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.

Sociology Major Requirements

• A minimum of 48 credits in undergraduate sociology courses
• Completion of four (4) required classes:
  1. ONE introductory sociology course, either:
     1. SOC 204 - Introduction to Sociology
     2. SOC 207 - Social Inequality
  2. SOC 310 - Social Theory
  3. SOC 301 - Research Methods
  4. SOC 312 - Statistical Analysis*
• At least 32 credits must be upper division
• Twelve (12) credits in 400-level lecture courses, which must be taken at the University of Oregon**
  • SOC 401-406, 408-409 are excluded from the 12 credits of lecture courses.
• Courses used to satisfy major requirements must be taken for a letter grade and passed with grades of C- or better.
• No more than eight (8) credits in courses numbered 401-406 and 408-409 may be applied to the major.
  • SOC 401-406 & 408-409 independent study courses are restricted to P/N grading. 

*SOC 312 can be substituted with STAT 243Z, MATH 425, 426, 461, or PSY 302 if passed with C- or better. Please be aware that STAT 243Z will not count for upper-division credit.

**400-level courses must be numbered 407, 410-491 and to be completed at the University of Oregon.

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 sociology major requirements. Such courses will be considered if one 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.