Sociology

Sociology BA Learning Outcomes

The Sociology major has the following learning outcomes:

• Critical evaluation of social and political arguments using empirical data
• Effective and convincing formulation of written and oral arguments that integrate sociological evidence
• Demonstrated understanding of the difference between an individual-level and collective-level explanation of behavior
• Demonstrated understanding of the major sociological methods, including interviewing, ethnography, conversation analysis, content analysis, survey design, and statistical analysis, the types of questions they can be used to answer, and their limitations
• Demonstrated familiarity with several major classical contemporary sociological theoretical perspectives and how they can be used to analyze contemporary or historical events or phenomena
• Understanding of some ways in which biographies are shaped by institutions, patterns of social inequality, or cultural practice

Only students with fewer than 90 units completed (excluding Advanced Placement units/credit) may declare the Sociology premajor once they complete either Sociology 1 or 20 with a grade of C or better.

Required: Sociology 1, 20, and one course from Political Science 6, Statistics 10, or 13.

A minimum grade of C is required in each preparation for the major course. Students with a grade-point average less than 2.0 in the preparation coursework are not eligible for admission to the major. Students who repeat any preparation course more than once are automatically denied admission to the major.

Students must petition to declare the Sociology major. If Sociology 101 or 102 has already been completed, a grade of C or better is required. Grades in any other completed sociology courses for the major must be C− or better.

Transfer applicants to the Sociology premajor with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one introduction to sociology course and one statistics course.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Required: Eleven upper-division courses, including (1) two theory courses — Sociology 101, 102; (2) one methods course from Sociology 106A, 106B, 110, 111, 112, 113, M124A, 191H, or Statistics 112; (3) one course from each of the following core areas: (a) interactions — Sociology 111, M124A, CM125, 126, 130, 132, 133, 134, or 152, (b) institutions and social processes — course 116, 121, 143, 151, 158, 172, 173, M174, M175, M176, or 181B, (c) power and inequality — course M115, 122, 123, 147A, M155, 156, 157, M161, M162, M164, M165, 181A, 182, 183, 185, or 186; and (4) any five upper-division sociology elective courses.

Students should complete course 101 and the core courses before taking other upper-division courses. Each course for the major must be taken for a letter grade. To graduate, students must have at least a 2.0 grade-point average in their upper-division major courses, with grades of C or better in Sociology 101 and 102.

Only 8 units of Sociology 199 are allowed. The two theory courses, three core area courses, one methods course, and one sociology elective (seven courses total) must be taken while in residence in the College of Letters and Science at UCLA.

The honors program in sociology provides opportunity for outstanding students to undertake an independent year-long research project under the guidance of a faculty member. Students who successfully complete the honors program graduate with departmental honors.

As preparation for the honors program, students must complete all preparation for the major courses.

After acceptance into the honors program, students are required to take courses 191H, 198A, 198B, and 198C (honors thesis seminars) which may be applied as electives toward the major requirements.

Students must have a 3.5 overall grade-point average, have completed the sociology preparation requirements and, in most cases, have completed the required theory course. Applications are available from the undergraduate adviser’s office, 254E Haines Hall.

Majors in Sociology may select a specialization in Computing by (1) satisfying all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the major, (2) completing Program in Computing 10A, 10B, 10C, and (3) completing Sociology 111, 113. Each course must be taken for a letter grade. Students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a specialization in Computing.