Sociology BA

Learning Outcomes

Critical evaluation of social and political arguments using empirical data

Effective and convincing formulation of written and oral arguments that integrate sociological evidence

Demonstrated understanding of the difference between an individual-level and collective-level explanation of behavior

Demonstrated understanding of the major sociological methods, including interviewing, ethnography, conversation analysis, content analysis, survey design, and statistical analysis, the types of questions they can be used to answer, and their limitations

Demonstrated familiarity with several major classical contemporary sociological theoretical perspectives and how they can be used to analyze contemporary or historical events or phenomena

Understanding of some ways in which biographies are shaped by institutions, patterns of social inequality, or cultural practice

Entry to the Major

Pre-Major

First-Year Students

Transfer Students

Major Requirements

Preparation for the Major

Complete three courses as follows:

Sociology

Political Science or Statisics

The Major

Complete 11 upper-division courses as follows. Students should complete course 101 and the core courses before taking other upper-division courses.

Theory

Methods

Select one course from:

Core Areas

Select one course from each of the following core areas:

Interactions

Institutions and Social Processes

Power and Inequality

Upper-Division Sociology Electives

Honors Program

As preparation for the honors program, students must complete all preparation for the major courses. After acceptance into the honors program, students are required to take courses 191H, 198A, 198B, and 198C (honors thesis seminars) which may be applied as electives toward the major requirements.

Computing Specialization

Majors in Sociology may select a specialization in Computing by satisfying all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the major, and completing the following requirements. Each course must be taken for a letter grade. Students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a specialization in Computing.

Policies

Preparation for the Major Policies

The Major Policies

Each course for the major must be taken for a letter grade. To graduate, students must have at least a 2.0 grade-point average in their upper-division major courses, with grades of C or better in Sociology 101 and 102.

Only 8 units of Sociology 199 are allowed. The two theory courses, three core area courses, one methods course, and one sociology elective (seven courses total) must be taken while in residence in the College of Letters and Science at UCLA.

Honors Program

The honors program in sociology provides opportunity for outstanding students to undertake an independent year-long research project under the guidance of a faculty member. Students who successfully complete the honors program graduate with departmental honors.

Students must have a 3.5 overall grade-point average, have completed the sociology preparation requirements and, in most cases, have completed the required theory course. Applications are available from the undergraduate adviser’s office, 254E Haines Hall.