Below, find the requirements to earn a major in sociology. In addition to the major requirements, the University of Oregon has a set of requirements that all students must achieve in order to earn a University of Oregon diploma, regardless of major. More information about Bachelor's Degree requirements is available here. If you have any questions about your degree requirements, please see an advisor.

Why study sociology? What’s required to earn a degree? It's all summarized in our Major Map.

Core Major Requirements

*Can also be fulfilled with MATH 243, 425, 426, 461, or PSY 302.

Elective Requirements

*Must be numbered 407 or 410-491 and taken at UO.

• A minimum of 48 credits in undergraduate sociology courses
  • At least 32 credits must be upper division (12 of the 32 must be numbered 407 or 410-499)
  • Twelve (12) credits in 400-level lecture courses (numbered 407 or 410 through 499) must be taken at the University of Oregon
• No more than eight (8) credits in courses numbered 401-406 and 408-409 may be applied to the major as upper division electives
• Courses used to satisfy major requirements must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of C- or better
  • At least a 2.0 GPA must be achieved in the major (D grades are not counted)
• Courses numbered 401-406 and 408-409 may be taken pass/no pass (P/N); P grades must be earned to apply to the major.
• Completion of the following courses:
  1. Introduction to Sociology (SOC 204) OR Social Inequality (SOC 207)
  2. Development of Sociology (SOC 310)
  3. Introduction to Social Research (SOC 311)*
  4. Quantitative Methods in Sociology (SOC 312)**

**SOC 312 can also be fulfilled by successfully completing MATH 243, 425, 426, 461, or PSY 302 with a grade of C- or better.  Please be aware that MATH 243 will not count for upper-division credit. 

Policy on accepting non-department courses for credit toward the undergraduate major

For a range of reasons, students occasionally ask whether coursework from outside the UO Sociology department may be counted toward their UO sociology major requirements. Such courses will be considered if one (1) or more of the following conditions apply:

1. Is the course already cross-published with the UO Sociology Department? If it is, it will count toward the major and should do so automatically – check with the sociology academic advisor for assistance.
2. Does the instructor have a PhD in Sociology? If yes, the student should present the following to the sociology academic advisor:
   • Evidence that the instructor holds a PhD in Sociology (from UO faculty page, CV, LinkedIn, email from professor, etc.)
   • A copy of the course syllabus
3. Is the student requesting lower-division credit for the course? If so, the student should present the following to the sociology academic advisor:
   • A copy of the course syllabus
   • A written rationale explaining how the course builds on content that the student learned in SOC 204 or SOC 207
   • Evidence that the course requires either 20+ pages of writing over the term or 40+ pages of reading per week.
4. Is the student requesting upper-division credit for the course? If so, the student should present the following to the sociology academic advisor:
   • A copy of the course syllabus
   • A written rationale explaining how the course complements a UO sociology course that the student has already taken
   • Evidence that the course requires either 20+ pages of writing over the term or 40+ pages of reading per week.

If none of the above conditions can apply to the course, it cannot be counted toward the sociology major requirements at the University of Oregon. Any questions on this policy may be addressed to the advisors at Tykeson College and Career Advising.

Sociology Grading Standards

Last updated January 2014

A+
The student has completed exceptional work on all course requirements.

A
The student has completed excellent work on all course requirements.

B
The student has completed proficient work on all course requirements.

C
The student has completed proficient work on most, although not all, course requirements. The student can continue to the next course if this is a prerequisite.

D
The student has not completed proficient work on most course requirements and is at significant risk of failing the next course in related studies. The students should repeat the course if it is a prerequisite for another course. Courses receiving a grade of D-, D or D+ are not counted toward the required 48 credits in sociology classes.

F
The student’s work is unsatisfactory. Courses receiving a grade of F do not count toward the required 48 credits in sociology classes.