The Standard Major and Modified Major

The Standard Major in Sociology consists of eleven courses, to be selected as follows:

1. One introdcutory level course: Sociology 1 or 2
2. Two methods courses:  Sociology 10 AND 11. With approval of the chair, a major may substitute a statistical analysis course offered by another social science department or program.
3. One theory course: Sociology 15 or 16
4. Seven additional Sociology courses numbered 10 or higher. Students must take four Lower Division courses (numbered 20-49), two Upper Division courses (numbered 50-80) and one Culminating Experience course (see 5. below). Students may substitute an Upper Division course may be substituted for a Lower Division course.

5. Standard majors must satisfy the culminating experience requirement by successfully completing any one of the following three options: Senior Independent Study Project (SOCY 90), The Sociological Imagination (SOCY 91) or Honors Thesis (SOCY 98 & SOCY 99). Brief descriptions of each option may be found under the course listings. Please consult the Department regarding specific procedures for each option. The culminating experience may be counted as one of the seven additional courses in Sociology numbered 20 or higher that are required for completion of the major. Note: Senior fellows who elect to complete a sociology major may fulfill this requirement through the successful completion of the senior fellow project.

   Standard majors must be approved by a department faculty member.

The Modified Major in Sociology consists of thirteen courses, to be selected as follows:

1. One introductory level course, either Sociology 1 or 2
2. Two methods courses:  Sociology 10 AND 11.  With approval of the Chair, a major may substitute one of the statistical analysis courses offered by the other social science departments or programs.
3. One theory course: Sociology 15 or 16.
4. Students must take three Lower Division courses (numbered 20-49), one Upper Division course (numbered 50-80), and one culminating experience course (see 5. below). Students may substitute an Upper Division course for one of the Lower Division courses.

5. Four related courses taken in one or more departments or programs.

6. Modified majors must satisfy the culminating experience requirement by successfully completing any one of the following three options: Senior Independent Study Project (Sociology 90), The Sociological Imagination (Sociology 91), or Honors Thesis (Sociology 98). Because only one term of Sociology 98 counts as one of the five additional courses numbered 10 or higher that are required for completion of the modified major, taking a second term of Sociology 98 means that Honor students will typically take at least 10 course credits in Sociology..

Students establishing a modified major must submit a modified major proposal form of the proposed field or topic, plus a list of all courses to be taken for credit toward the modified major.  The proposal should address the intellectual coherence of the proposed course of study. All modified majors must be approved by the Chair of the Sociology Department; and, when modified by a single department or program, by the chair of that department or program.  Proposals for modified majors must be submitted to the department no later than the beginning of the third term prior to the student's graduation (for example, the beginning of fall term senior year in most cases).  Extensions may be granted on rare occasions with permission of the Sociology Department chair.

Modified Major Proposal Form