Sociology Education Degree Program - Wayne State College Nebraska

Explore the Sociology Education Program

Sociology is the scientific study of individuals, groups, and society – important things to teach the next generation. With a Sociology Education degree, you can help students understand more about social issues and the analysis of small-scale interactions and large-scale institutions, including the effects of gender, social class, race, religion, and other aspects of culture and society.

At Wayne State, you will develop the tools you need to become a sociology teacher at the junior high and high school levels. Or, you can pursue advanced education to teach at a college or university level. With a Sociology Education degree, you’ll be able to help your students prepare to positively contribute to an increasingly diverse society.

View program courses Download program fact sheet (PDF)

Endorsement information
The grade levels and subjects you want to teach are called endorsements, and depending on the type of endorsement, you are required to choose one or more in order to obtain your teaching certificate/license. The Sociology Education program at Wayne State is a subject endorsement, so you must choose another subject endorsement or a field endorsement to pair with this program. Learn more about endorsements.

Fast facts

Degree options: B.A. or B.S. in Sociology Education

Endorsement type: Subject endorsement
Learn more about endorsements.

Delivery format: On campus (Wayne)

Program credit hours: 63

Sociology endorsement (36 credit hours)
Education core courses (27 credit hours)

Note: Students must also take 30 credit hours of General Studies courses. A total of 120 credit hours are needed to graduate from WSC. Additional majors or minors can be added to help meet graduation requirements.

Schools: Education and Behavioral Sciences

Departments: Psychology and Sociology; Educational Foundations and Leadership

Prepare for your future

Becoming a teacher

Field experience and clinical practice

As a student pursuing a teaching career in sociology, you’ll complete field experiences and clinical practice. Some field experiences are embedded within the coursework of WSC’s educator preparation programs. Once you’ve completed the initial field experience requirements, you’ll then complete a semester of clinical practice (student teaching) in a school district chosen with the help of your adviser. During this semester, you’ll work closely with an experienced teacher to gain classroom experience.

Learn more about clinical practice

Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy (NENTA)

Student teaching is a requirement for teacher certification in all 50 states and provides you with critical real-life experience before gaining a classroom of your own. Only Wayne State College adds to this experience through the Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy (NENTA), a program that allows you to substitute teach as a junior and get paid, all while still earning your degree.

Learn more about NENTA

Student learning outcomes

Sociology programs

Apply the major concepts and assumptions of the core sociological theoretical perspectives to social phenomena
Explain how social structures create and reproduce forms of social inequality
Evaluate data utilizing basic knowledge of social science research methods
Evaluate the importance of socio-cultural diversity for the individual and society

Education programs
Teacher candidates who successfully complete an education preparation program at Wayne State will be able to:

Create environments that support individual and collaborative learning using knowledge of how students grow and develop, along with individual differences and diverse cultures. (InTASC Standards 1-3)
Plan for instruction by applying content knowledge, a variety of instructional strategies, and multiple methods of assessment to connect concepts for learners in real-world applications. (InTASC Standards 4-8)
Engage in ongoing professional learning and use evidence to reflect on and adapt practice to meet the needs of each learner. (InTASC Standard 9)
Seek leadership roles and opportunities to take responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with stakeholders, and to advance the profession. (InTASC Standard 10)

View InTASC Standards for Educator Preparation

Topics covered

Sociology topics covered

Social issues such as racism, ageism, sexism, poverty, welfare, and environment
Social theorists and modern theoretical perspectives
Race, ethnic relations, and social inequalities in American society
Behaviors, actions, and conditions of social deviance
Social factors and their influence on health in different populations
Quantitative and qualitative research methods
Statistics and statistical measures
Human social behavior

Education topics covered

Developing and teaching sociology curriculum to grades 6-12
Teaching as a profession
Human learning processes and behavior
Instructional design methodologies, implementation, and evaluation
Educational collaboration and equitable learning opportunities
Classroom management

Admission to Wayne State College does not guarantee entry into its educator preparation programs. Students planning to pursue professional education must undergo a background check along with meeting other requirements (benchmarks) and advance through three levels of preparation required to become a teacher.

