Faculty Advisors
Sociology faculty members are valuable resources for: discussing ideas and concepts, applying sociology to your future life and career plans and writing recommendation letters. Faculty hold office hours each week during the academic quarters (available on Zoom during remote instruction). These hours are available for students to discuss course work, research opportunities, graduate school, and future courses. Take advantage of office hours to meet faculty and get to know them.
Why do I need a faculty advisor?
Sociology faculty are the best advisors to seek out to discuss any academic matters. They are experts in their fields, and can provide mentoring, recommendations, and opportunities. Students who establish a relationship with faculty members, visit them in office hours, and participate in their courses are more likely to succeed in their academics at UCSC and more likely to participate in research opportunities.
How do I select a faculty advisor?
The recommended approach, and the approach preferred by faculty, is to select a faculty advisor based on your areas of interest in Sociology. Review faculty research areas on their profiles on the Sociology website. You may seek out more than one faculty advisor if you find that multiple faculty have interests that match your own. Students may also select a faculty advisor because they had a class with the professor and have already established a working relationship, based on courses the faculty member will be teaching in the future, or based on the students’ interest in working with the faculty member on a senior thesis in the future. Students are not limited to meeting with only one advisor, but are free to consult other faculty for advising during their time at UCSC. If your interests change over time, begin meeting with the faculty advisor in your new area of interest.
What can I discuss with my faculty advisor?
- Academic questions related to Sociology
- Course-related questions
- Research areas of interest
- Research opportunities
- Current research projects
- Letter of recommendation
- Courses they will be teaching throughout the year
- Field study sponsorship through an Individual Study
- Internships, volunteer opportunities or organizations they work with in the community
- Senior thesis
- Course issues and feedback
- Recommendations for other majors, minors, professors, or courses in a particular area of interest
- Referrals to campus resources
- Developing academic goals
- Graduate school
- Careers (and visit the Career Center!)
- Academic support if needed for awards, scholarships, and grants
- Academic integrity questions (plagiarism, ethics of research, etc.)
- Building skills needed in areas of interest
- University life
