Sociology is the study of social life and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists examine the structure of groups, organizations and societies and how people interact within these contexts. Sociologists use diverse research methods and many unique perspectives to analyze virtually any social issue.
About This Major
- College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts
- Credits for Degree: 120
- Minor: Yes
- Combined-Degree Program: No
- Academic Learning Compact
- Website
- Contact: 1.855.99GATOR
Overview
A liberal arts degree in sociology provides students with opportunities to develop skills deemed essential for many different types of careers. These skills include learning how to identify and solve problems, conduct research, relate to others and write effectively. Graduates frequently are employed in business (e.g., advertising staff member, human resource manager), community and social services (e.g., environmental organizer, family planning worker), education (e.g., teacher, public health educator), government (e.g., human rights officer, urban planner), and research (e.g., social research assistant and market researcher). Sociology is also an excellent major for pre-law, pre-health, M.A. and Ph.D. studies.
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Coursework for the Major
Majors are required to complete 32 credits of coursework in sociology and 3 credits of statistics with minimum grades of C. At least 23 credits of sociology credit must be in courses numbered 3000 or higher and at least 18 credits must be completed at UF.
To graduate, students must also pass a department exam covering fundamental sociological concepts developed by the sociology faculty.
Required Coursework
- SYG 2000 Principles of Sociology (3 credits). Sociology majors are encouraged to take
SYG 2000 as their first class.
- SYA 4110 Development of Social Thought (4 credits) must be taken after 90 credits.
- SYA 4300 Methods of Social Research (4 credits) should be completed by the end of the sixth semester. (STA 2023 is a prerequisite for SYA 4300)
- 21 additional credits of sociology coursework for a total of 32 credits.
Students select additional sociology courses to complete the 32-credit minimum by matching interests in different substantive areas.
Majors can only apply two other 2000-level courses besides SYG 2000, for a maximum of nine credits at the 2000 level. There are no prerequisites for 2000-level courses.
Related Coursework
In addition to the 31 credits of sociology coursework, majors are required to complete STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 with a minimum grade of C. STA 2023 must be taken no later than the end of the third semester.
Course Details
All majors should review the department's guidelines for information about the major, the plan of study worksheet, an informational handout, descriptions of current and prospective courses and other information.
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Critical Tracking
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
Semester 2
- Complete 1 sociology course
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional sociology course (1 of the 2 courses must be SYG 2000)
- Complete STA 2023
- 2.75 GPA required for all 3 critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- 2.75 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete 1 additional sociology course (1 of the 3 must be at the 3000/4000 level)
- 2.75 GPA required for all 5 critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Recommended Semester Plan
Students are expected to complete the writing requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H or S).
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
| SYG 2000 Principles of Sociology (State Core GE-S) * |
3 |
| Composition (State Core GE-C) (WR) |
3 |
| Foreign language |
4-5 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
13-14 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
| IUF 1000 What is the Good Life (GE-H) |
3 |
| Biological or Physical Science (State Core GE-B or P) |
3 |
| Mathematics (State Core GE-M, pure math) |
3 |
| Science laboratory (GE-B or P) |
1 |
| Foreign language or elective |
3-5 |
| Elective (needed if placed out of language with SAT II) |
3 |
| Total |
16-18 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) |
3 |
| Biological or Physical Science (Area NOT taken in Semester 2, GE-B or GE-P) |
3 |
| Humanities (State Core GE-H) |
3 |
| Sociology course (GE-S) (2000 level or above) |
3 |
| Elective (or foreign language, if 4-3-3 option) |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
| Biological Science (GE-B) |
3 |
| Humanities (GE-H) |
3 |
| Sociology course (GE-S) (3000/4000 level) |
3 |
| Electives |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| SYA 4300 Methods of Social Research |
4 |
| Physical Science (GE-P) |
3 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Electives |
6 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
| Composition (GE-C) (WR) |
3 |
| Sociology courses (3000/4000 level) |
6 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| SYA 4110 Development of Sociological Thought |
4 |
| Sociology courses (3000/4000 level) |
6 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
6 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| Sociology course (3000/4000 level) |
3 |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) |
6 |
| Electives |
5 |
| Total |
14 |
* In addition to SYG 2000 (GE-S), the remaining six credits of GE-S can be satisfied by sociology or non-sociology GE-S courses.
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