Sociology Major

 

 

Overview of Major

  • Sociology majors must complete 32 (overall) hours of Sociology. 
  • There are 5 Core courses: SOC 100, 200, 280 (or approved substitute), SOC 380 and The Capstone.
  • Of the 32 hours, students must complete 12 hours of advanced courses (300 or 400 level courses).
  • Students must earn a total of 32 hours of credit in sociology. In order for transfer credit to count, it must be accepted by LAS as Sociology coursework. If students take courses in other departments, they will not count as sociology hours unless they are cross listed courses. For example if a student takes an alternate statistics course, such as STAT 100, they will have fulfilled the course requirement, but will not earn sociology hours. Similarly, PSYCH 201 (Social Psychology) is NOT cross-listed with Sociology so students will not receive sociology hours for the course, just standard LAS elective credit.
  • Students must also meet an Approved Supporting Course Work Requirement.
  • In order to graduate, your GPA (including transfer work) in the major must be a 2.0 or above, and your overall GPA must be 2.0 or above.

 

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

Introductory Sociology Course (3-4 hrs) *

SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology An overview of the topics of sociology and of various sociological perspectives, and of how scholars in the discipline study social phenomena. This course is a prerequisite for most two-hundred level courses. 4 hrs

Introductory Statistics Course (3-4 hrs) **

SOC 280 Introduction to Social Statistics An introduction to the statistical measures and techniques used in the social sciences. First course in social statistics for students without mathematics beyond the high school level; topics include the role of statistics in social science inquiry, measures of central tendency and dispersion, simple correlation techniques, contingency analysis, and introduction to statistical inference; includes the statistical analysis of social science data using personal computers.  (Prerequisite for SOC 380) 4 hrs

Introduction to Sociological Theory (3 hrs)

SOC 200 Introduction to Sociological Theory This course is an introduction to the foundations of sociological theory. Topics may include the problem of social order and the nature of social conflict; capitalism and bureaucracy; the relationship between social structure and politics; and the evolution of modern societies. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. 3 hrs

Social Science Research Methods (4 hrs)

SOC 380 Social Science Research Methods Introduction to the foundations of social research and to the major types of research methods employed in sociology. Provides exposure to the major tools and terminology of social research, including the use of computers in sociology. Topics include: research design, finding and using sociology literature, measurement, sampling, survey research, field methods, use of available data, quantitative data analysis and presentation, and computer resources for research.  3 hrs

Capstone Experience (3 hrs) Choose one from the list below

Each of these courses provides students with a comprehensive experience that helps prepare students for graduation and beyond. See the Understanding Capstone Options video below for more information.

SOC 400 Internships

Selected internship opportunities in which student and faculty member develop a program of study and research related to internship. Consult departmental undergraduate advisor. 0 to 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing; and SOC 100 or SOC 101 or SOC 163; and six additional hours in Sociology or acceptance of faculty member and Director of Undergraduate Studies.  CLICK HERE FOR GUIDELINES FOR SOC 400 INTERNSHIPS  CLICK HERE FOR INTERNSHIP APPROVAL APPLICATION. Applications should be submitted to the Undergraduate Academic Advisor at soc-advising@illinois.edu. Approved internships required an INTERNSHIP LEARNING CONTRACT (CLICK HERE)

 3 hrs
SOC 450 Senior Capstone Seminar Over the course of the semester, students will conceive and execute an original sociological research project, using their knowledge of the sociological literature developed in substantive courses and their skills in data collection and analysis developed in methods courses. In parallel, students will explore professional opportunities in sociology and engage in professional development activities, including exploring opportunities for graduate education and learning skills in job search, and resume, c.v., personal statement and cover letter development.  3 hrs
SOC 495 Senior Honors Seminar

Intensive scrutiny of current literature on one selected topic. Critical reading and discussion followed by writing essays and research proposals. Subject will shift yearly. There may be community work as an aspect of this course; consult the Class Schedule for details. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite: For sociology majors only. Student must have at least 3.5 grade-point average in sociology courses and consent of instructor. 

This course is 1 of 2 options for graduating with departmental distinction.

Wonder what SOC 495 is like?

Junior, Dale Robbennolt, completing a dual degree in Civil Engineering and Sociology, completed a personal research project in SOC 495 Senior Honors Seminar: Faculty Perceptions of Gender in Engineering Education and Group Work. Watch the presentation of his work at the UIUC Undergraduate Research Symposium Spring 2021 here.

 3 hrs

Advanced Level Sociology Courses (12 hrs)

You are required to take 12 hours of advanced hours in Sociology. Select 300- or 400- level Sociology courses.  Advanced course work from the required courses listed above count towards this total.

