The Sociology major helps students understand the world around them and the social forces that impact us every day. Sociology provides a lens to study a wide range of topics, from housing inequality to families to social media. The Sociology curriculum advances your knowledge in core areas and helps focus your interest, while providing experience in a related work environment and ultimately helping you select a career path. For additional information, download the Sociology Major Fact Sheet and review the chart detailing the recommended progression of required coursework. Then take a careful look at our course suggestions for career tracks.
*** PLEASE NOTE *** These are the requirements for students who declared the Sociology major during April 2019 and later. Students who declared during March 2019 and earlier, please refer to your degree audit for your program requirements. ***
- Sociol 101 (Introduction to Sociology)
- Sociol 102 (Sociology in Boston)
- Sociol 201 (Social Theory)
- Sociol 202 (Methods of Sociological Research)
- Sociol 350 (Social Statistics) or Sociol 352 (Criminological Statistics and Data Analysis) or Psych 370 (Psychological Statistics) or Econ 205 (Statistical Methods in Economics)
- Senior Capstone. Choose one of the following:
- Sociol 460 -- Internship: Sociology in the City (6 credits)
- Sociol 470 -- Senior Seminar in Sociology (3 credits)
- Sociol 478 or 479 -- Directed Study in Sociology
- Nine credits of 300-level Sociology electives
- Nine credits of Sociology electives at any level
The following limits on courses must be observed:
- Only one internship course (6 credits) may count toward the major.
- Only one Directed Study (Sociol 478 or 479) may count toward the major.
- One course within the major may be taken pass/fail, but it may not be the Capstone. NOTE: Unlimited and unrestricted pass/fail grades are allowed during Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021, the semesters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Up to five courses (15 credits) may be transferred from other institutions. Exception: All sociology courses taken at UMass Amherst, UMass Dartmouth or UMass Lowell will be accepted.
- Sociol 201 and Sociol 202 may be transferred from 4-year institutions only.
- Once students matriculate at UMass Boston, sociology courses taken elsewhere need prior approval from the department chair and the Registrar.
- Students double-majoring with Criminology & Criminal Justice may double-count only two courses: Sociol 101 and Sociol 202.
The chart below details the course sequencing recommended for Sociology majors declaring April 2019 and later.