Sociology B.A.

Information and Policies

Program Learning Outcomes

The sociology curriculum prepares students graduating with a bachelor of arts degree to demonstrate the following program learning outcomes:

1. Critical Thinking: Demonstrate critical thinking skills by analyzing and evaluating social, political, and/or cultural arguments, across a variety of areas such as inequality; social problems; and race, class, and gender.

2. Sociological Understanding: Demonstrate sociological understandings of phenomena, for example, how individual biographies are shaped by social structures, social institutions, cultural practices, and multiple axes of difference and/or inequality.

3. Written and Oral Communication: Formulate effective and convincing written and/or oral arguments.

4. Social Theory: Demonstrate the ability to use several of the major classical or contemporary perspectives in social theory.

5. Research Methodology: Demonstrate the ability to use several of the major social science research methodologies.

Academic Advising for the Program

For sociology-related advising inquiries contact:

socyadvising@ucsc.edu
831-459-4888

Visit the sociology website for additional advising information, including advising hours, appointments, and peer advising.

Sociology advising is located in Rachel Carson College Academic Building, Rm 226.

Transfer students must also review the Transfer Information and Policy section below.

Getting Started in the Major: Frosh

This major is not highly sequential or course intensive. Although it is advisable to begin taking courses toward the major in the first year, it is not required. This major does not require a math placement nor a language placement exam.

Transfer Information and Policy

Transfer Admission Screening Policy

The following courses or their equivalents are required prior to transfer, by the end of the spring term for students planning to enter in the fall:

Getting Started in the Major: Transfer Students

Transfer students who meet the selection criteria and are offered admission are admitted as proposed sociology majors. They must work with the sociology undergraduate coordinator when they arrive on campus to begin the process to declare the major and prepare for enrollment. Declaration of the major for transfer students must be completed by the campus declaration deadline, in the second term of residency.

If a student enters in the winter quarter, it is highly recommended to have taken SOCY 3A or its articulated equivalent at their previous institution. If possible, having taken SOCY 3B or its equivalent is recommended to ensure timely graduation.

If a student enters in the fall quarter as a proposed sociology major, they must take SOCY 3A at UC Santa Cruz that quarter if they have not satisfied the articulated equivalent at their previous institution.

If a student transfers in either fall or winter quarter and they have already taken SOCY 3A or its articulated equivalent at their previous institution, they are recommended to take SOCY 105A in their quarter of entry. 

In addition, transfer students who are pursuing the GISES intensive concentration must take SOCY 30A in fall quarter as it is the start of a yearlong course series.

Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process

Major Qualification

General Sociology Major

Students must take two of the following courses, and pass each with C+ or better, to qualify:

Sociology with a Concentration in GISES Intensive Major

Students must take three courses, for a letter grade, to qualify for the sociology with a concentration in Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies (GISES) intensive major. The following course is required:

Plus two of the following courses

How to Declare a Major

Students should submit a petition to declare their major through the MyUCSC Undergraduate Student eForms as soon as they have met the major qualification requirements and/or reach their declaration deadline quarter, whichever comes first.

Students petitioning when the campus declaration deadline is imminent (i.e., in their sixth quarter, for students admitted as frosh), will either be approved, denied, or provided with conditions (e.g., completion of some courses with certain grades) that will be resolved within at most one more enrolled quarter, even if they have not completed courses.

Students pursuing a double major or major/minor must also work with the department advising office to create an academic plan for the major. For information about the declaration process please review the Sociology Department website.

Appeal Process

Students who are informed that they are not eligible to declare the major may appeal this decision by submitting a letter to the Sociology Department Undergraduate Education chair within 15 days from the date of notification. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student and college of the decision. Letters of appeal should describe any extenuating circumstances that might have affected the student’s record. Students should submit the appeal letter via email to socyadvising@ucsc.edu. Students may contact the sociology undergraduate advisor for any questions.

Letter Grade Policy

All major qualification courses must be taken for letter grades. All other major requirements may be taken as a letter grade or Pass/No Pass. No more than 25 percent of credits earned at UC Santa Cruz may be graded on a Pass/No Pass basis. Students must be in good academic standing to choose the Pass/No Pass option. 

Course Substitution Policy

Sociology B.A. students may substitute two of the upper-division elective requirements with upper-division electives from other UC Santa Cruz departments, individual study courses, Global Learning electives, or other four-year institution electives. Students are limited in the number of outside electives accepted toward the major and must petition for approval of the course prior to applying it to the major. Review the sociology webpage for information about the petition process.

Global Learning

Students seeking to participate in a Global Learning program must be declared in their major prior to their departure.

It is recommended that the students have the courses intended to be taken abroad reviewed and approved by the Sociology Department prior to departure, if possible. Up to two relevant courses taken through Global Learning programs from which credits are transferable to UC Santa Cruz may be used toward satisfaction of the sociology B.A. elective requirements when the content is deemed appropriate and approved by the Sociology Department. Up to five relevant courses taken through Global Learning programs from which credits are transferable to UCSC may be used toward satisfaction of the sociology B.A. with a concentration in GISES intensive major elective requirements when the content is deemed appropriate and approved by the Everett/GISES program faculty director.

