BA in Sociology

SOC 1001- Introduction to Sociology is the required preparatory course for the Sociology BA and BS majors. It serves as an introduction to the discipline and is the recommended prerequisite for many upper division (3xxx-5xxx level) SOC courses. 
 
The Sociology BS major requires MATH 1142 - Short Calculus or MATH 1271 -  Calculus I. Depending on your math skills and background, you may need to take prerequisite math courses before you can take MATH 1142 or MATH 1271. 

A grade of C- or better is required in all major courses.

See the University Catalog for all courses in the major.

Remember, when using Transferology to plan courses for the major, look for courses that transfer as direct equivalents to UMTC major courses. In Transferology, a direct equivalent shows as the UMTC course number. For example, COMM 1101 is a direct equivalent, while COMM 1T*** is not.

In CLA, each department has a process to declare the major. This is a necessary step for the major to be added to the student record. New transfer students do not declare their majors until after they attend orientation. 

To declare the sociology major (BA or BS), students must either complete an online information session and then meet with a sociology departmental advisor or peer adviser, or attend an in-person information and declaration session.

Before declaring sociology as a major, completion of SOC 1001 or an equivalent transfer course is recommended.

Declaring the major is an important step. While most upper-division major courses are open to all students, the sociology department does reserve some seats for declared majors in the core classes: SOC 3701, SOC 3801, and SOC 3811.

We recommend that you meet with the sociology advising staff during your first semester in CLA to discuss your interests and the declaration process. This meeting allows the departmental advisor to help you stay on track in the major and to tell you about opportunities within the major, which include research, scholarships, and service-learning options.

Lower-division coursework

SOC 1001 is the only lower-division (1xxx-level) course that can count towards the Sociology BA or BS majors.

Major residency requirement

At least six SOC upper-division courses must be completed at UMTC. This means that you may be allowed to apply up to three upper-division transfer courses to satisfy sociology BA or BS major requirements. The sociology BS sub-plan requires a minimum of two of the four courses in the sub-plan be completed with UMTC courses. 

Transfer courses are evaluated by the department for use towards the major. Check Transferology to see if an evaluation already exists for the courses you would like to use toward the major.  If you find a course that has not been evaluated you can submit the course for review. A copy of the course syllabus is required. 

The Department of Sociology website provides information on all sociology programs, including the law, criminology and justice majors, sociology minors, and the public health minor.

Planning for a BA or a BS with a sociology major

• If you are planning to complete a BA degree, consider completing or starting your second language before you transfer to CLA. Be sure to talk with a CLA transfer advisor about any questions you have about completing the CLA Second Language requirement.
• If you are planning to complete the BS Sociology major, completing a MATH 1142 or MATH 1271 equivalent before you transfer to CLA is recommended.

Transfer students are strongly encouraged to plan to complete the majority of the sociology major courses at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. By taking the majority of courses here, you have the opportunity to make the most of the faculty and courses offered through our top-ranked, world-renowned program.

Sub-plan requirement for BS major

The BS major includes a required sub-plan chosen from Health Care and Careers; Organization, Business, or Nonprofit; Policy Analysis; or Quantitative Emphasis. If you are considering the BS, take time to review the sub-plan information on the department website and in the catalog. Please note that all subplan courses are upper-division (3xxx-level or higher). 

Related courses and minors 

Many students majoring in Sociology take courses or minor in psychology, political science, communication studies, geography, and the family social science minor in the College of Education and Human Development. These are only some of the many interesting options on campus.