Sociology Major

Effective Fall 2014

A major in sociology allows for a wide range of possible course elections, enabling students to create a personalized curriculum that matches their intellectual and career interests. The requirements for the major offer students a foundation in fundamental sociological principles, practices, theories, and methodology. Flexible major electives allow students to study the discipline broadly or to focus on a specific area of the discipline that inspires them.

Prerequisite to Major

Students planning to major in sociology must elect and complete with a C- or better one of the following introductory courses before declaring the major: SOC 100, 102, 195, 300, or 302 (302 effective Fall 2016). 

SOC 195 is restricted to first- and second-year students who are in the LSA Honors Program and/or have a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Juniors and seniors electing an introductory course are strongly encouraged to elect SOC 300, although there is limited space available for seniors in SOC 100 and 102 in semesters in which SOC 300 is not offered. The prerequisite course cannot be included in the 33 credits required for completion of the plan for the major.

Students must earn at least a C-in the major prerequisite and in all courses they plan to include in the plan for the major. Courses elected as pass/fail may not be included in the plan for the major.

Requirements for the Major

After electing one of the introductory prerequisite courses, majors are required to complete at least 33 credits of SOC coursework at the 200 level or above, including:

1. Statistics: SOC 210, STATS 250, or STATS 280 (or their equivalent)
2. Research Methods: SOC 310. Must be taken on UM—Ann Arbor campus
3. Sociological Theory: SOC 305. Must be taken on UM—Ann Arbor campus

The remaining credits must come from SOC courses at the 200 level and above. Students who wish to focus their elective coursework on a particular area of sociology are encouraged to consult with the department advisor.

The department will allow up to two courses with significant sociological content from other LSA departments or transfer institutions to be included in the plan for the major. Students interested in petitioning to include a non-SOC course in their plan for the major should email their request to socadvisor@umich.edu and include a complete course syllabus.

The department expects that at least 18 of the 33 credits required for a sociology major be completed with Department of Sociology faculty on the UM-Ann Arbor campus. The research methods and sociological theory courses must be taken in residence on the UM-Ann Arbor campus.

Course Planning

The research methods and statistics courses facilitate the understanding of sociological themes and concepts explored in upper-division courses. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the statistics course in the sophomore year, the research methods course before the end of the junior year, and complete all three of the required courses before the final  academic term of the senior year. Students intending to write an honors thesis in sociology must take statistics before the first term of the junior year and the methods course no later than the second term of the junior year.

Credit Limits and Exclusions

A combined total of eight INDEPENDENT or EXPERIENTIAL credits may be included in the plan for the major. This includes SOC 225 (and 389), 321, 324, 389, 394, 395, and 396. There is an additional limit on SOC 225 (and 389) credits; only four credits of SOC 225 (and 389) may be included in the plan for the major.

Honors Plan

Effective Fall 2012 

The Program begins with SOC 497 (3 credits) in the second term of the junior year and continues through the senior year with SOC 498 (3 credits) and 499 (3 credits). During SOC 498 and 499, students work with the supervision of their faculty mentors, while continuing to meet individually with the faculty Honors coordinator. SOC 497 is offered in the Winter Term only.

Honors Application Prerequisites and Course Planning

Applicants to the Honors Program in Sociology have at least a 3.5 GPA within their sociology courses and at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA in their LS&A courses. In addition, they already will have demonstrated originality in their own course work, shown a serious interest in scholarly research, and given evidence of their ability to work independently on a thesis. Students should plan on completing SOC 210 or STATS 250 (or 350) prior  to enrolling in SOC 497 and should take SOC 310 or 312 prior to or concurrently with it. The Honors Program in Sociology is a three-semester sequence of course and thesis work. Students typically apply as first-semester juniors and begin with the first course, SOC 497, the following semester.

To graduate with Honors, students must meet all requirements for the major; complete SOC 497, 498, and 499; write an acceptable Honors thesis; and maintain a 3.4 overall GPA. Upon completion of this course work and dependent upon the evaluation of the thesis, the academic record and diploma will designate the degree awarded "with Honors," "with High Honors," or "with Highest Honors."

Interested students should call (734) 764-6324 or visit the website to make an appointment with the department's department advisor.

Effective Date:  Winter 2013-Summer 2014

A major in sociology allows for a wide range of possible course elections, enabling students to create a personalized curriculum that matches their intellectual and career interests. The requirements for the major offer students a foundation in fundamental sociological principles, practices, theories, and methodology. Flexible major electives allow students to study the discipline broadly or to focus on a specific area of the discipline that inspires them.

