisor to be accepted in the program

Admission Process

At the end of their junior year, students who wish to pursue a five-year combined BA/MPA degree should submit to the Graduate School an application for the combined degree program. Additionally, required documents include: (1) a WSU transcript; (2) A program of study approved by both the Sociology undergraduate advisor and MPA program director.

Sociology BA Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Demonstrate knowledge of the major social institutions (family, education, moral order, political and economic orders)
Demonstrate knowledge of the socialization process (social psychology)
Demonstrate knowledge of the role individuals play within organizations such as work, community, political and urban areas and change within these organizations (social organizations)
Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical formulations that serve as the foundation of the major (classical and contemporary theory)
Demonstrate knowledge of basic fundamentals of social statistics and methodology
Demonstrate knowledge of elective courses in substantive areas, such as social inequality and criminal justice
Demonstrate competence in human relations skills, including working with others in groups, making decisions for organizations, and supervising others
Demonstrate competence in analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate solutions for urban social problems
Demonstrate competence in communication skills, including writing formal reports and speaking in front of groups
Demonstrate competence in ethical and moral awareness skills, including the honest portrayal of data
Demonstrate critical understanding of a theoretical model
Demonstrate critical evaluation and testing of a theoretical model
Demonstrate development of social policy to provide solutions to a unique problem (e.g., poverty in urban cities)

Sociology BA Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

Demonstrate knowledge of the major social institutions (family, education, moral order, political and economic orders)
Demonstrate knowledge of the socialization process (social psychology)
Demonstrate knowledge of the role individuals play within organizations such as work, community, political and urban areas and change within these organizations (social organizations)
Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical formulations that serve as the foundation of the major (classical and contemporary theory)
Demonstrate knowledge of basic fundamentals of social statistics and methodology
Demonstrate knowledge of elective courses in substantive areas, such as social inequality and criminal justice
Demonstrate competence in human relations skills, including working with others in groups, making decisions for organizations, and supervising others
Demonstrate competence in analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate solutions for urban social problems
Demonstrate competence in communication skills, including writing formal reports and speaking in front of groups
Demonstrate competence in ethical and moral awareness skills, including the honest portrayal of data
Demonstrate critical understanding of a theoretical model
Demonstrate critical evaluation and testing of a theoretical model
Demonstrate development of social policy to provide solutions to a unique problem (e.g., poverty in urban cities).

MPA Program Learning Objectives

Students enrolled in this program will learn to:

Understand the fundamental knowledge, concepts, and principles associated with the discipline and profession of public administration
Develop awareness of the key institutional, political, and cultural factors that shape the field of public administration
Critically assess the range of theoretical perspectives which exist to understand the public and nonprofit management of the world’s problems
Communicate effectively in writing and speech to diverse audiences
Understand how to act ethically and responsibly in the field of public service

MPA Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experience, graduates of this program can:

Lead and manage in the public interest;
Participate in, and contribute to, the policy process;
Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment;
Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective;
Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.

For More Information

Program Requirements

I. Wright State Core: 36 Credit Hours

As a part of the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at Wright State University, all students must complete the Wright State Core, a general education curriculum. Most programs require 36 hours in the Core, some programs may require additional hours.

Specific Core classes in some of the Elements may be required by some majors. When this occurs, the specific Core courses required will be listed below. In Elements where a specific course is not required, students can choose any course from the Wright State Core Program Requirements.

First-Year Seminar: 3 Credit Hours

All students must successfully complete a First-Year Seminar during their first year. Transfer students who transfer 24 or more credit hours (post high school graduation) are exempt from this requirement and will need to satisfy three additional credit hours in the Additional Core Courses category.

Element A - English Composition: 6 Credit Hours

First-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete ENG 1100.  Based on Writing Placement level, some students may be required to enroll in a corequisite course (DEV 0100). 
ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading Credit Hour(s): 3
Second-Year Writing Course (3 credit hours)
ENG 2100 - Research Writing and Argumentation Credit Hour(s): 3

Element B - Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic: 3 Credit Hours

Students will select one Element B course from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements list. Based on Math Placement Level, students may need additional prerequisite or corequisite coursework in mathematics prior to enrollment in the course chosen.

