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.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
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 32 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 or visit 3231 Turlington Hall 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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Combined Degree Programs
The Department of Sociology, Criminology and Law offers a combined B.A./M.A. degree to eligible undergraduate students. Please see the graduate coordinator for more information regarding this degree option. Sociology majors may also consider various combined degree programs with other departments and colleges. For example, a Master of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in management is offered through the Warrington College of Business Administration to eligible students who have majored in sociology. Please see the undergraduate coordinator for more information about such degree options.
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Research
The department encourages students to engage in the research process, either by conducting their own projects in collaboration with a sociology faculty member or by working with sociology faculty on their current research. These opportunities may be pursued by conducting a senior honors thesis or registering for SYA 4911 Undergraduate Research credit. Please see the undergraduate coordinator for more information and eligibility requirements.
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Critical Tracking
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
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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Model 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).
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
GE-H |
3 |
Biological or Physical Science
State Core GE-B or P |
3 |
Elective
Needed if placed out of language with SAT II |
3 |
Foreign language or
Elective |
3-5 |
Mathematics
State Core GE-M, pure math |
3 |
Science laboratory
GE-P or B |
1 |
| 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 P |
3 |
Elective
Or foreign language, if 4-3-3 option |
3 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H |
3 |
Sociology course
2000 level or above; GE-S |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
Biological Science
GE-B |
3 |
| Electives |
6 |
Sociology course
3000/4000 level; GE-S |
3 |
Humanities
GE-H |
3 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
| SYA 4300 Methods of Social Research |
4 |
Elective
3000 level or above, not in major |
3 |
| Electives |
6 |
Physical Science
GE-P |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
| Elective |
3 |
Elective
3000 level or above, not in major |
3 |
Sociology courses
3000/4000 level |
6 |
| Total |
15 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| SYA 4110 Development of Sociological Thought |
4 |
Electives
3000 level or above, not in major |
6 |
Sociology courses
3000/4000 level |
6 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| Electives |
5 |
Electives
3000 level or above, not in major |
6 |
Sociology course
3000/4000 level |
3 |
| 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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Related Sociology Programs
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