Sociology
The sociology curriculum seeks to broaden and deepen the understanding of social organization and social change in the United States and globally. As a means to this end, it provides a background in perspectives and methods useful in examining the factual basis of assertions about the social world, and helps us understand both our immediately experienced social reality and more encompassing social phenomena.
An undergraduate degree in sociology offers an excellent foundation for a critically informed understanding of and engagement with contemporary social issues, as well as for graduate-level preparation for careers in journalism, law, politics, health care, social planning, social services and other professions that must take into account social organization and social relations.
A sociology major or minor combines readily with racial, ethnic, area and women’s studies, as well as with other interdisciplinary social sciences.
Sociology Major
The department requires 10 sociology courses* for the major. These must include the following three courses:
• SOC 100. Social Change: An Introduction to Sociology;
• SOC 200. Foundations of Social Theory;
• SOC 305. Social Research Methods, or other courses that may be offered by the department or the University and designated as fulfilling this requirement.
Six of the required 10 sociology courses must be numbered 300 or above. SOC 305 will count as one of this group of six 300-level courses. Graduate courses may in some cases, and with the consent of the instructor, count toward the 300-level requirements.
Students may count only one of the following toward the major requirements: SOC 395 (Internship), SOC 397 (Independent Study) or SOC 498 (Independent Research). Students are encouraged to consult with an adviser about courses outside the department that may be substituted for the above requirements.
* Only one of the 10 sociology courses (but not to include SOC 100, 200 or 305) may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis.
Honors Program
To earn honors in sociology, a student majoring in sociology must earn a grade-point average in the major of 3.5 or above and 3.3 or above overall. The student must enroll in SOC 499, Honors Seminar (or in SOC 397, if SOC 499 is not offered) in order to write the honors research paper. In order for the student to receive honors, that paper must be judged to be of honors quality. SOC 499 (or SCC 397/Honors) constitutes an “11th course”: that is, a course in addition to the 10-course requirement to fulfill the sociology major.
To earn high honors, a sociology major must earn a GPA of 3.7 or above in the major and a 3.5 overall, in addition to fulfilling the other requirements for honors.
Consult the director of undergraduate studies for more information.
Sociology Minor
Six courses (24 credits) are required: one sociology methods course (SOC 305); two additional sociology courses numbered 300 or above; and three other sociology courses. Only one of the courses in the minor may be taken with a Pass/Fail grading option.