• What is Sociology?
• Major & Minor
• First-year Focus
• Careers with a Sociology Major
• Courses
• Senior Thesis, Honors, and Awards
• Funding and Research Resources
• Students

 

Faculty Books

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Major & Minor

WCAS Catalog

WCAS Forms and Documents

Major worksheet
Minor worksheet - Sociological Research

Minor worksheet - Sociological Studies

Sociology Advisers & Office Hours

 

Declaring a Sociology Major or Minor

• Obtain forms at 1810 Chicago Avenue, Main Office.
• Fill out the Major or Minor form.
• Obtain a copy of your transcript(s) (obtainable on CAESAR).
• Meet with a department adviser during scheduled office hours.
• Drop off the signed carbon portion of the form to a department staff member.
• Drop off the original form to your WCAS academic advisor's office.

Check with the Office of Studies and Advising for the location of your college adviser.

Sociology as a Second Major click here for details

Major Requirements                   

The department offers preparation for students who want to pursue careers in a wide range of fields. It provides an excellent background for all professions involved in the major institutions of modern society, such as business, public administration, law medicine, journalism, communications, planning, research, and teaching. The department also emphasizes the sociological perspective as a fundamental part of a liberal education and a human understanding of the world.

Sociological Courses:

1. Two quarter courses in sociology at the 100 or 200-level

This excludes SOC 101: Freshman Seminar and
SOC 226: Sociological Analysis

2. Three methods/statistics courses*

SOC 226: Sociological Analysis
SOC 303: Analysis of Social Data
SOC 329: Field Research Methods
OR
Chicago Field Studies with an adviser's approval

3. SOC 306: Sociological Theory

4. Four additional 300-level courses in sociology.

Only one quarter credit may be given for
SOC 376, and SOC 399.

5. Senior Research Seminar (2 quarters)**

SOC 398-1: Senior Research Seminar
SOC 398-2: Senior Research Seminar or
If a thesis is not written, then two additional 300-level courses in sociology are required for the major.

Only students completing a senior thesis will be eligible for honors.

6. Four related 300-level courses with adviser approval.

Related departments are: African American studies, American studies, anthropology, Asian American studies, communication studies, economics, gender studies, global health studies, history, international studies, Latina and Latino studies, legal studies, linguistics, philosophy, political science, psychology, science in human culture, statistics, or other fields selected with the approval of an adviser

*It is recommended that students take SOC 226 in their freshman or sophomore year, and then SOC 303 and 329 in their junior year.

**The thesis is no longer required for the major. If a thesis is not written, a student cannot get honors and must take two additional 300-level sociology courses for a total of six 300-level sociology courses. If the thesis is written, the student must take the two senior thesis courses. A thesis does not guarantee honors. New requirements apply to all sociology majors, including those graduating in 2011.

In certain cases, students who are combining a major in sociology with a major in another field that also requires a senior research seminar may arrange to fulfill their seminar requirement in a combined project.

Minor Concentrations

The department offers minor concentrations in sociological research and in sociological studies. Students seeking a minor in sociology must consult with the director of undergraduate studies.

Sociological Research

The minor concentration in sociological research prepares students to carry out their own research by offering an introduction to the discipline, followed by an array of courses in quantitative and qualitative methods. Students learn how data are gathered and prepared for analysis and a variety of techniques and conclusions. Two 300-level courses allow students to see how these methods are used in practice.

Minor course requirements (6 units)

1. One quarter course in sociology at the 100 or 200-level

This excludes SOC 101: Freshman Seminar and
SOC 226: Sociological Analysis

2. SOC 226: Sociological Analysis

3. SOC 303: Sociological Theory or SOC 330: Basic Statistics for Social Research

4. SOC 329: Field Research Methods

5. Two substantive 300-level courses in sociology.

Only one quarter credit may be given for SOC 376, 399, and GLA 393.

Sociological Studies

The minor concentration introduces basic information about the social world and provides the rudimentary tools to understand it. It prepares students to compare, evaluate, and critically analyze information about various institutions, processes of stratification, and social change.

Minor course requirements (7 units)

1. Two quarter courses in sociology at the 100 or 200-level

This excludes SOC 101: Freshman Seminar and
SOC 226: Sociological Analysis

2. SOC 226: Sociological Analysis

3. Four additional 300-level courses in sociology.

Substitutions

Policy on Substitutions for Sociology Major or Minor Requirements

To make the most of the sociology major, students should make every effort to take the required sociology courses in the sociology department. The sociology department provides a cohesive curriculum, which facilitates a fuller and more integrated understanding of sociological ideas, methods, trends, and issues.

We understand that there are circumstances under which students will be unable to take some of the required courses in the major, either because of study abroad or transfer from other institutions or conflicts in course scheduling. We therefore allow substitutions in some circumstances, which are described in detail in an advising document available from a Sociology Adviser or the Sociology Undergraduate Program Assistant at sociol@northwestern.edu .

Each substitution must be discussed with a Sociology Adviser.

Once course substitutions have been approved by a Sociology Adviser, a student must complete the Substitution for Sociology Major or Minor Requirements Form.  Completed forms should be emailed to sociol@northwestern.edu along with all emails regarding the approved substitution by a Sociology Adviser.

Students may also obtain a Substitution Form in person from the Sociology Department Office located at 1810 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.  Students may then meet with a Sociology Adviser during office hours to discuss a course substitution.

Forms submitted without an email clearly stating approval from a Sociology Adviser must be sign by a Sociology Adviser prior to being submitted to the Sociology Undergraduate Program Assistant at sociol@northwestern.edu .

Approved substitution forms will be forwarded onto the Office of the Registrar by the Sociology Department.

Policy on Substitutions for Distribution Requirements

Sometimes students want to use courses not on the approved list to fulfill distribution requirements. To request permission to substitute non-approved courses for these requirements, download the Petition for Substitution of Distribution Requirements, check the appropriate box, and follow the accompanying instructions carefully.

In completing this form, you may find it helpful to refer to the detailed descriptions of the distribution areas.