BA with a Major in Sociology

The Department of Sociology offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Sociology. Students are encouraged to follow a general sociology curriculum or to specialize in race, ethnicity, and gender; work, organizations, and the economy; or urban studies. A minor in Sociology is also offered.

Degree Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Sociology degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

Summary of Requirements
Major Requirements33
General Education and Electives to reach minimum Total Hours87
Total Hours120

General Education

See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.

Major Requirements

Required Courses
Select one of the following:3
SOC 100
Introduction to Sociology a,b
SOC 105
Social Problems a,b
SOC 201Introductory Sociological Statistics c4
Three additional 200-level courses d9
SOC 300Introduction to Sociological Research Methods4
SOC 385Introduction to Sociological Theory e3
SOC 490Senior Research Experience f4
Two additional 400-level courses d6
Total Hours33
a

This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category. 

b

This course is approved for the Understanding U.S. Society General Education category. 

c

SOC 201 also fulfills the LAS Quantitative Reasoning requirement 

d

Independent study courses (SOC 296, SOC 298, SOC 496, SOC 499) can be taken for up to 8 hours of credit, but only 3 hours of SOC 296 and SOC 298 and 3 hours of SOC 496 and SOC 499 can count toward the required elective credit at the 200- and 400-level respectively. 

e

SOC 385 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement. 

f

SOC 490 can be repeated with departmental approval and, when taken a second time, will count as one of the two 400-level electives required for the major. 

Recommended Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ENGL 160 Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts 3
Foreign Language 4
General Education Requirement course 3-5
General Education Requirement course 3
 Hours13-15
Spring Semester
ENGL 161 Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research 3
Foreign Language 4
SOC 100
or SOC 105
 Introduction to Sociology
or Social Problems
 3
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3-5
 Hours16-18
Second Year
Fall Semester
SOC 2xx Elective 3
Foreign Language 4
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course 3
Electives 3-5
 Hours16-18
Spring Semester
SOC 201 Introductory Sociological Statistics a 4
SOC 2xx Elective 3
Foreign Language 4
General Education Requirement course 3
General Education Requirement course/Elective 3
 Hours17
Third Year
Fall Semester
SOC 2xx Elective 3
SOC 300 Introduction to Sociological Research Methods b 4
General Education Requirement course/Elective 3
Electives 3-6
 Hours13-16
Spring Semester
SOC 4xx Elective 3
SOC 385 Introduction to Sociological Theory c 3
Electives 9
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
SOC 490 Senior Research Experience d 4
SOC 4xx Elective 3
Electives 9
 Hours16
Spring Semester
Electives 14-15
 Hours14-15
 Total Hours120
a

SOC 201 (with a grade of C or better) satisfies the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Must first satisfy the math prerequisite.

b

Must take SOC 201 before SOC 300.

c

SOC 385 meets both the theory requirement and the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement. May also be available in the fall semester.

d

Must take SOC 300 before SOC 490.