Element C - Arts and Humanities: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Arts and Humanities courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. One course must fulfill the History requirement.

History Requirement (3 credit hours)

Choose 1 course from the list below:
HST 1100 - Western Civilizations to 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1200 - The West and the World since 1500 Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
HST 1500 - Introduction to Greek and Roman Culture Credit Hour(s): 3 (GI)
Arts and Humanities Course (3 credit hours)

Choose an additional Arts and Humanities course (a different prefix from what is chosen above) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element D - Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 Credit Hours

Students will select two Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with different course prefixes from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Required:

SOC 2000 - Introduction to Sociology Credit Hour(s): 3 (IE) (IW)
Select an additional Social and Behavioral Sciences courses, with a different course prefix (not SOC) from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements.

Element E - Natural Sciences: 7 Credit Hours

Students will select two Natural Science courses, from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements. At least one course must contain a laboratory.

Additional Core Courses: 5 Credit Hours

Students will select up to 5 additional credit hours from Elements A-E from the approved Wright State Core Program Requirements to reach the 36 minimum hours required in the Core. Unless specified by the student’s major, these are selected by the student. When a major has required courses in this area, the specific Core course(s) required will be listed below.

Additional Core Requirements

Within the 36 credit hours of the Wright State Core students must successfully complete the following:

One Global Inquiry (GI) course

Two Inclusive Excellence (IE) courses

One to two Integrated Writing (IW) courses. To meet degree requirements all students must complete a minimum of 3 IW courses by choosing either (a) 1 in the Core and 2 in the major or (b) 2 in the Core and 1 in the major. Students should check their major program requirements for courses that fulfill Integrated Writing.

Students who do not make choices within the 36 required hours of the Core to fulfill the GI, IE, and IW requirements will take additional Core hours beyond the minimum of 36.

II. Major Requirements: 36 Credit Hours

REQUIRED SOCIOLOGY COURSES: 9 Credit HOURS

SOC 3400 - Sociological Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3500 - Sociological Theory Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)
SOC 3410 - Introduction to Research Methods Credit Hour(s): 3

Area 1: 3 Credit Hours

Student will select 3 credit horus from the following list:

SOC 3200 - Exploring Social Problems Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3210 - Sociology of Deviance Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3220 - Juvenile Delinquency Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3510 - Individual and Society Credit Hour(s): 3

Area 2: 6 Credit Hours

Student will select 6 credit horus from the following list:

SOC 3100 - Marriage and Family Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3300 - Social Organization Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3310 - Globalization and Social Change Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3320 - Sociology of Work Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3800 - Population and Society Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4300 - International Migration and Integration Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4310 - Urban Sociology Credit Hour(s): 3

Area 3: 3 Credit Hours

Student will select 3 credit horus from the following list:

SOC 3600 - Social Inequality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3610 - Sociology of Gender Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 3620 - Race and Ethnicity Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 4600 - Sociology of Sexuality Credit Hour(s): 3 (IW)

Sociology Electives: 15 Credit Hours

III. Related Requirements: 9 Credit Hours

Students will select 3 credit hours in a related social science.
Students will select 9 credit hours of 3000 level or above coursewrok in a single social science discipline other than sociology

IV. College Requirements: 18-22 Credit Hours

Foreign Language: 12-16 Credit Hours

Through 2020 level (1010, 1020, 2010, 2020) of one foreign language:

American Sign Language (ASL)*, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, or other foreign language.

*Note: all language classes above are 3 credit hours each, except for the ASL classes which are 4 credit hours each.

Methods of Inquiry

PHL 3000 - Critical Thinking Credit Hour(s): 3
Research Methods - One course from approved list Credit Hour(s): 3

V. General Electives: 17-21 Credit Hours

Students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. If the total number of credit hours in the WSU Core (general education program) and the major requirements do not total at least 120 credits, students will choose additional courses (general electives) to meet the minimum required 120 credit hours. Students may choose from any undergraduate course in the Academic Catalog for which they meet the course prerequisites and for which they do not already have earned credit.

Students are encouraged to consider adding a minor, certificate, or microcredential.

