Sociology is the study of group life. As a social science, it combines scientific and humanistic perspectives in the study of topics such as gender, crime, family patterns, race and ethnicity, wealth and inequality, and the environment.
Students in the Chico area enroll in the on-campus Sociology program, and take mostly in-person classes, with the opportunity to take one or two online classes per semester if desired. Students outside the Chico area enroll as juniors in the distance education Sociology Online program, where they can take classes from, literally, anywhere in the world. All online courses have asynchronous options, while some also provide the opportunity to log in to Zoom classes to interact in live time with faculty and classmates.
The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is a liberal arts major for students planning careers in areas such as social research, social welfare, business, public administration, and education. It provides a useful background for those planning further education in the social sciences, social work, public administration, law, or business.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Computer Skills
Students are expected to be able to use computers to generate documents, process basic data, and utilize the internet. SOSC 210 or another computer literacy course is recommended for students without these skills before entering upper-division Sociology (SOCI) courses.
Course Requirements for the Major: 40 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
Any Sociology (SOCI) courses, with a minimum of six upper-division units (300- and 400-level courses) required
Total Units
40
1
All majors are encouraged to include SOCI 489 or SOCI 489A in their course selection. Up to six units of SOCI 489 or SOCI 489A may be used to meet major requirements.
Electives Requirement
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires six units of honors coursework completed over two semesters.
The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.
Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:
You must take six units of Honors in the Major coursework. All six units are honors courses (marked by a suffix of H), and at least three of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each course with a minimum grade of B.
You must have completed 9 units of upper-division coursework or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the six units of coursework over the two semesters of their senior year.
Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.
Honors in the Major is not part of the Honors Program. Each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.
Features of Honors in the Sociology Major are:
You must complete nine units of upper-division coursework or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. You must have completed SOCI 100, SOCI 300, and SOCI 310 in order to qualify for Honors in the Sociology Major.
Your overall GPA must be 3.5 or above for the past two years and 3.5 or above in the major. You must also be recommended by a faculty member.
To complete Honors in the Major, you must take six units in your senior year: three units of SOCI 441HW in the first semester and three units of SOCI 499H in the following semester. You must complete these two courses with a minimum grade of B. You must also maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in your senior year.
The independent study typically culminates with a public presentation of the results of your Honors project.
While you may begin taking major courses during your freshman year, most students do not apply for Honors in the Major until their junior year.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
Any upper-division Writing (W) course.
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.