Level One - Preparing for Teacher Candidacy
In this level, students apply for educator preparation and complete some of the preliminary coursework of the program. Students will need to pass an initial background check as well. View all Level One benchmarks.

Level Two - Preparing for Clinical Practice
In Level Two, students will prepare for student teaching by passing the required courses, meeting evidence to show their readiness, and pass a complete background check. View all Level Two benchmarks.

Level Three - Clinical Practice
Level Three is the final level and includes the successful completion of clinical practice and meeting the degree requirements for graduation from Wayne State. Students will also register to take the Praxis Exam. Passing the Praxis Exam is not a graduation requirement; however, it is required to earn a teaching license for the state in which you want to teach. View all Level Three benchmarks.

Benchmarks and Levels of Educator Preparation

Teacher certification

After successfully completing a teacher education program at Wayne State, you’ll submit your application to become a licensed teacher in Nebraska.

Initial Teacher Certification

State licensure disclosure

Wayne State's Sociology Education program is designed to prepare students for teacher licensure or certification in Nebraska. It has not been determined if these programs meet requirements for all other states.

If you are planning to pursue professional licensure or certification in a state other than Nebraska, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements before beginning an academic program.

Sociology Education Licensure Disclosure for all States About State Authorization and Licensure

Graduates with a degree in Sociology Education teach in schools using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College.

Career possibilities:

Middle school sociology teacher
High school sociology teacher
College/university sociology instructor
Community college instructor
Education consultant or researcher
Sociology textbook author

job or grad school placement rate
within six months of graduation
Data based on most recent
employment outcomes survey

Cost of attendance

Most Affordable College in Nebraska

- College Affordability Guide, 2024

Wayne State is considered the most affordable four-year college or university in Nebraska. With same rates for in- and out-of-state students, our tuition guarantee, and our generous scholarship packages, it is clear to see how WSC earned the title. In fact, the average remaining annual cost of attendance for 2024-25 is $2,268 for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.

Sociology courses (36 credit hours)

