Department of Sociology
Division of Social Sciences
Social Sciences and Media Studies 3005
Telephone: (805) 893-3118
Undergraduate e-mail: ugrad-soc@soc.ucsb.edu
Graduate e-mail: grad-soc@soc.ucsb.edu
Website: www.soc.ucsb.edu
Department Chair: Lisa Hajjar

Overview

Sociology is the systematic study of social life. Through empirical inquiry, sociologists seek to understand the processes by which societies, communities, institutions, and organizations are created, maintained, undermined, and transformed, and how social life shapes individuals.

UCSB’s Sociology Department is composed of scholars who are internationally recognized contributors to the discipline. It is known for its diversity of perspective and particularly for its support for emerging areas of study and innovative approaches to theory, method, and empirical inquiry. The department has distinctive strength in qualitative methods of research and analysis. 

The requirements for the sociology major are designed to provide students with a thorough grounding in the theories and methodologies of the discipline and their rigorous application to empirical inquiry. In addition to providing the core of a liberal arts education, the sociology major can also serve as preparation for graduate study for a career as a professional sociologist. The major may also serve as preparation for a career in such fields as law, management, urban and environmental planning, corrections, journalism, teaching, social work, and other service professions.

Honors Program in Sociology

As part of our participation in the College of Letters and Science Honors Program, the department offers an introductory-level sociology honors section (Sociology 1H), which is taught by the course professor, thus providing students with a unique opportunity for small group interaction with the instructor. In addition, eligible undergraduates may, with consent of the instructor, elect to fulfill an honors contract for any course. Eligible upper-division honors students may also participate in graduate courses numbered 200-299 by petition.

In addition to the general honors program, the Sociology Department offers a two-quarter honors research practicum (196H-HR) for seniors. Students enrolled in this seminar complete an original research project on a topic of their choice, in consultation with the honors program coordinator. To be eligible to apply for the honors practicum in sociology, students must have completed at least 105 units, including Sociology 1, statistics, and at least one other methodology course. Students must also have a minimum cumulative overall GPA of 3.5, as well as a 3.5 in 16 units of upper division sociology coursework. It is strongly recommended that students interested in the honors research practicum acquire competency in the methodological area related to their specific research topic.

All qualified students are invited to apply for admission in the practicum at the Sociology Department office before the end of the spring quarter prior to their senior year. All student applicants must submit a writing sample from a social science course, excluding take-home examinations. All final decisions for admission to the honors program will be made by the program coordinator and will be based on the writing sample, standing in the major, and cumulative grade-point average.

Graduation with Distinction in the Major

To be eligible to graduate with Distinction in the Major, a student must already be enrolled in the sociology honors program and participating in the practicum. During that time, the student must complete a minimum of one graduate seminar with a grade of B or better in sociology, and the two-quarter honors research practicum which includes the presentation of an honors thesis. Students must also maintain a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average and a 3.5 grade-point average in upper-division sociology courses.

Undergraduate Program

Prospective majors are expected to consult the department undergraduate academic advisor about all aspects of planning a program in sociology. Before admission to the sociology major, students must complete all requirements in the pre-major as specified below. 

All pre-major requirements completed here at UCSB must be taken for letter grades; no exceptions. Students may declare the pre-sociology major after they have completed at least one course from either area(s) A and/or B of the pre-major with at least a 2.3 GPA. Courses in pre-major areas A and B must be completed with a grade of "C-" or higher. Students who declare the pre-major are responsible for satisfying degree requirements in effect at the time they declare the major. Pre-major status does not, however, guarantee admission to full major status. When pre-major requirements are satisfied and the final grades are posted to GOLD, students should reach out to the sociology undergraduate advisors to inquire about the change of major process.

Recommended Programs

Students considering graduate training for careers as professional sociologists are advised to take Sociology 185A to fulfill the upper-division theory requirement. This course offers an integrated perspective on the traditions of sociological theory as a whole rather than concentrating on a single subfield, and it is appropriate for graduate school preparation. Students preparing for graduate study are encouraged to complete one upper-division methods course in addition to the course they select to fulfill the methods requirement. Additionally, students should use the upper-division elective units (8) to increase their exposure to other areas in sociology. They should also seek individualized reading or research projects with faculty members. Students who anticipate applying for graduate school should discuss their plans at an early stage with the undergraduate advisor and a faculty member.

Students considering a career in public and social affairs should plan their programs with graduate study in mind, as such careers typically require a Master’s degree in urban planning, social work, public affairs, business, law, or sociology. A program in public and social affairs should involve a background in methods and analysis, a foundation in computer skills, a basic knowledge of societal organization and change, a special focus on urban programs, and an in-depth knowledge of one or more additional areas of particular interest. Field experience through an internship is strongly recommended.

Students interested in acquiring technical skills in data management for careers in government, research, or business firms are advised to learn not only the technical aspects of research, but the sociological dimension as well: the institutional settings that frame policy-related problems, ways to formulate and conduct research programs, and intelligent interpretation of the results of analysis. Students should consult with an advisor to plan an appropriate program.

Faculty

Emeriti Faculty

Affiliated Faculty