Combined Sociology/LALS Major

Home Undergraduate Program Combined Sociology/LALS Major

Students may combine the Sociology major with Latin American & Latino Studies, an interdisciplinary course of study addressing the changing political, social, economic and cultural realities transforming both Latin America and Latina/o communities. Both departments must approve a study plan before the major can be declared and each department determines major and thesis honors separately.

Both the Sociology and LALS departments must approve a study plan before the major can be declared and each department determines major and thesis honors separately. Combined majors should maintain contact with advisors and faculty in both departments while pursuing their degree.

Students must file a study plan and declare a major no later than the end of the sixth quarter of enrollment and/or when they have reached 90 credits. Junior transfers must declare their major during their second quarter at UCSC.

Prerequisites to Declaring the Combined Major

Before you can declare the Combined Major, you must complete two lower-division courses out of Socy 1, 10 and 15 with a GPA of 3.0 or better. You must also complete LALS 10. You are encouraged to take LALS 1 if possible, but it is not required.

Declaration Advising Sessions

Once you have completed the necessary prerequisites, you can begin the declaration process by signing up for a declaration advising session. Group advising sessions for Sociology are scheduled each quarter, approximately two weeks before the declaration deadline listed in the campus Academic and Administrative Calendar. Eligible students will be given an overview of the combined major, department policies, and be assigned a faculty advisor. For more information about the declaration sessions, please see our declaration session page.

Of the four required classes, at least one upper division elective or senior seminar must address Chicano/a & Latino/a issues.

• Two Sociology electives
• Two LALS electives

Students must demonstrate proficiency in Spanish or Portugese equivalent to the completion of Spanish 6 or 56 or Spanish for Spanish Speakers 63 or Portugese 65A-B. Additionally, at least one upper division course must be taught in either Spanish or Portugese. For Spanish and Portugese language instruction information please refer to the UCSC General Catalog.

Prior to graduation, all combined Sociology/LALS majors are required to complete one of the following comprehensive requirements:

1) Senior Seminar: One course in the LALS 194 Series

2) Comprehensive Course Option: Two additional Sociology courses from Cluster III: Inequality & Social Change

3) Senior Thesis: As a prerequisite for the senior thesis, students must complete Sociology 103B by the junior year and be in good academic standing. A thesis proposal must be submitted to the preferred faculty thesis sponsor by the second week of spring quarter (four quarters prior to graduation). The propsal consists of a 1-3 page thesis abstract and draft research plan or design, a brief bibliography, and narrative evaluations from course 103B and any other relevant courses. For detailed information regarding the Senior Thesis, consult the Sociology Undergraduate Student Handbook (pdf).