Credits: 3
Description: An introduction to the study of human social behavior, society and its values, social organization, institutions, and processes. Some topics included are socialization, minorities, deviance, gender roles, the family, social stratification, and social change.
Credits: 3
Description: Study and discussion of selected social issues including racism, ageism, sexism, poverty, welfare, and environment.
Credits: 3
Description: Study of the history, place, and role of ethnic and racial groups in American society. The course examines the social construction and consequences of majority-minority group relations to understand the differences and similarities in the adjustment processes of race and ethnic groups in American society.
Credits: 3
Description: A survey of the major theorists and modern theoretical perspectives in sociology.
Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission
Credits: 0
Description: For the purpose of sociology assessment, students will complete a comprehensive sociology exam to measure knowledge gained in the field of sociology. Students will also complete a survey assessing their viewpoints on their experiences in the major and submit their senior portfolios during the examination period. This class will meet every semester on the Friday preceding Finals Week. Graduation requirement. Graded S/NC.
Prerequisite: 100 credit hours
Credits: 3
Description: This course introduces students to basic quantitative and qualitative research methods. The course covers methodological concepts, the steps in the research process, measurement, research design, elementary data analysis, and report writing. Students are introduced to analysis of research reported in professional literature. This class includes computer applications in research methods.
Prerequisite: 9 hours of coursework in the social sciences
You must take 15 credit hours of upper-level (300/400 level) sociology courses:
- SOC 305 Sociology of Deviance (3 credits) – Theory-guided study and discussion of selected topics regarding areas of deviance including alcoholism, drug abuse, mental illness, crime, and domestic violence. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 320 Social Welfare (3 credits) – Designed for those interested in understanding social welfare systems, public assistance processes and policies, social services programs, client/patron relations, current issues associated with welfare programming, and the influences of politics of social welfare. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 355 Health and Human Populations (3 credits) – A study of the major qualitative and quantitative problems and trends in health and populations and consideration of those social factors that influence their composition. This course addresses the interrelationships between demographic variables and health and how these apply to a variety of disciplines. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 320 Social Welfare (3 credits) – Designed for those interested in understanding social welfare systems, public assistance processes and policies, social services programs, client/patron relations, current issues associated with welfare programming, and the influences of politics of social welfare. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 320 Social Welfare (3 credits) – Designed for those interested in understanding social welfare systems, public assistance processes and policies, social services programs, client/patron relations, current issues associated with welfare programming, and the influences of politics of social welfare. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 355 Health and Human Populations (3 credits) – A study of the major qualitative and quantitative problems and trends in health and populations and consideration of those social factors that influence their composition. This course addresses the interrelationships between demographic variables and health and how these apply to a variety of disciplines. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 408 Sociology of Mental Health (3 credits) - This course examines numerous topics, viewpoints, and findings related to mental illness and mental health from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 415/515 The Family (3 credits) - Study of the basic social unit: socialization processes, love, marriage, parental roles, conflict, and divorce, within a historical and cultural perspective. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 420 Environmental Sociology (3 credits) - This course will analyze the relationship between the logic of social system development and resource development. The reciprocal relationship between human society and ecosystems will be examined as a wide range of environmental problems are addressed. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 444 Topics in Sociology (3 credits) - Current or special issues in Sociology will be examined. The course offers students the opportunity to discuss relevant issues facing society. Topics may include community, social change, and the sociology of women. This course may be repeated, by advisement, with different topics. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 460/560 Social Inequalities (3 credits) - The course explores the development and maintenance of systems social stratification historically and in contemporary global society. It focuses on the effects of social class inequality and relationship to social change. In doing so, it also includes the intersection of inequalities based on race/ethnicity, gender, and age. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
You must take 6 credit hours of electives from Economics (ECO), Geography (GEO), Political Science (POS), or Psychology (PSY). For a complete listing and description of all courses at Wayne State, view the course catalog.

Educator preparation courses (27 credit hours)

Credits: 3

Description: Students are introduced to teaching as a profession through the historical, cultural, and philosophical foundations of educational systems. Students will explore various aspects of education, as well as their beliefs and values about teaching and learning through the exploration of professional knowledge, practice, and values. This course may include a field experience.
Credits: 0
Description: This course is designed for students in Level 1 of WSC’s educator preparation programs who are progressing into Level 2. Students will receive valuable information including, but not limited to, admission, program progression, degree and certification requirements, the use of portfolio software, professional dispositions for success, etc.