Visit the sociology webpage for additional information and planners for Global Learning.

Honors

The Sociology Department awards honors in the major based on the student’s cumulative GPA for all courses taken though UC Santa Cruz to satisfy the program’s major requirements. Students with a GPA of 3.75 or above will be considered for honors in the major. Students with a GPA of 3.9 or above will be considered for highest honors in the major. No more than approximately 15 percent of the graduating class will be considered for honors or highest honors in the major. Comprehensive honors is awarded to students who complete the senior thesis option, and their faculty thesis sponsor and one additional reader evaluate the thesis to be of honors quality.

General Sociology Major

Course Requirements

Sociology majors are required to take a total of 11 courses (two lower-division courses in preparation for the major, two prescribed lower-division core courses, two prescribed upper-division core courses, and five upper-division electives). In addition, they must successfully complete the comprehensive requirement prior to graduation.

Lower-Division Courses

Lower-division preparation:

All sociology majors are required to take two lower-division preparation courses, or their articulated equivalents.

Select two from the following three courses:

Lower-division core courses:

The following two sociology courses, or their articulated equivalents, are required as the foundation of statistical and research methods in the discipline.

Upper-Division Courses

Upper-division core courses:

The following two sociology courses are required as the foundation of theoretical training in the discipline.

Upper-division advanced coursework:

Five upper-division sociology electives are required. The Sociology Department offers upper-division electives that reflect a wide range of ideas within the discipline and the diversified research interests of the faculty. All upper-division electives offered by the department are numbered Sociology 110-189. The annual course offerings can be viewed on the sociology webpage. Up to two pre-approved outside courses can count toward the upper-division advanced coursework. See the Course Substitution Policy section for more details.*

Revised: 08/24/23

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The goal of the Sociology Department’s Disciplinary Communication requirement is to ensure that students acquire and develop the skills in writing and other forms of communication that will best serve them in their study of sociology, and as future learners. The following courses satisfy the Disciplinary Communication requirement for students in programs administered by the Sociology Department.

Comprehensive Requirement

Prior to graduation, all sociology majors are required to complete one of the following comprehensive requirements.

Senior Seminar

Successful completion of a sociology senior seminar course. Seminars will vary in topic. Please consult the department website for a more detailed description of the seminar topics offered in an upcoming quarter.

Sociology Graduate Course

Students may satisfy the comprehensive requirement by successfully completing a graduate-level sociology course, numbered SOCY 201-SOCY 294. Enrollment into a graduate-level sociology course is by invitation or approval of the course instructor.

Senior thesis

The prerequisite for the senior thesis is SOCY 3A and completion of the major’s Disciplinary Communications (DC) requirement. Students who would like to write a senior thesis must submit to their preferred faculty thesis sponsor a proposal that includes a working title, a description of the work to be undertaken, research question(s), methodology, a brief bibliography, a timeline to completion, at least three keywords describing the thesis topics, and materials from relevant courses that might help faculty determine their preparedness to complete the thesis. In addition, students must familiarize themselves with IRB protocols and include in their proposal whether their research includes human subjects, if the project is IRB exempt, or if an IRB application will be needed. The proposal must be submitted one quarter prior to the commencement of the thesis work. Please consult the department website for additional information.

Planners

The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.

Sociology Four-Year Major Planner

The following is a recommended academic plan for students in the sociology major.

Option One

* WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.

Option Two

* WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.

All sociology majors are required to take SOCY 3B which also satisfies the SR general education (GE) requirement. SOCY 15, which satisfies the CC GE, may be selected as one of the major qualification course options. In addition, students may satisfy the CC, ER, and PE GE requirements by selecting certain upper-division sociology electives. Visit the Office of the Registrar's website for an up-to-date list of the sociology upper-division electives that satisfy GE requirements. The IM, MF, SI, TA, PR and composition GE requirements are not offered through the sociology department.

Sociology Three-Year Major Planner

Three-year pathways are most appropriate for students who plan a single major, who have satisfied the Entry-Level Writing Requirement before their first quarter, and who are committed to enrolling in Summer Session after their first and second years. Courses listed as “Any X credit class” may be decreased based on AP or other transfer credit.

This is a sample plan. Work with your major/program advisor to devise a plan that takes into account your transfer credit, interests, and career goals.

* WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.

Sociology lower-division, upper-division core, and several upper-division electives are available in the summer in the event you are not able to enroll in the regular academic year.

The following general education requirements will be satisfied through required courses in the sociology major: SR, DC.

Sociology Two-Year Major Planner

The following is a recommended academic plan for transfer students entering the sociology major. It is assumed that SOCY 1 and SOCY 10 equivalencies were completed at the previous college.

Option One

*Articulated equivalent courses may be taken prior to transfer.

Option Two

*Articulated equivalent courses may be taken prior to transfer.