Total: 120 Credit Hours

Double-Counted Hours: Up to 9 Credit Hours

ABS 7220 - Seminar on Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
ABS 7240 - Social Problems Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 5710 - Ethnographic Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 5800 - Special Topics in Anthropological Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 6030 - Urban Anthropology Credit Hour(s): 3
ATH 6100 - Special Topics in Cultural Anthropology Credit Hour(s): 3
GEO 6410 - Cartography Credit Hour(s): 4
GEO 6430 - Geographic Information Science Principles Credit Hour(s): 4
GEO 6440 - Advanced Geographic Information Applications Credit Hour(s): 4
MPA 6230 - Ethics and Leadership in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 6340 - Fundraising and Grant Writing Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7000 - Foundations and Tools of Public Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7010 - Public Budgeting and Fiscal Management Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7025 - Administrative Law Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7030 - Organization Theory and Management Behavior Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7040 - Managing Human Resources in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7050 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 5420 - Civil Liberties I: First Amendment Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 5430 - Civil Liberties II Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 5750 - Human Rights in USA Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6050 - Political Polarization in American Politics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6180 - Politics and Ethics Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6230 - American Public Policy Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6340 - Political Leadership Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6350 - Seminar - Political Corruption Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6360 - Criminal Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6370 - Criminal Procedure Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6400 - Constitutional Law Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 6420 - Criminal Justice Systems Credit Hour(s): 3
PLS 7982 - Intelligence and Homeland Security Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5100 - Marriage and Family Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5210 - Sociology of Deviance Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5220 - Juvenile Delinquency Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5310 - Globalization and Social Change Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5600 - Social Inequality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5610 - Sociology of Gender Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5620 - Race and Ethnicity Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5700 - Criminology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5710 - Comparative Criminal Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5720 - Policing in Society Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5730 - Sociology of Courts, Law and Justice Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 5740 - Penology and Corrections Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6310 - Urban Sociology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6320 - Neighborhoods and Communities Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6600 - Sociology of Sexuality Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6610 - Gender and Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6620 - Elite Crime Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6640 - Gender and Sexuality: Global Issues Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6650 - Global Sexualities & Human Rights Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6670 - Disability: Power, Politics, Privilege Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6710 - Victimology Credit Hour(s): 3
SOC 6810 - Health of Vulnerable Populations Credit Hour(s): 3
WGS 6800 - Studies in Selected Subjects Credit Hour(s): 3

Graduate Program Requirements

Core Requirements: 21 Credit Hours

MPA 7000 - Foundations and Tools of Public Administration Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7010 - Public Budgeting and Fiscal Management Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7025 - Administrative Law Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7030 - Organization Theory and Management Behavior Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7040 - Managing Human Resources in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7050 - Quantitative Analysis Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7060 - Research Methods Credit Hour(s): 3
may substitute for a core course.
MPA 7220 - MPA Directed Study Credit Hour(s): 3

Additional Requirements: 3-6 Credit Hours

Student will select one of the following:

MPA 7070 - MPA Capstone Project Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7080 - MPA Applied Research Project Credit Hour(s): 3
MPA 7090 - MPA Thesis Credit Hour(s): 1 to 3
A minimum 3 hours is required for the thesis option. If 6 hours taken, one elective may be waived. Credits / Units: 3

Internship: 3 Credit Hours

The internship may be waived for students working in service or who meet the Prior Learning Assessment requirement. If internship waived, an additional elective is required to meet the 12 hours minimum.

MPA 6950 - MPA Internship Credit Hour(s): 3

Electives: 9-12 Credit Hours

Complete a minimum 9 credit hours from selected track. If internship waived, complete an additional 3 credit hours.

Total: 36 Credit Hours

Total: 147 Credit Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

A Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) is an academic tool showing one example of how a program can be completed in a certain amount of time. All Wright State undergraduate majors can be completed in four years with careful planning. Some programs may require summer coursework. Combined programs can be completed in five to six years. Time to degree is dependent on many factors including student placement in mathematics and writing courses, CCP and AP coursework, transfer coursework, and other variables.

This GPS is valid for this year’s Academic Catalog only and is subject to change. This GPS is a recommendation only and your actual program may vary. Students should consult with their academic advisor on a regular basis and create a personalized plan to degree completion.