Notes: Graded S/NC
Credits: 3
Description: Students construct a conceptual basis for understanding the growth and development of learners. Theories of physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development are explored in order to better understand the importance of the nurturing role of the teacher in human development and learning. Students begin to understand the human learning process and individual differences in how learners think and behave based on their unique characteristics. Students study theoretical models and the integration of models for planning and facilitating effective and differentiated experiences for diversified learners. This course will include field experience.
Prerequisite: EDU 150 Introduction to Professional Education
Corequisite: EDU 245 Preparing for Level 2: Teacher Candidacy
Credits: 3
Description: Students will practice instructional design methodologies or analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. To explore and learn to recognize their biases, including but not limited to sexism, racism, prejudice, and discrimination, students will develop an awareness of the impact such biases have on their interpersonal relations. Students will be challenged to reflect on how they can relate more effectively to other individuals and groups in a pluralistic society in order to promote equitable approaches to instructional design. This course fulfills the human relations component established by the Nebraska Department of Education. This course may include a field experience.
Prerequisites: EDU 150 Introduction to Professional Education and EDU 250 Human Development and Cognition must be taken concurrently or prior to this course.
Credits: 2
Description: This course outlines the essentials of the reading processes and skills necessary for secondary students to become proficient learners of content, the incorporation of reading instruction into content delivery, and examination of the Nebraska Language Arts standards. The course also provides candidates with a solid foundation in educational assessment.
Prerequisite: Acceptance to Educator Preparation (successful completion of Level 1 Benchmarks)
This course must be taken to meet the requirement for 3 semester hours of professional education coursework in pedagogical content knowledge.
Credits: 3
Description: This course examines the essential knowledge, skills, dispositions, and innovative applications of content needed for effective teaching in the 21st century. Specific content-area topics include instructional planning for differentiated instruction; effective strategies, techniques, materials, and assessment methods; reading and writing in the content area; classroom management; and the relationship of the content area to standards-based curriculum. To be taken concurrently with EDU 414 Content Area Practicum Experience.
Prerequisite: Acceptance to Educator Preparation (successful completion of Level 1 Benchmarks)
Credits: 1
Description: This 80-clock hour minimum content specific clinical experience (60 hours in classroom plus 20 hours in activities related to teaching) is designed to induct students into classroom teaching and develop an awareness of the many roles of a professional educator. Under the mentorship of a practicing K-12 educator, students will assist/co-teach/teach. Students will also actively participate in school-related activities commonly encountered by professional educators.
Prerequisites: Acceptance to Educator Preparation (successful completion of Level 1 Benchmarks), and successful completion or concurrent enrollment in EDU 409 Content Area Methods and Materials
Credits: 0
Description: This course is designed for graduate students in Level 2 of WSC’s educator preparation program who are progressing into Level 3 and those completing clinical practice to change endorsement levels. Two virtual sessions will be held at the beginning of each academic session for graduate teacher candidates planning to student teach in the following semester. Graduate teacher candidates will attend one of the two virtual sessions to receive valuable information including, but not limited to, how to apply for Clinical Practice, an overview of Clinical Practice requirements, rules regarding placement choices and department approval requirements.

Dual-listed: EDU 545
Notes: Graded S/NC
Credits: 12
Description: A semester course of full-day learning experiences in a secondary setting under the supervision of a cooperating 7-12 classroom teacher, a supervisor from the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, and a faculty member from the appropriate content area. On-campus seminars will be offered periodically throughout the semester. This is the culminating experience of the secondary pre-service educator preparation program. Students in the Career Scholars Program will enroll for 3 credit hours in their first semester and 12 credit hours in their second semester (this course may be repeated by residency students only). All other students will enroll in 6 or 12 credit hours in one semester. Graded S/NC.
Prerequisite: Acceptance to Clinical Practice (successful completion of Level 2 Benchmarks)
Notes: Graded S/NC. Students in the Growing Together residency program will enroll for 3 credit hours in their first semester and 12 credit hours in their second semester (this course may be repeated by residency students only). All other students will enroll in 6 or 12 credit hours in one semester
Credits: 3
Description: The course will explore applications of methods and strategies within elementary and secondary settings to provide equitable learning opportunities within least restrictive learning environments for all students. An emphasis is placed on communication and collaboration among professionals and families to ensure the needs of all students are met.
Prerequisite: Acceptance to Educator Preparation (successful completion of Level 1 Benchmarks)
Credits: 3
Description: Understanding social and emotional development of all learners while considering Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Emphasis on implications for the inclusive learning environment; promotion of social competence; awareness of prosocial skills; and effective utilization of responsive relationships. Completing the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) process and developing the Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) product to meet the needs of secondary learners.
Prerequisite: Acceptance to Educator Preparation (successful completion of Level 1 Benchmarks)

Suggested pairings

Many students at Wayne State will add an extra endorsement to make themselves more marketable and expand their teaching abilities. Suggested pairings for Sociology Education at Wayne State include: