Undergraduate Guide - UMass Amherst

The Major

Students interested in the major are encouraged to contact the department directly, or to visit our website at www.umass.edu/sociol. New majors are accepted during the following periods: from September 15 through November 1, and February 15 through April 1. The Sociology major requires a minimum of 10 courses and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major, including the following:
1. One introductory Sociology course (chosen from SOCIOL 103 through 110). Only one 100-level course can be applied to the major. On request, a higher-level Sociology course can be substituted for the 100-level Sociology course.
2. 212 Elementary Statistics. Note: this requirement is waived for students who have taken an equivalent statistics course in another department.
3. 213 Data Collection and Analysis.
4. Satisfaction of the Junior Year Writing requirement is fulfilled through a designated 300-level course.
5. 401 Theory and Perspectives in Sociology. This course will count as the sociology integrative experience University requirement.
6. Three distribution requirement courses (one course from each of the following areas): 1) Social Inequality and Diversity, 2) Culture Organizations and Institutions, and 3) Crime, Law, and Deviance.

7. Four elective courses: two courses at the 200-level or above, two courses at the 300-level or above.

Note: A maximum of five courses transferred from other institutions may be accepted toward satisfaction of major requirements. Other maxima include no more than 6 credits each of Independent Study at the 296, 396, and 496 levels. In addition, in accordance with University regulations, students are limited to a total of 18 credits in internships and practica, including any combination of courses numbered 298, 398 or 498.

Available outside of Thompson Hall 722 is a set of requirement worksheets, a list of all sociology faculty with their telephone numbers, offices and research interests; descriptions of internship and honors programs; and descriptions of certificates, letters, and special programs administered through the sociology department.