Sociology B.A.
Major Requirements
TWO Lower-Division Courses Required to Qualify for the Major:
Select two of the following three courses. Both courses must be passed with a C+ or better prior to declaring the major. There are some exceptions to the grade requirement:
- If the course equivalent is taken from another institution, grades of C or better are accepted for those courses since many colleges do not use a +/- grading system.
- If the course was taken at UCSC in the 2019-20, 2020-21, or 2021-22 academic years, or Fall 2022 or Spring 2024: grades of C or better or Pass will be accepted. Exceptions to the grade policy were permitted due to COVID, remote learning, and campus strikes.
- SOCY 1 Introduction to Sociology - Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer
- SOCY 10 Issues and Problems in American Society - Offered Winter and Summer
- SOCY 15 World Society (CC GE) - Offered Fall and Summer
The remaining SOCY requirements listed below must be passed with a C or better or Pass grades.
TWO Lower-Division Core Courses
Both courses must be taken.
- SOCY 3A The Evaluation of Evidence - Offered Fall and typically in the Summer
- Double majors with Psychology may substitute SOCY 3A with PSYC 100.
- Double majors with Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) may substitute SOCY 3A with LALS 100A.
- SOCY 3B Statistical Methods (SR GE) - Offered Winter
- Students are encouraged to take SOCY 3B with the Sociology department, however, SOCY 3B can also be substituted with STAT 5 (formerly AMS 5), STAT 7 (formerly AMS 7), PSYC 2, or equivalent.
- AP Statistics score of 4 or 5 satisfies the SOCY 3B requirement.
- SOCY 3B equivalents can also be found through UC Online, such as MGMT 7: Statistics for Business Decision Making offered through UC Irvine
TWO Upper-Division Core Courses
Both courses must be taken, in sequence, starting with SOCY 105A. SOCY 105A and SOCY 105B also satisfy the Disciplinary Communications (DC) requirement for the major. Courses that satisfy the DC requirement must be taken at UCSC and they have a prerequisite of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements. The courses are also restricted to students who have junior and senior class standing.- SOCY 105A Classical Social Theory - Offered Fall, Winter, and typically in the Summer
- SOCY 105B Contemporary Social Theory - Offered Winter, Spring, and typically in the Summer
FIVE Upper-Division Elective Courses
- Three of the five required upper-division electives must be regular Sociology electives at UCSC, numbered SOCY 110-189. See Annual Course Offerings.
- Two of the five required upper-division electives may be course substitutions.
ONE Comprehensive Senior Exit Requirement
Students may select one of the following options:
- SOCY 196S Senior Seminar: Five-unit course; offered Fall, Winter, and Spring; topics vary each quarter and year. Enrollment by application and permission code.
- SOCY Graduate Level Course: Graduate seminar courses are numbered SOCY 200-299. Enrollment by instructor invitation or approval.
- Senior Thesis: 10-15 units of independent study thesis coursework (SOCY 195A and B mandatory, 195C is optional). Prerequisite: SOCY 3A and faculty approval.
Sample Plans
- Frosh
- Fall Transfer Student - SOCY 1 and SOCY 10 completed
- Fall Transfer Student - SOCY 1, 10, 3B completed, but not SOCY 3A
- Fall Transfer Student - SOCY 1, 10, 3A, 3B completed
- Fall Transfer Student - No SOCY courses completed
- Winter Transfer Student - SOCY 1 and SOCY 10 completed
Prior Catalogs - Major Worksheets
Download the major worksheet (PDF) for the catalog year you are following.
