Sociology Major

Requirements for the Major

Students who wish to graduate with a full major in sociology must satisfactorily complete a minimum of ten graded courses:

• The introductory course: SOC 001 PZ     
• One theory course: SOC 109 PZ  or SOC 110 PZ  or SOC 112 PZ  (students who are considering graduate work in sociology or a related field such as social work are strongly encouraged to take more than one theory course)
• Two methods courses: SOC 101 PZ  and SOC 102 PZ  (students in the Ontario Program may use the methods course taught in that program in place of SOC 102 PZ  and any Statistics course can be used to fulfill SOC 101 PZ ) The Sociology field group strongly recommends that SOC 101 PZ /SOC 102 PZ  should be taken prior to senior year or as soon as the major is declared.
• Five additional sociology courses, at least two of which should be from Category A.
• One course from Category C (SOC 199A PZ  or SOC 199B PZ  )

Independent studies cannot be used to fulfill these requirements.

Pitzer in Ontario Courses: Sociology is continuing to accept any two of the three courses for credit towards the Sociology major.

Honors

Students who have a minimum GPA (cumulative and in sociology) of 3.5 may request that their senior thesis be considered for honors. Two faculty members (at least one of which must be in the sociology field group) must evaluate the research project and make a recommendation to the Sociology Field Group. In the case of combined majors, one faculty member from each field group must evaluate the project. Eligible students should begin thinking about an honors thesis at the end of their junior year and discuss their ideas for a thesis with two faculty members at the beginning of their senior year.