Prerequisite to Major

Students planning to concentrate in sociology must elect and complete with a C- or better one of the following introductory courses before declaring the major: SOC 100, 102, 195, or 300. SOC 195 is restricted to first- and second-year students who are in the LSA Honors Program and/or have a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Juniors and seniors electing an introductory course are strongly encouraged to elect SOC 300, although there is limited space available for seniors in SOC 100 and 102 in semesters in which SOC 300 is not offered. The prerequisite course cannot be included in the 33 credits required for completion of the plan for the major.

Students must earn at least a C-in the major prerequisite and in all courses they plan to include in the plan for the major. Courses elected as pass/fail may not be included in the plan for the major.

Requirements for the Major

After electing one of the introductory prerequisite courses, majors are required to complete at least 33 credits of SOC coursework at the 200 level or above, including:

1. Statistics: SOC 210 or STATS 250 (or their equivalent)
2. Research Methods: SOC 310. Must be taken on UM—Ann Arbor campus
3. Sociological Theory: SOC 305. Must be taken on UM—Ann Arbor campus

The remaining credits must come from SOC courses at the 200 level and above. Students who wish to focus their elective coursework on a particular area of sociology are encouraged to consult with the department advisor.

The department will allow up to two courses with significant sociological content from other LSA departments or transfer institutions to be included in the plan for the major. Students interested in petitioning to include a non-SOC course in their plan for the major should email their request tosocadvisor@umich.edu and include a complete course syllabus.

The department expects that at least 18 of the 33 credits required for a sociology major be completed with Department of Sociology faculty on the UM-Ann Arbor campus. The research methods and sociological theory courses must be taken in residence on the UM-Ann Arbor campus.

Course Planning

The research methods and statistics courses facilitate the understanding of sociological themes and concepts explored in upper-division courses. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the statistics course in the sophomore year, the research methods course before the end of the junior year, and complete all three of the required courses before the final  academic term of the senior year. Students intending to write an honors thesis in sociology must take statistics before the first term of the junior year and the methods course no later than the second term of the junior year.

Credit Limits and Exclusions

A combined total of eight INDEPENDENT or EXPERIENTIAL credits may be included in the plan for the major. This includes SOC 321, 324, 389, 394, 395, and 396. There is an additional limit on SOC 389 credits; only four credits of SOC 389 may be included in the plan for the major.

Effective Date: Fall 2012

A major in sociology allows for a wide range of possible course elections, enabling students to create a personalized curriculum that matches their intellectual and career interests. The requirements for the major offer students a foundation in fundamental sociological principles, practices, theories, and methodology. Flexible major electives allow students to study the discipline broadly or to focus on a specific area of the discipline that inspires them.

Prerequisite to Major

Students planning to concentrate in sociology must elect and complete with a C- or better one of the following introductory courses before declaring the major: SOC 100, 102, 195, or 300. SOC 195 is restricted to first- and second-year students who are in the LSA Honors Program and/or have a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Juniors and seniors electing an introductory course are strongly encouraged to elect SOC 300, although there is limited space available for seniors in SOC 100 and 102 in semesters in which SOC 300 is not offered. The prerequisite course cannot be included in the 33 credits required for completion of the plan for the major.

Students must earn at least a C-in the major prerequisite and in all courses they plan to include in the plan for the major. Courses elected as pass/fail may not be included in the plan for the major.

Requirements for the Major

After electing one of the introductory prerequisite courses, majors are required to complete at least 33 credits of SOC coursework, including one course in each:

1. Statistics: SOC 210 or STATS 250 (or their equivalent)
2. Research Methods: SOC 310 or 312
3. Sociological Theory: SOC 305

The remaining credits must come from SOC courses at the 200 level and above. Students who wish to focus their elective coursework on a particular area of sociology are encouraged to consult with the department advisor.

The department will allow up to two courses with significant sociological content from other LSA departments or transfer institutions to be included in the plan for the major. Students interested in petitioning to include a non-SOC course in their plan for the major should email their request tosocadvisor@umich.edu and include a complete course syllabus.

The department expects that at least 18 of the 33 credits required for a sociology major be completed with Department of Sociology faculty on the UM-Ann Arbor campus. The research methods and sociological theory courses must be taken in residence on the UM-Ann Arbor campus.

Course Planning

The research methods and statistics courses facilitate the understanding of sociological themes and concepts explored in upper-division courses. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the statistics course in the sophomore year, the research methods course before the end of the junior year, and complete all three of the required courses before the final  academic term of the senior year. Students intending to write an honors thesis in sociology must take statistics before the first term of the junior year and the methods course no later than the second term of the junior year.

Credit Limits and Exclusions

A combined total of eight INDEPENDENT or EXPERIENTIAL credits may be included in the plan for the major. This includes SOC 321, 324, 389, 394, 395, and 396. There is an additional limit on SOC 389 credits; only four credits of SOC 389 may be included in the plan for the major.