Sociology is the study of social life, including the significance of social relationships and institutions, the impact of social change on individuals, groups and the environment, and the causes and consequences of inequalities and disparities of all kinds. Sociology majors examine current research and public policy pertaining to healthcare, the environment, families, employment, housing, the community, education, politics, criminal justice, and the law. Upon graduation, sociology majors are skilled in evidence-based problem solving, collecting, analyzing, and presenting data, communicating and collaborating in diverse groups, thinking critically, and writing effectively.
Section MenuTo graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
The Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law has over 1,000 undergraduate majors and 100 graduate students. The department’s faculty are internationally known for their research in the areas of families, gender, and sexualities; health, aging, and the life course; environmental and resource sociology; race and ethnicity; criminology and criminal justice; and psychology and law.
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The Sociology major offers broad theoretical perspectives and rigorous methodologies to study social life and to analyze the causes and consequences of human behavior. In particular, sociologists examine how race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, ability, geography, and other identities are used to create and maintain barriers to access, participation, opportunity, and outcome across all social institutions. The department’s faculty teach and conduct research on social justice and systemic inequalities; health disparities in physical and mental wellbeing; aging and the life course; environmental justice and natural resource management; deviance, social control, and conflict management; gender, families, and sexualities; social and political movements; nationalism, migration, and ethnic conflict; and culture, technology, and media. Students examine the most pressing social problems in these areas, as well as how different social groups experience and perceive these issues.
Students should listen to these interviews on the department’s website from three recent sociology graduates. Their testimonials describe the varied opportunities in the major and the different career and professional paths they and other sociology majors embark on post-graduation.
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Majors are required to complete 32 credits of coursework in sociology and 3 credits of statistics with minimum grades of C. At least 23 credits of sociology must be in courses numbered 3000 or higher and at least 18 credits must be completed at UF.
To graduate, students must also pass a department exam covering fundamental sociological concepts developed by the sociology faculty.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SYG 2000 | Principles of Sociology (Sociology majors are encouraged to take this as their first course) | 3 |
| SYA 4110 | Development of Sociological Thought (must be taken after 90 credits) | 4 |
| SYA 4300 | Methods of Social Research (should be completed by the end of the sixth semester.) 1 | 4 |
| Additional sociology coursework | 21 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
STA 2023 is a prerequisite for SYA 4300 .
Students select additional sociology courses to complete the 32-credit minimum by matching interests in different substantive areas.
Majors can only apply two other 2000-level courses besides SYG 2000 , for a maximum of nine credits at the 2000 level. There are no prerequisites for 2000-level courses.
In addition to the 32 credits of sociology coursework, majors are required to complete STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 with a minimum grade of C. STA 2023 must be taken no later than the end of the third semester.
All majors should review the department's guidelines or visit the Sociology Undergraduate Coordinator for information about the major, the plan of study worksheet, an informational handout, descriptions of current and prospective courses and other information.
Majors are encouraged to seek out opportunities for international study, during the summer or academic year. The credit generally will be applied toward the major and the degree. Contact the undergraduate coordinator about credit for study abroad. Visit the UF International Center in room 170 of the Hub for more information.
With approximately 600 majors and minors in both Residential and UF Online degree programs, Sociology is one of the largest undergraduate programs at UF. Many majors pursue dual degrees, double majors, minors, and certificates in related disciplines, including Psychology, Criminology & Law, Political Science, Anthropology, Sustainability, History, Gender, Sexualities and Women’s Studies, Latin American Studies, African American Studies, Non-Profit Organizational Leadership, Advertising, Marketing, and various foreign languages.
Sociology majors participate in community internships, collaborate on faculty projects, and conduct research independently on senior thesis projects. These experiential learning opportunities prepare graduates to embark upon a wide range of career paths including those in public health, government, research, teaching, and community affairs. Sociology graduates pursue careers in law, medicine, and business. Others work as public policy analysts researching issues related to health and aging; social justice, environmental sustainability, and resource management; urban and community development; crime and delinquency; families and communities; and racial, ethnic, and international relations. Many seek advanced degrees in sociology, psychology, counseling, law, and business.
The Department of Sociology and Criminology offers a combination BA/MA degree to eligible undergraduate students. Please see the graduate coordinator for more information regarding this degree option. Sociology majors may also consider various combination degrees with other departments and colleges. For example, a Master of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in management is offered through the Warrington College of Business to eligible students who have majored in sociology. Please see the undergraduate coordinator for more information about such degree options.
The department encourages students to engage in the research process, either by conducting their own projects in collaboration with a sociology faculty member or by working with sociology faculty on their current research. These opportunities may be pursued by conducting a senior honors thesis or registering for SYA 4911 Undergraduate Research credit. Please see the undergraduate coordinator for more information and eligibility requirements.
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Students are expected to complete the Writing Requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the General Education International (GE-N) and Diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S).
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| SYG 2000 | Principles of Sociology ( Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences ) | 3 |
| State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Foreign language | 4-5 | |
| Credits | 13-14 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Mathematics; pure math | 3 | |
| Science laboratory (Gen Ed Physical or Biological Sciences) | 1 | |
| Foreign language or one elective | 3-5 | |
| Elective (needed if placed out of language with SAT II) | 3 | |
| Credits | 16-18 | |
| Semester Three | ||
| Quest 2 Gen Ed Biological or Physical Sciences (area not taken in semester two) | 3 | |
| STA 2023 | Introduction to Statistics 1 ( Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics ) | 3 |
| Elective or foreign language, if 4-3-3 option) | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| Sociology course (Critical Tracking; 2000 level or above; Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| Gen Ed Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Sociology course (Critical Tracking; 3000/4000 level) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Five | ||
| SYA 4300 | Methods of Social Research ( Critical Tracking ) | 4 |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Gen Ed Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| Sociology courses (Critical Tracking; 3000/4000 level) | 6 | |
| Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester Seven | ||
| SYA 4110 | Development of Sociological Thought ( Critical Tracking ) | 4 |
| Sociology course (Critical Tracking; 2000 level or above) | 3 | |
| Sociology course (Critical Tracking; 3000/4000 level) | 3 | |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| Two Sociology courses (Critical Tracking; 3000/4000 level) | 6 | |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology provides students with knowledge of the basic concepts in the field, sociological perspectives on social structure, process, and institutions and sociological perspectives on the relationship between individuals and society. Emphasis is on the ability to understand, analyze, and interpret the sociological literature and on effectively communicating sociological concepts and research in the accepted style of presentation.
I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed
| Courses | SLO 1 | SLO 2 | SLO 3 | SLO 4 | SLO 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SYA 4110 | I, R, A | I, R, A | I, R, A | I, R, A | I, R, A |
| SYA 4300 | I, R, A | I, R, A | |||
| SYG 2000 | I | I | I |
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