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Sociology
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  4. Sociology
  5. Major: Bachelor of Arts

Major: Bachelor of Arts

Major
  • Sociology opens in a new tab
Program Minimum Units
60 Units
University Minimum Units
180 Units
Interests
Data and Information Sciences, Social Justice & Inequality, Human Rights
Academic Areas
Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts, Mathematics & Data Sciences

Overview

Sociology seeks to understand all aspects of human social behavior, including the behavior of individuals as well as the social dynamics of small groups, large organizations, communities, institutions, and entire societies. Sociologists are typically motivated both by the desire to understand the principles of social life better and by the conviction that understanding these principles may aid in formulating enlightened and effective social policy. Sociology provides an intellectual background for students considering careers in the professions or business. Students may pursue degrees in sociology at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral levels. The department organizes its courses by areas of study to assist students in tailoring their education and research to their academic interests and career goals.

The undergraduate program in Sociology aims to provide students with the skills necessary to understand and address social problems and inequalities in global, institutional, and interpersonal social relations. At its core, the curriculum in the major is rooted in social theory and the scientific method. Sociology majors are given opportunities to develop a broad understanding of core sociological theories and the methodological skills used to evaluate human behavior and social organizations. Sociology provides an intellectual background for students considering careers in business, social services, public policy, government service, international nongovernmental organizations, foundations, or academia.

There are two pathways to a Sociology BA degree:

  • Sociology bachelor’s degree

  • Sociology bachelor’s degree with the Data Science, Markets, and Management subplan

Requirements

Core Program Requirements

Requirements Overview

Unit distribution for the Sociology BA

  • Sociology Core Courses (four courses): 15-18 units

  • Sociology Foundations Courses (three courses): 12 units

  • Social Science Electives (Units sufficient to bring the total number of units to 60): 25-27 units

  • Methodology, Quantitative or Qualitative (one course): 4-5 units

For a total of 60 units

Core Courses

Complete all of the following course(s):
SOC 1

Introduction to Sociology

5 Units
or
SOC 170

Classics of Modern Social Theory

4 Units
SOC 180A

Foundations of Social Research

4 Units
SOC 180B

Introduction to Data Analysis

4 Units

Foundations Courses Required for the Major

Sociology majors must complete three foundation courses — one course in three different areas for a total of three courses. For further information about Sociology areas of study, see the department website opens in a new tab.

Foundation courses, classified by area of study, are as follows:

Complete all of the following requirements:
Organizations, Business, and the Economy
Complete any of the following course(s):
SOC 114

Economic Sociology

4 Units
SOC 160

Formal Organizations

4 Units
SOC 187

Ethics, Morality, and Markets

4 Units
and
Social Movements, Comparative Politics, and Social Change
Complete any of the following course(s):
SOC 118

Social Movements and Collective Action

4 Units
SOC 130

Education and Society

4-5 Units
and
Social Psychology and Interpersonal Processes
Complete any of the following course(s):
SOC 2

Self and Society: Introduction to Social Psychology

4 Units
SOC 8

Sport, Competition, and Society

4 Units
SOC 127

Data Science for Social Impact

5 Units
and
Social Stratification and Inequality
Complete any of the following course(s):
SOC 149

The Urban Underclass

5 Units
SOC 152

The Social Determinants of Health

4 Units
SOC 156A

The Changing American City

4 Units
SOC 179A

Crime and Punishment in America

4-5 Units
and
Race, Gender, Immigration, Identity, and Policy
Complete any of the following course(s):
SOC 142

Sociology of Gender

4 Units
SOC 145

Race and Ethnic Relations in the USA

4 Units
SOC 147

Race and Ethnicity Around the World

4 Units
SOC 155

The Changing American Family

5 Units
SOC 189

Race and Immigration

4-5 Units

Methods Requirement

Sociology majors must take at least one methodology course, either quantitative or qualitative, to supplement the core and foundation courses within Sociology. Quantitative classes in data analysis, programming, computer science, statistics, and mathematics, are all suitable for this requirement, as are qualitative methods classes such as field research methods.

Electives

Social Science Elective Courses

Social Science electives are required for the major, sufficient to bring the total number of units in the Sociology major to 60. You may take all elective courses in Sociology if you wish. Students may choose their elective courses according to personal interests. Non-Sociology courses must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. A maximum of 10 units taken in other Social Science departments (Anthropology, Communication, Economics, Political Science, Psychology) may be counted towards the 60 units required for the Sociology BA.

Writing in the Major (WIM)

WIM Requirement

Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
SOC 202

Junior Seminar: Preparation for Research

5 Units
SOC 204A

Capstone Research Seminar: Part I

3 Units

Substitutions with WIM courses from other departments can be approved by the Sociology Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Students considering honors are encouraged to enroll in SOC202 opens in a new tab Junior Seminar: Preparation for Research in their junior year to have a research plan in place in the summer before senior year.

Capstone

Capstone Requirement

Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
SOC 202

Junior Seminar: Preparation for Research

5 Units
SOC 204A

Capstone Research Seminar: Part I

3 Units
and
SOC 204B

Capstone Research Seminar: Part II

2 Units
and
SOC 204C

Capstone Research Seminar: Part III

2 Units

Capstone Requirement

  • Students writing an honors thesis must enroll in SOC 202 in their junior year and complete their honors thesis in their senior year. See Honors (below) for more information regarding thesis unit enrollment and honors program requirements. Completing SOC 202 and the honors thesis will fulfill the capstone requirement.

