Sociology B.S. | Medical Sociology Track<\/p>\n
Health begins long before a patient enters a doctor\u2019s office. Study the conditions that shape who gets sick, who receives care, and how people live with illness.<\/p>\n
Work, families, neighborhoods, public policy, and healthcare institutions all influence health. UCF\u2019s Medical Sociology Track<\/strong> connects these questions with training in research methods and data analysis. You\u2019ll investigate health problems, evaluate evidence, and complete an original research project.<\/p>\n Interested in health and healthcare? Explore these Spring courses as you consider the track or look for a course that complements your current major.<\/p>\n\t\t\t Track Elective | 3 Credits<\/p>\n Format:<\/strong> Online<\/p>\n What happens between noticing a symptom and seeking care? Explore how people understand illness, make decisions about treatment, and manage health in everyday life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Track Elective | 3 Credits<\/p>\n Format:<\/strong> Online<\/p>\n Discover the surprising ways animals shape human health, from companionship and therapy to food systems, infectious disease, and public health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Required Core | 3 Credits<\/p>\n Format:<\/strong> Online<\/p>\n Explore how drugs become part of everyday life, subcultures, crises, and public policy, and why some forms of drug use are punished, medicalized, normalized, or ignored.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Use Class Search in myUCF and select Spring 2027 to check sections, availability, prerequisites, and enrollment restrictions. Ask your advisor how a course applies to your major or the Medical Sociology Track.<\/p>\n Find Spring Courses in myUCF<\/a>Explore Track Requirements<\/a><\/p>\n A focused pathway within the Bachelor of Science in Sociology. The degree requires 120 total credit hours.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Build skills in statistics, research design, and analysis, then bring them together in an original research project and capstone.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The track may be completed fully online. Some electives and prerequisites may require other arrangements; plan your selections with an advisor.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n You\u2019ll study how income, work, family life, culture, policy, and institutions shape health and access to care. You\u2019ll also learn how to turn a question about health into a researchable problem, select an appropriate method, analyze evidence, and explain what the findings support.<\/p>\n The research sequence gives you work you can discuss with employers and graduate programs: the question you investigated, how you studied it, what you found, and why it matters.<\/p>\n Build a foundation for work in health research, community health programs, healthcare organizations, health policy, and nonprofit organizations. The track also supports preparation for graduate or professional study in public health, sociology, social work, health administration, medicine, and related fields.<\/p>\n Students pursuing clinical professions should plan for the additional science prerequisites and admissions requirements of their intended professional programs. Career requirements vary by role and may include further education or credentials.<\/p>\n The overview below helps you plan your pathway. Use the official UCF program information and your degree audit with an advisor to confirm the requirements for your catalog year.<\/p>\n Official UCF Program Requirements<\/a>Undergraduate Advising<\/a><\/p>\n The program\u2019s basic-core list includes the following alternatives. Confirm the appropriate selection with advising, particularly if you are transferring credits.<\/p>\n Complete all four courses:<\/p>\n Complete seven approved courses. SYO 4402 \u2013 Sociology of Health and Illness Behavior<\/strong> is a track elective and is offered online in Spring 2027. Other areas of study include:<\/p>\n\t\t\t See the official program requirements for the approved elective list and consult advising before choosing a course to fulfill this requirement.<\/p>\n Complete an approved methods option. Choices include spatial analysis, qualitative research, GIS applications, applied sociology, and social network analysis. The published program also includes selected methods courses in other disciplines and approved research-based options. Check the official list and prerequisites with your advisor.<\/p>\n SYA 4450 \u2013 Data Analysis: Capstone (4)<\/strong><\/p>\n Bring your research training together through analysis and an original research project.<\/p>\n Combine sociology with health-related coursework in another field. The program identifies a 15-credit interdisciplinary requirement, with approved health-related minors or certificates and an alternative of 15\u201318 credits outside sociology, subject to Undergraduate Program Director approval.<\/p>\n Possible complementary areas include Health Sciences, Medical Anthropology, Health Communication, Aging Studies, Health Services Administration, and Human Services. Plan this component with advising; courses may not double count between the Sociology major and the selected minor or certificate.<\/p>\n You can start by discussing a Spring course, reviewing how your completed coursework fits the track, or planning a change of major. Undergraduate advising can help you compare the options and build a workable degree plan.<\/p>\n Talk with Undergraduate Advising<\/a>Change of Major Information<\/a><\/p>\n Dr. Angela Vergara<\/strong> Department of Sociology<\/strong>Start with a Spring 2027 Course<\/h2>\n
SYO 4402
\nSociology of Health and Illness Behavior<\/h3>\nSYO 3408
\nAnimals and Health<\/h3>\nSYP 4450
\nDrug Use in Society<\/h3>\nThe Track at a Glance<\/h2>\n\t\t\t
A Sociology B.S.<\/h3>\n
Original Research<\/h3>\n
Online Option<\/h3>\n
Understand Health. Learn to Investigate It.<\/h2>\n
What You\u2019ll Learn to Do<\/h3>\n
\n
Where This Preparation Can Lead<\/h2>\n
Track Requirements<\/h2>\n
Basic Core | 3 Credit Hours<\/h3>\n
\n
Advanced Core | 14 Credit Hours<\/h3>\n
\n
Medical Sociology Electives | 21 Credit Hours<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
Advanced Methods | 3\u20134 Credit Hours<\/h3>\n
Data Analysis: Capstone | 4 Credit Hours<\/h3>\n
Interdisciplinary Health Study<\/h3>\n
Ready to Explore Medical Sociology?<\/h2>\n
Questions About the Track?<\/h3>\n
\nSociology Undergraduate Program Director
\nAngela.Vergara@ucf.edu<\/a><\/p>\n
\nHoward Phillips Hall (HPH), Room 403
\n407-823-3744<\/a>
\nsociology@ucf.edu<\/a><\/p>\n