Sociology Major Requirements
The basics:
- Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of C (2.0) in their Sociology classes.
- Students must take at least five courses 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.
The 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. 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 Sociology
--212: Statistics (or Psych 240, ResEcon211 or 212, Statistics 111 or 240)
--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; mandatory enrollment in Sociol 396B for one credit is expected.
--401: Sociological Theories and Perspectives (this is a four credit course).
It is recommended that students take 212 before 213. Ideally, Sociology 212 and 213 should be taken during the sophomore year and Sociology 401 during the junior or senior year.
IN ADDITION STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE ONE OF THE TWO REQUIREMENT AREAS BELOW (according to entrance date).
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 Health
Culture, 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 Medicine
Social 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 Globalization
AND four additional 200 or above sociology electives:
Concentration Requirement
(for students who entered the University and major prior to May 31, 2011)
The goals and requirements of each concentration are as follows:
Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice concentration focuses on criminal, corrupt, and
deviant behavior by private individuals, government officials, and
corporations. The Criminal Justice concentration is designed for
students planning careers in the criminal justice system (law
enforcement, probation, the courts, and corrections), for students
interested in graduate work in sociology or criminology, and for those
desiring to be better informed about these contemporary issues.
Students electing this concentration must take:
241: Criminology
342: Deviance and Social Order
OR
323: Sociology of Law
Any two upper level CJ/Sociology. Courses (300 level or higher, courses
vary by semester) Among the courses offered are:
344: Gender and Crime
345: Juvenile Delinquency
346: Communities & Crime
347: Corporate Crime and Deviance
392A: Race, Class and Crime
391G Str. Gangs and Public Policy
392J Race and Policing
391 Serial and Mass Murder
395K Domestic Violence
395C: Hate Crime in America
395K: Domestic Violence in America
597A: Survey of Criminal Justice Fields
In addition, select any two sociology upper-level electives (200 level
or higher).
For information about the Criminal Justice Certificate go to: CJ
certificate
<http://www.umass.edu/sociol/undergraduate/certificate/index.html>
Students are strongly advised to plan an internship or practicum in the
criminal justice system during their junior year and to take a senior
seminar, “Survey of Criminal Justice Fields.” It is taught by criminal
justice practitioners. Internship Application forms may be obtained
from the CJ Internship Director, Sheriff Robert Garvey, Thompson 732.
Email: Robert.Garvey@hsd.state.ma.us
<mailto:Robert.Garvey@hsd.state.ma.us>.
Culture, Organizations and Institutions
The Culture, Organizations and Institutions concentration focuses on the
basic linkages between individuals and their social and cultural world.
This concentration is designed for students desiring a strong liberal
arts education and/or interested in attending graduate school in
sociology or related fields.
Select four courses from:
220: Sociology of American Culture
222: The Family
321: Sociology of Religion
322: Sociology of Education
325: Political Sociology
329: Social Movements
360: Urban Sociology
383: Gender and Society
385: Gender and Family
386: Complex Organizations
387: Sexuality and Society
442: Sociology of Medicine
In addition, select any two sociology upper-level electives (200 level
or higher).
Social Inequality and Diversity
The Social Inequality and Diversity concentration focuses on the causes
and consequences of inequality associated with membership in a
subordinate group. This concentration is designed for students with
interests in education, law, journalism, the clergy, in social activism
and in graduate work in sociology. Professor Dan Clawson is
Concentration Coordinator. E-mail: clawson@sadri.umass.edu
<mailto:clawson@sadri.umass.edu>
Select four courses from:
222: The Family
224: Social Class Inequality
240: Asian American Experience
244: Sociology of Immigration
329: Social Movements
340: Race Relations
361: Demography of Minority Groups
383: Gender and Society
387: Sexuality and Society
In addition, select any two sociology upper-level electives (200 level
or higher).
Social Research and Data Analysis
(only for those who declared this concentration by April 1, 2008 –they
should see Chief Undergrad. Advisor)
Social Service
The Social Service Concentration is designed for students planning
careers in social policy, social work, community service, gerontology,
disability and related "helping professions"; the concentration also
provides preparation for graduate work in these fields. Professor
Richard Tessler is the Concentration Coordinator. E-mail:
tessler@sadri.umass.edu <mailto:tessler@sadri.umass.edu>
Select three courses from:
222: The Family
244: Sociology of Immigration
328: Intro to Social Work
341: Social Welfare
382C: Sociology of Childhood
385 Gender and Family
442: Sociology of Medicine
481: Sociology of Mental Health
Also, Social Services students must take one of the following courses:
224: Social Class Inequality
340: Race Relations
383: Gender and Society
In addition, select any two sociology upper-level electives (200 level
or higher).
Social Service concentrators are strongly encouraged to do an internship
during the Junior or Senior year, to be arranged after consultation with
the Concentration Coordinator or the Chief Undergraduate Advisor.
Individualized Concentration
For students whose intellectual interests and/or career needs are not
met by the existing concentrations.
Students in this concentration must take six sociology courses 200 level
or higher, at least three of which must be at the 300 level or higher.