  • For seniors not completing an honors thesis, the capstone project can be completed over a three-course sequence: SOC 204A, SOC 204B, and SOC 204C. The project will be designed in SOC 204A in autumn - this course is required - and work will be accomplished with guidance through SOC 204B in winter and SOC 204C in the spring, culminating in the submission of a paper and a presentation at the end of spring quarter. A wide variety of capstone projects will be allowed, including team projects. Whatever the project, students submit a capstone paper that meets Sociology minimum requirements.

  • The Sociology Department strongly recommends enrollment in the full capstone sequence for the project preparation and completion, though only SOC 204A is required.

  • Students completing a thesis or capstone for other departments, may fulfill the Sociology thesis or capstone requirement with prior approval from the Sociology director of undergraduate studies. A paper submission and presentation in Sociology is required.

Subplans

Optional
Students have the option to complete a subplan as part of this program. A subplan is an officially declared and defined set of requirements that allows students to go deeper into a discipline or focus within a program.

Data Science, Markets and Management Subplan

Core Requirements

Complete all of the following requirements:
Core Requirements Overview

The core requirements include one class in each of the following areas: experimental methods, computer programming, analysis of big data, data analysis and regression, and network analysis as follows:

and
Experimental Methods
Complete all of the following course(s):
SOC 2

Self and Society: Introduction to Social Psychology

4 Units
and
Computer Programming
Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
CS 105

Introduction to Computers

3-5 Units
CS 106A

Programming Methodology

3-5 Units
CS 106B

Programming Abstractions

3-5 Units
and
Analysis of Big Data
Complete all of the following course(s):
SOC 10

Introduction to Computational Social Science

4 Units
and
Data Analysis & Regression
Complete all of the following course(s):
SOC 180B

Introduction to Data Analysis

4 Units
and
Network Analysis
Complete at least 1 of the following courses:
CS 224W

Machine Learning with Graphs

3-4 Units
ECON 291

Social and Economic Networks

4 Units
MS&E 135

Networks

3 Units
SOC 31N

Social Networks

3 Units
SOC 126

Introduction to Social Networks

4 Units
SOC 224B

Relational Sociology

3-4 Units

Foundation Sociology Courses on Economics, Organizations, Business, Labor Markets, and the Economy

Complete at least 2 of the following courses:
SOC 3

America: Unequal

4 Units
SOC 114

Economic Sociology

4 Units
SOC 130

Education and Society

4-5 Units
SOC 187

Ethics, Morality, and Markets

4 Units

Electives

In addition to the Core classes and the Foundation classes, the Data Science, Markets and Management subplan requires seven additional courses, as follows:

  • Four additional Sociology (SOC) courses - 16 units

  • Two additional Computer Science, Math, Statistics, or Quantitative Social Science Courses - 8 units

  • One additional Sociology or Social Science elective - 4 units

Students in the Data Science, Markets, and Management subplan must take the courses outlined above; substitutions may be made only with the consent of the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Honors

Optional
Students may choose to pursue department honors by completing a program of special advanced work, such as an honors thesis, in addition to their major requirements.

Honors

Honors Overview

Sociology majors who wish to complete an independent scholarly project under the direction of a faculty member are encouraged to apply for admission to the department’s honors program opens in a new tab. Admission to the program requires a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher in courses taken within the major and an overall GPA of 3.3 (B+) or higher in all undergraduate coursework. Applicants are required to identify a Sociology faculty member to advise on the research and writing of the essay. With the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, students may work with faculty advisors in other departments.

Students are encouraged to begin planning their honors thesis in their junior year. SOC 202, the Junior Seminar Sociology Writing In the Major course, is strongly recommended for students intending to pursue an honors thesis. Students pursuing honors should take the Sociology methods sequence, SOC 180A and SOC 180B (or approved substitutes) as early as possible. Students begin designing their honors project in connection with this seminar and in consultation with the seminar leader.

To apply for the honors program, students should complete the honors application, obtain an advisor’s approval and signature, and submit the application with a brief description of the proposed project and a copy of the student’s unofficial undergraduate transcript to the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Prospective candidates are asked to submit an honors application as soon as possible in their junior or senior year, ideally no later than the end of the fourth quarter before graduation (typically spring quarter of the junior year). Honors students may earn up to 12 independent study units for work leading to completion of the required honors thesis, excluding units associated with the Capstone Research Seminar.

If the student is admitted to the program, students will be directed to declare the BAH in Axess and drop the general BA. Completion of honors in Sociology requires:

  1. Application and acceptance into the Sociology Honors program

  2. Completion of all requirements of the Sociology major or Sociology major with subplan

  3. Completion of an honors thesis with a grade of A- or higher

  4. Participation in the Sociology Honors Colloquium in spring quarter before graduation.

If honors program requirements are unmet, students must drop the BAH degree program in Axess and declare the BA before applying to graduate.

Required Courses for Students Pursuing Honors

Complete all of the following course(s):
SOC 180A

Foundations of Social Research

4 Units
SOC 180B

Introduction to Data Analysis

4 Units