Sociology with Concentration in GISES Intensive Major

The GISES intensive concentration is an option for students wishing to major in sociology and focus in the area of Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies (GISES). The major is sponsored and administered by the Department of Sociology. This major is designed for highly motivated, self-directed and enterprising students who have demonstrated the capacity to design and complete an honors-quality project in partnership with a civil society group. Students are required to take a total of 15 courses (three prescribed lower-division courses in preparation for the major, two prescribed lower-division core courses, two prescribed upper-division GISES courses, two prescribed upper-division core courses, five upper-division electives, and a project practicum course). In addition, they must successfully complete the comprehensive requirement prior to graduation.

Course Requirements

Lower-Division Courses

Lower-division preparation:

Students must take the following three courses or their articulated equivalents.

And select two from the following three options:

Lower-division core courses:

The following two sociology courses, or their articulated equivalents, are required as the foundation of statistical and research methods in the discipline.

Upper-Division Courses

Upper-division GISES core courses

The following two courses are required for the design and implementation of the GISES project.

Upper-division core courses

The following two sociology courses are required as the foundation of theoretical training in the discipline.

Upper-division advanced coursework

Five upper-division electives are required, selected from the Sociology Department elective courses, Sociology 110-189, or from the list of approved courses. Students are strongly recommended to consult with the director of GISES before choosing their electives to ensure their choices contribute to their selected project and/or their growth as a technology activist or technology linked social change advocate. Courses outside the list of approved courses may also be approved by the director of GISES. For more information on the process students must follow to have their courses approved, please visit the Sociology Department webpage.

Project Practicum

Students must enroll in SOCY 196G, Project Practicum, and complete their GISES capstone project. SOCY 196G is offered every fall quarter. Students may review the GISES webpage, or contact the program director of GISES (socy@ucsc.edu) for more detailed guidelines regarding the GISES capstone project. Prior to enrolling in SOCY 196G, students must have completed SOCY 107A and SOCY 107B, which prepares and supports students in completing a project that makes a contribution to advancing a solution to a problem associated with global social justice and/or sustainable development. To complete the final requirements for GISES, the integrated project practicum—narrative and digital deliverable—must be mounted on the appropriate web-enabled database managed by the Everett Program.

Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement

Students of every major must satisfy that major's upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The goal of the Sociology Department’s Disciplinary Communication requirement is to ensure that students acquire and develop the skills in writing and other forms of communication that will best serve them in their study of sociology, and as future learners. The following courses satisfy the Disciplinary Communication requirement for students in programs administered by the Sociology Department.

Comprehensive Requirement

Prior to graduation, students are required to complete one of the following comprehensive requirements.

Senior Seminar

Successful completion of a sociology senior seminar course. Seminars will vary in topic. Please consult the department website for a more detailed description of the seminar topics offered in an upcoming quarter.

Sociology Graduate Course

Students may satisfy the comprehensive requirement by successfully completing a graduate-level sociology course, numbered SOCY 201- SOCY 294. Enrollment into a graduate-level sociology course is by invitation or approval of the course instructor.

Senior thesis

The prerequisite for the senior thesis is SOCY 3A and completion of the major’s Disciplinary Communications (DC) requirement. Students who would like to write a senior thesis must submit to their preferred faculty thesis sponsor a proposal that includes a working title, a description of the work to be undertaken, research question(s), methodology, a brief bibliography, a timeline to completion, at least three keywords describing the thesis topics, and materials from relevant courses that might help faculty determine their preparedness to complete the thesis. In addition, students must familiarize themselves with IRB protocols and include in their proposal whether their research includes human subjects, if the project is IRB exempt, or if an IRB application will be needed. The proposal must be submitted one quarter prior to the commencement of the thesis work. Please consult the department website for additional information.

Planners

The tables below are for informational purposes and do not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.

Sociology with Concentration in GISES Intensive Major Planner One

The following is a recommended academic plan for students in the sociology with concentration in GISES intensive major.

Option One

* WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.

Option Two

* WRIT 2 should be taken in or before spring quarter of the second year.

All students majoring in sociology with concentration in GISES are required to take SOCY 3B which also satisfies the SR general education (GE) requirement, as well as SOCY 30A which satisfies the PE-H GE. SOCY 15, which satisfies the CC GE, may be selected as one of the major qualification course options. In addition, students may satisfy the CC, ER, and TA GEs by selecting certain upper-division sociology electives. Visit the Office of the Registrar's website for an up-to-date list of the sociology upper-division electives that satisfy general education requirements. The IM, MF, SI, PR and composition GE requirements are not offered through the Sociology Department.

Sociology with Concentration in GISES Intensive Major Planner Two

The following is a recommended academic plan for transfer students entering the sociology with concentration in GISES intensive major. It is assumed that SOCY 1 and SOCY 10 equivalencies were completed at the previous college.

*Articulated equivalent courses may be taken prior to transfer

This planner also assumes that a student has completed most of the general education requirements, beyond major preparation requirements, before transferring to UC Santa Cruz.