Requirements for the Major in Sociology
The department requires a total of 30 semester hours of sociology credit for a major in sociology.
The following courses are mandatory for the major (12-15 credits):
- Sociol 101 (Introduction to Sociology)
- Sociol 341 (Elements of Sociological Theory)
- Sociol L351 (Methods of Sociological Research). The department encourages completion of SOCIOL L351 by the start of the junior year.
- Senior Experience/Capstone. This may be one of the following:
- An internship course (Sociol 460, Sociol/Crmjus L461, Sociol 462, Sociol 469);
- Directed Study in Sociology (Sociol 478 or 479) Note: at the invitation of the department, students may take individual directed study with emphasis on independent research. Students wishing to engage in independent study must submit a proposal for departmental consideration; this must be done before the end of the semester preceding that in which they want to do the study.
- Sociol 470-Senior Seminar in Critical Thinking, or Sociol 472 - Media and Violence. Prerequisites for these courses are Sociol 341 and Sociol L351 and senior standing, or permission of the instructor.
- Of the remaining sociology credits needed, at least two three-credit courses must be taken at the 300-level or higher. Junior or senior standing is recommended for all 300- or 400-level courses.
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
- No more than three credits in mini-courses may count toward the major.
- Only one course within the major may be taken pass/fail, and it may not be Sociol 341, Sociol L351, or any course taken to meet the Senior Experience/Capstone.
- Up to 5 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 341 and Sociol L351 may be transferred from 4-year institutions only.
- Once you matriculate at UMB, sociology courses taken elsewhere need prior approval from your advisor and the department chair.
Requirements for Major in Sociology, Minor in Criminal Justice
Credits requirement: 30 credits in Sociology (ten 3-credit courses or equivalent). The minor in Criminal Justice requires 21 credits. Students interested in combining a minor in Criminal Justice with a major on Sociology may double count two courses (Sociol 101-Introduction to Sociology and Sociol/Crmjus L351 - Methods of Sociological Research), making the minor easier to complete. In addition to the course requirements for Sociology Major as specified above, the following course requirements for Criminal Justice Minor should be met:
Required Courses (12 credits):
Crmjus/Sociol L262 Criminology (3 credits)
Crmjus/Sociol. L467 Sociology of Law (3 credits)
Crmjus/Sociol L321 Race and Ethnic Relations or Crmjus/Sociol L368 Alcoholism: Etiology and Epidemiology (3 credits)
Crmjus/Sociol L363 Corrections or Crmjus/Sociol L465 Police and Society (3 credits)
Electives (9 credits):Any 3 additional courses (at least 9 credits) listed in the Criminal Justice Major
Minor in Sociology
A total of 18 credits in Sociology (six 3-credit courses or equivalent)
Sociol 101 - Introductory Sociology
Sociol 341 - Sociological Theory
Sociol L351-Methods of Sociological Research
The following limits on courses must be observed:
Only one internship course (6 credits) may count toward the minor.
No more than three credits in mini-courses may count toward the minor.
Only one course within the minor may be taken pass/fail.
Sociol 341 and Sociol L351 may not be taken pass/fail.
A maximum of 5 courses (15 credits) may be transferred from other institutions.
Exception: All Sociology courses from UMass Amherst, UMass Dartmouth or UMass Lowell will be accepted. Sociol 341 and Sociol L351 may be transferred in from 4-year institutions only.
Once you matriculate at UMB, sociology courses taken elsewhere need prior approval from your advisor and the department chair