Additional Sociology Courses (hours vary to meet the 32 hours overall Sociology minimum)

Students must earn a total of 32 hours of credit in sociology. In order for transfer credit to count, it must be accepted by LAS as Sociology coursework. If students take courses in other departments, they will not count as sociology hours unless they are cross listed courses. For example if a student takes an alternate statistics course, such as STAT 100, they will have fulfilled the course requirement, but will not earn sociology hours. Similarly, PSYCH 201 (Social Psychology) is NOT cross-listed with Sociology so students will not receive sociology hours for the course, just standard LAS elective credit.

Minimum 2.0 GPA in Major and Overall

In order to graduate, your GPA (including transfer work) in the major must be a 2.0 or above, and your overall GPA must be 2.0 or above.

 

Notes:

* If using transfer credit for Introductory Sociology, some schools grant only 3 credits for SOC 100.
** Other courses that meet this requirement: STAT 100, PSYCH 235, ECON 202, MATH 161. Also Parkland College's MATH 108 and MATH 160. Note that these courses meet the statistics requirement but do not count toward sociology hours.
*** The following courses cannot be used for supporting coursework:
  • Sociology department courses
  • Courses cross-listed in Sociology
  • Applied art courses, such as courses on a musical instrument
  • Courses that satisfy the foreign language requirement
You must see a Sociology advisor early in your junior year for formal approval of your supporting coursework on your Major Plan of Study form. There are generally five ways to plan a cohesive set of supporting courses:
  1. Take 12 hours of courses in one department
    Sociology majors often take their supporting coursework in the departments such as Anthropology, Psychology, Political Science, Community Health, Business Administration, Communication, and Human Development and Family Studies.
  2. Assemble a cohesive package of 12 hours of coursework
    Many students take courses which are in different departments, but are related. For example, pre-law students might take law related courses in Political Science, Business Administration and History.
  3. Use courses taken towards a minor
    If you complete a minor in another department, you may use the courses you took to complete the minor as supporting coursework, provided they meet the restrictions listed above. Departments that offer formal minors in which you may be interested include Anthropology, Cinema Studies, Classics, Comparative Literature, Computer Science, English, English as a Second Language, French, German, Greek, History, Italian, Latin, Mathematics, Russian & East European Studies, Russian Language and Literature, and Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Consult the latest edition of Undergraduate Programs for information about other departments offering minors. You must talk to an advisor in your minor department and you must formally notify LAS by the beginning of your last semester about your intentions to graduate with a minor.
  4. Uses courses taken towards an interdisciplinary minor
    Interdisciplinary minors include courses spread across several departments. Five examples of interdisciplinary minors are:
    • African Studies
    • Afro-American Studies
    • Latin American Studies
    • Gender and Women's Studies
If you are interested in taking an interdisciplinary minor, ask an advisor for more information.
  1. Use courses taken towards the completion of a double major
    If you are double-majoring, you may use courses taken to complete the double major for your supporting coursework provided they do not fall under the restrictions listed above. Students often double-major in Sociology and another social science such as Psychology or Political Science.

 

 

Understanding Capstone Options

Understanding Capstone Options:

 

 

Capstone Presentation Power Point

 

Supporting Course Work Requirement

Supporting Coursework ***

Every Sociology major must complete 12 hours of supporting coursework. Supporting coursework consists of a set of courses which are logically grouped, and which reflect, or support a student's interests outside of the Sociology Department. Students should begin planning and completing their supporting coursework no later than their sophomore year.

Please watch the following video for more information about Supporting Coursework:

 

 

Supporting Coursework Requirement Power Point

 

Meeting Graduation Requirements: Other Student Responsibilities

Other Student Responsibilities

Major Plan of Study

All students in LAS are required to complete a major plan of study before graduation. This is a form that lays out the courses that you will complete for graduation in Sociology. Completing this form takes about 20 minutes, and should be done by the second semester of your junior year. You will not be allowed to graduate without having completed this form. If you need to complete the form, make an appointment with the Sociology advisor using the appointment calendar.

Meeting Graduation Requirements

As a Sociology major, you are responsible for reading and understanding all graduation requirements at the departmental, college and university levels and making sure that they are met. Advisors can assist you, and there are some notification systems in place if you are not making satisfactory progress, but ultimately whether you graduate on time is up to you. There are several key documents which you should read carefully. The following lists these documents and where you can get them if you don't already have them:

  • FOR UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS
    • UIUC Programs of Study
    • Available at Illini Union Bookstore
  • LAS COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
    • LAS Student Handbook
    • Available at LAS student offices (2002 Lincoln Hall)
  • SOCIOLOGY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
    • Undergraduate Sociology Handbook
    • Available at 3070 Lincoln Hall.

 

LAS additional requirements: 

  • Meet all General Education requirements
  • Complete at least 21 Advanced Hours of course work within LAS
  • Complete at least 120 credit hours in total (at least 60 hrs taken at UIUC)