Sociology

Requirements for Major

Sociology majors are required to complete thirty credits in the program approved by a member of the Undergraduate Studies Committee. These thirty credits may include courses taken before declaring the major.

Before declaring a sociology major students must complete SOC 101-Introductory Sociology and one other sociology course for a total of six credits with at least a “C” or better in each course. Prospective majors are also urged to take SOC 302-Introduction to Social Theory and/or SOC 312- Sociology Research Workshop before declaring.

Four core courses are required of all sociology majors as part of the thirty credit program and should be completed within two semesters. They are:

• SOC 101-Introductory Sociology
• SOC 302-Introduction to Social Theory
• SOC 312-Sociology Research Workshop
• SOC 313-Introduction to Social Statistics

All majors must also complete twelve credits (4 courses) at the 300 level or above, including 6 credits (two courses) at the 400 or 500 level. The remaining minimum four credits (normally 2 courses) can be taken at any level; however, only 3 credits of SOC 497-Special Studies in Sociology and only 3 credits of SOC 480, 481, 482 Undergraduate Internship Program may be included in the thirty-hour major requirements.

A grade of “C” or better is required in every course counted toward the major. Students receiving grades of “C-“ or lower in three courses, or falling below a 2.000 GPA in the department will not be permitted to continue as a major. Students receiving less than a “C” in a required course must retake the course and receive a grade of “C” or better.

With approval of the Undergraduate Studies Committee, up to six credits (2 courses) of course work in related fields may be used to fulfill the thirty credit requirement as elective credit (any level). These two courses should fulfill a concentration or study objective and should be completed with a “C” or better. Only sociology courses can be used to satisfy the course requirements at the 400 or 500 levels.

Exceptions to any of these requirements will be made only upon a written petition to the Undergraduate Studies Committee.

Requirements for Minor

Students wishing to minor in sociology are required to complete eighteen credits (6 courses) in the program. No more than three credits of SOC 497 (Special Studies in Sociology) and three credits of SOC 480, 481, 482 (Undergraduate Internship Program) may be included in the eighteen credits requirement for the sociology minor. No courses taken outside of the Department of Sociology are accepted towards the sociology minor. As a part of the eighteen credits for the minor students should complete SOC 101 (Introductory Sociology) and six credits (2 courses) at the 400 or 500 level. The remaining nine credits (3 courses) can be taken at any level.

Distinction and Prizes

In order to provide an enriched academic experience for highly motivated students, the Department of Sociology participates in the college’s Distinguished Majors Program (DMP). To qualify sociology majors should be highly motivated and have a cumulative GPA of 3.400 or higher. Students who qualify should sign up for the DMP by the end of their second year but no later than the first semester of their third year.

All DMP students in Sociology are to complete regular major requirements as well as the following. DMP students should be sure to take at least one 400-level sociology course designated DM. There is one offered each semester. DMP students are urged to take at least one 500-level sociology course during their fourth year. All DMP are to complete the yearlong course (SOC 498-Distinguished Majors) in their fourth year, in which they will research and write their DMP thesis.

Successful completion of the DMP requirements makes a student eligible for graduation with distinction, high distinction or highest distinction. The instructor of SOC 498 and the distinguished majors thesis advisor determines the level of distinction and the course grade after the review of the required thesis.

Undergraduate Internship Program

Facilities

Research

Additional Information

For more information, contact a member of the Undergraduate Studies Committee, Department of Sociology, 542 Cabell Hall, P.O. Box 400766, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4766; (434) 924-7293.
soc-undergraduatestudies@virginia.edu; www.virginia.edu/sociology.

