The Sociology major offers broad theoretical perspectives and rigorous methodologies to study social life and to analyze the causes and consequences of human behavior. In particular, sociologists examine how race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, ability, geography, and other identities are used to create and maintain barriers to access, participation, opportunity, and outcome across all social institutions. The faculty teach and conduct research on social justice and systemic inequalities; health disparities in physical and mental well-being; aging and the life course; environmental justice and natural resource management; deviance, social control, and conflict management; gender, families, and sexualities; social and political movements; nationalism, migration, and ethnic conflict; and culture, technology, and media. Students examine the most pressing social problems in these areas, as well as how different social groups experience and perceive these issues.

Students are encouraged to listen to the interviews on the department’s website from three recent sociology graduates. Their testimonials describe the varied opportunities in the major and the different career and professional paths they and other sociology majors embark on post-graduation.
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Coursework for the Major

Majors are required to complete 32 credits of coursework in sociology and 3 credits of statistics with minimum grades of C. At least 23 credits of sociology must be in courses numbered 3000 or higher and at least 18 credits must be completed at UF.

To graduate, students must also pass a department exam covering fundamental sociological concepts developed by the sociology faculty.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Coursework
SYG 2000	Principles of Sociology (Sociology majors are encouraged to take this as their first course) 1	3
SYA 4110	Development of Sociological Thought (must be taken after 90 credits)	4
SYA 4300	Methods of Social Research (should be completed by the end of the sixth semester) 2	4
Additional sociology coursework 3		21
Related Coursework
STA 2023	Introduction to Statistics 1 (must be taken no later than the end of the third semester; minimum grade of C required)	3
Total Credits		35

¹

Majors can only apply two other 2000-level courses besides SYG 2000, for a maximum of nine credits at the 2000 level. There are no prerequisites for 2000-level courses.

²

STA 2023 is a prerequisite for SYA 4300.

³

Students select additional sociology courses to complete the 32-credit minimum by matching interests in different substantive areas.

Course Details

All majors should review the department's guidelines for information about the major, the plan of study worksheet, an informational handout, descriptions of current and prospective courses, and other information.
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Experiential Learning and Career Readiness

Sociology majors participate in community internships, collaborate on faculty projects, and conduct research independently on senior thesis projects. These experiential learning opportunities prepare graduates to embark upon a wide range of career paths including those in public health, government, research, teaching, and community affairs. Sociology graduates pursue careers in law, medicine, and business. Others work as public policy analysts researching issues related to health and aging; social justice, environmental sustainability and resource management; urban and community development; crime and delinquency; families and communities; and racial, ethnic, and international relations. Many seek advanced degrees in sociology, psychology, counseling, law, and business.

RESEARCH

The department encourages students to engage in the research process, either by conducting their own projects in collaboration with a sociology faculty member or by working with sociology faculty on their current research. These opportunities may be pursued by conducting a senior honors thesis or registering for SYA 4911 credit. Please contact the undergraduate coordinator for more information and eligibility requirements.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• Complete 1 sociology course
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete 1 additional sociology course (1 of the 2 courses must be SYG 2000)
• Complete STA 2023
• 2.75 GPA required for all 3 critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

• 2.75 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete 1 additional sociology course (1 of the 3 must be at the 3000/4000 level)
• 2.75 GPA required for all 5 critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

• Complete SYA 4300 or SYA 4110
• Complete 1 additional 2000 level or above sociology course (maximum of 2 sociology electives at the 2000 level)
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 7

• Complete 2 additional 3000/4000 level sociology courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 8

• Complete SYA 4110 or SYA 4300
• Complete all remaining 3000/4000 level sociology courses (7 total sociology elective courses/21 SY elective credits required)
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Students are expected to complete the Writing Requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the General Education International (GE-N) and Diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S).

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester One		Credits
SYG 2000	Principles of Sociology (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences)	3
State Core Gen Ed Composition (Writing Requirement)		3
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences		3
Foreign language		4-5
	Credits	13-14
Semester Two
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities)		3
State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences		3
State Core Gen Ed Mathematics (pure math)		3
Science laboratory (Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences)		1
Foreign language or elective		3-5
Elective (needed if placed out of language with SAT II)		3
	Credits	16-18
Semester Three
Quest 2 Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences (area not taken in semester two)		3
STA 2023	Introduction to Statistics 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics)	3
Sociology course (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences; 2000 level or above)		3
State Core Gen Ed Humanities		3
Elective (or foreign language, if 4-3-3 option)		3
	Credits	15
Semester Four
Sociology course (Critical Tracking; 3000/4000 level)		3
Gen Ed Biological Sciences		3
Gen Ed Humanities		3
Electives		6
	Credits	15
Semester Five
SYA 4300	Methods of Social Research (Critical Tracking)	4
Gen Ed Physical Sciences		3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)		3
Electives		6
	Credits	16
Semester Six
Sociology course (Critical Tracking; 2000 level or above)		3
Sociology course (Critical Tracking; 3000/4000 level)		3
Gen Ed Composition (Writing Requirement)		3
Elective (3000 level or above, not in major)		3
Elective		3
	Credits	15
Semester Seven
SYA 4110	Development of Sociological Thought (Critical Tracking)	4
Sociology courses (Critical Tracking; 3000/4000 level)		6
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		6
	Credits	16
Semester Eight
Two Sociology courses (Critical Tracking; 3000/4000 level)		6
Electives (3000 level or above, not in major)		6
Elective		2
	Credits	14
	Total Credits	120

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The Bachelor of Arts in sociology provides students with knowledge of the basic concepts in the field, sociological perspectives on social structure, process and institutions and sociological perspectives on the relationship between individuals and society. Emphasis is on the ability to understand, analyze and interpret the sociological literature and on effectively communicating sociological concepts and research in the accepted style of presentation.

Before Graduating Students Must

• Pass a department exam developed by the sociology faculty that covers fundamental sociological concepts.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

1. Identify, explain and apply basic concepts in sociology.

Critical Thinking

2. Analyze, critique and interpret the sociological literature.
3. Define, classify and compare sociological perspectives on social structure, processes and institutions.
4. Define, classify and compare sociological perspectives on the relationship between individuals and society.

Communication

5. Effectively communicate in speech and in writing sociological concepts and research.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Academic Learning Compact 5

Courses	SLO 1	SLO 2	SLO 3	SLO 4	SLO 5
SYA 4110	I, R, A	I, R, A	I, R, A	I, R, A	I, R, A
SYA 4300				I, R, A	I, R, A
SYG 2000	I	I	I

Assessment Types

• Exit exam

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