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 principal 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. Sociology is less concerned with finding practical solutions to social problems than with achieving a fundamental understanding of the social world.
Enrollment in the Major
Students can enroll in the major at any time by meeting with an advisor. Please visit our advising page to learn about our advising hours and appointments.
The Basics
- Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of C (2.0) in their sociology classes.
- Students must take at least six (6) courses within the UMass Amherst Department of Sociology.
- Students must take at least forty (40) credits in sociology.
- To count for the major, all courses in sociology must be graded (not Pass/Fail).
- Only one (1) 100-level course may count toward the major.
For students who entered the university before Fall 2026, and for Sociology Online majors, click here for the major requirements.
Students entering UMass in Fall 2026 and after will declare a concentration when they declare the sociology major. You can change your concentration at any time by emailing @email, or meeting with a sociology advisor.
7 Required Courses
All sociology majors, regardless of concentration, will complete seven required courses.
- SOCIOL 103: Social Problems (available online)
- SOCIOL 105: Self, Society, & Interpersonal Relations
- SOCIOL 106: Race, Gender, Class, & Ethnicity (available online)
- SOCIOL 107: Contemporary American Society
- SOCIOL 110: Introduction to Sociology (available online)
Students may take SOCIOL 212: Elementary Statistics (available online), or any college-level statistics course (accepted courses include PSYCH 240, RES-ECON 211 or 212, SPP 204, STATISTC 211 or 240, and ANTHRO 280).
Taken during your sophomore or junior year.
Pre-requisite: SOCIOL 212 or any college-level statistics course.
SOCIOL 301 must be taken during your junior year.
SOCIOL 302 is taken during you sophomore or junior year.
For students who entered the University in Fall 2019 or after, you may replace this requirement with a 4-credit, departmentally approved, graded internship.
For students who entered the University in Fall 2022 or after, you may also replace this requirement with a 4-credit, departmentally approved, graded sociology research assistantship, or sociology teaching assistantship.
This requirement applies to students entering UMass Amherst in Fall 2018 or later. Students who entered UMass prior to Fall 2018 must complete the SBS Global Education Requirement.
Students may do one of the following:
- Take a relevant sociology course (3 credits)
- Take one study abroad class from a UMass-approved study abroad program
- Take one college-level foreign language course (3 credits)
| SOCIOL 204: Labor & the Global Economy | SOCIOL 287: Sexuality & Society |
| SOCIOL 220: Sociology of American Culture | SOCIOL 288: Introduction of Latin American Culture |
| SOCIOL 240: Sociology of Asian American Experience | SOCIOL 321: Sociology of Religion |
| SOCIOL 244: Sociology of Immigration | SOCIOL 330: Asian Americans & Inequality |
| SOCIOL 245: Race & Society | SOCIOL 334: Sociology of International Disasters |
| SOCIOL 252: Intro to Human Rights | SOCIOL 343: Hate Crime in America |
| SOCIOL 261: Population Studies | SOCIOL 360: Urban Sociology |
| SOCIOL 262: Globalization & Inequality | SOCIOL 382: Sociology of Childhood |
| SOCIOL 271: Global City | SOCIOL 388: Gender & Globalization |
| SOCIOL 283: Gender & Society | SOCIOL 424: Sex Work in Global Perspectives |
*Note: No course applied to fulfill a general education requirement may be used to count towards the International or Intercultural Course requirement.
Concentration Requirements
After the seven required courses, the concentration requirements vary:
- General Sociology Concentration: This concentration provides a broad overview of the field of sociology and provides the most flexibility to choose elective courses based on your interests.
- Criminology, Law, & Deviance Concentration
- Labor & Community Advocacy Concentration
- Social Demography & Data Analytics Concentration
- Social Work & Social Welfare Concentration
Students cannot complete a certificate and a concentration focused on the same topic. For example, students cannot complete both the Social Work & Social Welfare concentration and the Social Work & Social Welfare certificate. Students can earn certificates in areas different from their concentration. For example, a student may complete a Social Work & Social Welfare concentration and the Criminology, Law, & Deviance certificate.
*Concentrations are not currently available for Sociology Online (UWW) majors.
- Undergraduate
- Current Students
- Honors Program