A liberal arts degree in sociology provides students with opportunities to develop skills deemed essential for many different types of careers. These skills include learning how to identify and solve problems, conduct research, relate to others, and write effectively. Graduates frequently are employed in business (e.g., advertising staff member, human resource manager), community and social services (e.g., environmental organizer, family planning worker), education (e.g., teacher, public health educator), government (e.g., human rights officer, urban planner), and research (e.g., social research assistant and market researcher). Sociology is also an excellent major for pre-law, pre-health, M.A., and Ph.D. studies.

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.

Required Coursework

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

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.

Related Coursework

In addition to the 32 credits of sociology coursework, majors are required to complete STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 with a minimum grade of C. STA 2023 must be taken no later than the end of the third semester.

Course Details

All majors should review the department's guidelines or visit 3231 Turlington Hall for information about the major, the plan of study worksheet, an informational handout, descriptions of current and prospective courses and other information.

Combination Degrees

The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers a combination B.A./M.A. degree to eligible undergraduate students. Please see the graduate coordinator for more information regarding this degree option. Sociology majors may also consider various combination degrees with other departments and colleges. For example, a Master of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in management is offered through the Warrington College of Business to eligible students who have majored in sociology. Please see the undergraduate coordinator for more information about such degree options.

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 Undergraduate Research credit. Please see 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
• 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.

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

Assessment Types

• Exit exam