Course Descriptions

• SOC 101 - Introductory Sociology Credits: 3
• SOC 195 - Special Topics in Social Issues Credits: 3
• SOC 196 - Special Topics in Social Issues Credits: 3
• SOC 220 - Death and Dying Credits: 3
• SOC 222 - Social Problems Credits: 3
• SOC 223 - Criminology Credits: 3
• SOC 232 - Gender and Society Credits: 3
• SOC 247 - American Society and Popular Culture Credits: 3
• SOC 252 - Sociology of the Family Credits: 3
• SOC 255 - Law and Society Credits: 3
• SOC 273 - Computers and Society Credits: 3
• SOC 279 - Sociology of American Business Credits: 3
• SOC 302 - Introduction to Social Theory Credits: 3
• SOC 306 - Sociological Perspectives on Whiteness Credits: 3
• SOC 312 - Sociology Research Workshop Credits: 4
• SOC 313 - Introduction to Social Statistics Credits: 4
• SOC 338 - Violence, Gender and Poverty Credits: 3
• SOC 340 - Gender and Sexuality Credits: 3
• SOC 341 - Race and Ethnic Relations Credits: 3
• SOC 347 - Sociology of Development Credits: 3
• SOC 349 - Cities and Cultures Credits: 3
• SOC 355 - Women’s Social Movements in Modern East Asia Credits: 3
• SOC 356 - Culture and Power Credits: 3
• SOC 380 - Social Change Credits: 3
• SOC 382 - Social Movements Credits: 3
• SOC 395 - Special Topics in Sociology Credits: 3
• SOC 396 - Special Topics in Sociology Credits: 3
• SOC 403 - Sociology of Mind Credits: 3
• SOC 407 - Sociology of Art Credits: 3
• SOC 409 - Sociology of Literature Credits: 3
• SOC 410 - Sociology of the African-American Community Credits: 3
• SOC 419 - Work and Gender Credits: 3
• SOC 422 - Contemporary Social Problems Credits: 3
• SOC 423 - Deviance and Social Control Credits: 3
• SOC 435 - Comparative Gender Stratification Credits: 3
• SOC 441 - Sociological Phenomenology Credits: 3
• SOC 442 - Sociology of Inequality Credits: 3
• SOC 450 - American Society Credits: 3
• SOC 451 - Topics in the Sociology of Work Credits: 3
• SOC 452 - Sociology of Religious Behavior Credits: 3
• SOC 453 - Sociology of Education Credits: 3
• SOC 454 - Political Sociology Credits: 3
• SOC 455 - Sociology of Law Credits: 3
• SOC 457 - Family Policy Credits: 3
• SOC 459 - Conflict Management Credits: 3
• SOC 460 - Gender and Culture Credits: 3
• SOC 464 - Urban Sociology Credits: 3
• SOC 470 - Medical Sociology Credits: 3
• SOC 471 - Sociology of Organizations Credits: 3
• SOC 480 - Undergraduate Internship Program Credits: 4
• SOC 481 - Undergraduate Internship Program Credits: 4
• SOC 482 - Undergraduate Internship Program Credits: 4
• SOC 485 - Media, Culture and Society Credits: 3
• SOC 486 - Sociology of Religion Credits: 3
• SOC 487 - Immigration Credits: 3
• SOC 497 - Special Studies in Sociology Credits: 1 to 6
• SOC 498 - Distinguished Majors Seminar Credits: 3
• SOC 503 - Classical Sociological Theory Credits: 3
• SOC 506 - Contemporary Sociological Theory Credits: 3
• SOC 508 - Comparative Historical Sociology Credits: 3
• SOC 510 - Research Design and Methods Credits: 3
• SOC 511 - Survey Research Methods Credits: 3
• SOC 512 - Intermediate Statistics Credits: 3
• SOC 514 - Qualitative Methods Credits: 3
• SOC 542 - Social Stratification Credits: 3
• SOC 556 - Sociology of Culture Credits: 3
• SOC 559 - Sociology of Science Credits: 3
• SOC 562 - Social Demography Credits: 3
• SOC 572 - Nations and Nationalism Credits: 3
• SOC 595 - Special Topics in Sociology Credits: 3
• SOC 596 - Special Topics in Sociology Credits: 3