Major in Sociology
The field of sociology studies virtually every aspect of human society:the family, gender, race and ethnic relations, aging, education, work, population, and many others.Its principle goal as a discipline is to understand the workings of human society and to explain social behavior.Although sociologists do study what are commonly regarded as social problems—crime, drug addiction, and poverty, for example—they also examine fundamental social processes present in any society:social change, conflict and inequality.
Enrollment in the Major
Students may enroll in the major beginning the day after the end of the current semester’s add/drop deadline, through the 6th Friday after the add/drop deadline New and transfer students may enroll when they matriculate, during orientation, or when they first arrive on campus.
Sociology Major Requirements
Sociology majors must satisfy the requirements of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) and of the University as well as of the Sociology Department. Questions relating to the Global Education requirement of the SBS should be addressed to their office in 128 Thompson Hall (phone 577-1057) or www.umass.edu/sbs/academics/undergraduate/global_ed_requirement. Advice on other SBS requirements and on University Requirements can be obtained at the Arts and Sciences Advising Center, 128 Thompson Hall, 413-577-1057. This office also handles all matters that require the approval of the Academic Dean, such as late adding or dropping of courses, removal of academic suspension and credit overload approval.
IN ORDER TO GRADUATE WITH A DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY:
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of C (2.0) in their Sociology classes.
Students must take at least five courses (15 credits) within the UMASS Amherst Sociology Department.
Students must take at least 11 courses in Sociology.
To count for the major, all courses in Sociology must be graded (not Pass/Fail).
Only one 100 level course may count toward the major.
Required Courses
Sociology majors usually begin the major with a 100 level course. However, a student beginning with a 200 level course may, with permission, substitute another Sociology course for the 100 level requirement. A student may count only one 100-level sociology course toward the major.
The following 100 level courses are regularly offered:
103: Social Problems
105: Self, Society, and Interpersonal Relations
106: Race, Gender, Class, and Ethnicity
107: Contemporary American Society
110: General Introduction to SociologyAll students must take the following three courses:
–212: Statistics (students declaring after 4/30/05 only)
–213: Data Collection and Analysis
–JY writing (any of the courses designated “writing intensive”, these vary from semester to semester. These courses can meet both the JY and major elective requirements.
–401: Sociological Theories and Perspectives (this is a four credit course).It is recommended that students take 212 before 213. Students who have previously passed a statistics course in another department may substitute it for Sociology 212. Ideally, Sociology 212 and 213 should be taken during the sophomore year and Sociology 401 during the junior or senior year.
Distribution Requirement
(for students entering the major after 5/31/11 and new students entering Fall 2011.)Take at least one course from each of the following areas:
Crime, Law, and Deviance
241 Criminology
242 Drugs and Society
293M Intro to Human Rights
323 Sociology of Law
342 Deviance and Social Order
344 Gender and Crime
345 Juvenile Delinquency
346 Communities and Crime
347 Corporate Crime
391G Str. Gangs and Public Policy
392J Race and Policing
391 Serial and Mass Murder
395K Domestic Violence
395C Hate Crime in America
481 Sociology of Mental HealthCulture, Organizations, and Institutions
220 Sociology of American Culture
222 The Family
320 Work and Society
321 Sociology of Religion
322 Sociology of Education
325 Political Sociology
384 Sociology of Love
382 Sociology of Childhood
386 Complex Organizations
387 Sexuality and Society
393M Media, Technology, and Sociology
442 Sociology of MedicineSocial Inequality and Diversity
224 Social Class and Inequality
244 Sociology of Immigration
291L Introduction of Latin American Culture
327 Social Change
328 Introduction to Social Work
329 Social Movements
335 Radical Movements
340 Race Relations
360 Urban Sociology
361 Demography of Minority Groups
383 Gender and Society
385 Gender and Family
388 Gender and GlobalizationAND four additional 200 or above sociology electives:
Concentration Courses
(ONLY for students who entered the University and major prior to May 31, 2011)
Students declare a concentration when they become sociology majors. Each concentration requires four sociology courses within the chosen area, as well as two upper-level sociology electives (see next link). Students may change their concentration by visiting the Undergraduate Program Office Manager (Thompson 722) and completing the requisite form. Students concentrations appear neither on their diplomas nor on their transcripts. However, concentrations are noted on SPIRE and become the basis for the Degree Audit. Upon graduation, students receive verification of successful completion of their concentration. Each concentration has its own additional requirements. Any substitution requires the prior approval of the appropriate Concentration Coordinator or of the Chief Undergraduate Advisor.
Independent Study
Independent study courses (Sociology 296, 396, 496, and 596) and courses with temporary numbers (those with a 9 as the middle digit, such as 291 and 397) may be used to fulfill concentration requirements ONLY if noted in this Guide or with the approval of the Concentration Coordinator /or the Chief Undergraduate Advisor.
It is the student’s responsibility to seek approval for independent study courses, and to develop a written agreement with the faculty sponsor regarding the number of credits (one to six) and the work expected. Generally, independent study involves regular meetings with a faculty sponsor, appropriate readings, and a substantial paper.
Pass/Fail
Sociology courses taken pass/fail will not count toward the major.
Residence
To graduate as a sociology major from the University of Massachusetts Amherst students must take 45 credits as an enrolled student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a minimum of five (5) courses (15 credits) within the Sociology Department at theUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst.
To graduate with honors students must complete at least 60 credits as an enrolled student at UMass Amherst, and 48 of those credits must have been earned with letter grades, not Pass/Fail.
Department of Sociology
Thompson Hall
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
phone: 413.545.0577