Summary of Sociology Undergraduate Curriculum Changes
Effective Spring 2010
Effective Spring 2010, there will be some changes to the undergraduate sociology curriculum. The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and Sociology Faculty have been working to make some changes to improve two areas of the undergraduate sociology curriculum:
A. The organization of undergraduate sociology courses
Some courses have been renumbered and/or retitled to fit into 7 substantive areas in sociology as follows:
a. Organizations and Social Institutions (Courses numbered 110-119)
b. Economy and Society (Courses numbered 120-129)
c. Social Inequalities (Courses numbered 130-139)
d. Politics and Social Change (Courses numbered 140-149)
e. Social Psychology (Courses numbered 150-159)
f. Sociology of Culture (Courses numbered 160-169)
g. Comparative Perspectives and Area Studies in Sociology (Courses numbered 180-189)
In addition, some courses have been changed to provide further clarification of the course and/or to reduce confusion in how the course fits into the curriculum.
B. The upper division requirements for students declaring the Sociology major after Fall 2009
Most of the sociology major requirements remain the same, except for the following:
1) For breadth within the sociology major, the requirement to take 3 courses from a list of 18 "Core" courses will change to:
2 required "Survey" courses, each from a different substantive area in sociology.
The Survey courses serve to introduce and give an overview of the substantive area. It is recommended, but not required, that these be taken before other courses in that area.
a. Organizations and Social Institutions (Sociology 110)
b. Economy and Society (Sociology 120 or the previous version, Sociology 143)
c. Social Inequalities (Sociology 130)
d. Politics and Social Change (Sociology 140)
e. Social Psychology (Sociology 150, 150A or 150B)
f. Sociology of Culture (Sociology 160)
g. Comparative Perspectives and Area Studies in Sociology (Sociology 180C or Sociology 180I (or the previous versions, Sociology 122 or 122A)
2) Instead of 3 sociology electives, students under the new requirements will be required to take 4 sociology electives. These are upper division courses in sociology that are not used for other requirements in the major. Students may also use additional Sociology 190 seminars to satisfy sociology electives.
3) Sociology 190 Seminars are now considered a "Capstone Experience" in the major. Many departments on campus are adding Capstone Experience requirements, which provide an opportunity for students to reflect and use what they have learned in the major in a culminating project. Already our 190 seminars involve a specific or advanced topic, and a significant paper. More and more of the seminars are requiring students to do a small research project, which can serve as a Capstone Experience in the major.
We've required a Sociology Seminar for many years. What has changed is the focus of the course as Capstone Experience, usually including a research project or some other application of sociology. There are a few other courses that can fulfill this requirement: Soc 107B, H190B and possibly other advanced sociology courses (see an Undergraduate Advisor).
These new major requirements go into effect for all students declaring the sociology major after the end of Fall 2009 (December 18, 2009).
The new requirements do not affect currently declared sociology majors. However, currently declared majors may opt to fulfill the new requirements instead of the existing requirements, by speaking with an Undergraduate Advisor.
We recognize that changes like the ones outlined above will initially create some confusion for students (and for staff and instructors). We haven't had a change like this to our curriculum since 1983. The Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and faculty who worked on these changes did so in order to make the curriculum more logical and organized in a way that makes more sense to students, while maintaining flexibility with elective courses. We believe these changes are a positive step in the direction of providing more guidance to students who wish plan the courses they take in the major in a more specific way, either to obtain a certain amount of breadth or to specialize in a certain area of sociology.
As we get ready for TeleBEARS advising for Spring 2010, we encourage you to review the new curriculum and write down any questions you have about the changes. Remember, current students need only pay attention to the changes in course numbers that are a part of the curriculum reorganization. . The new Online Schedule of Classes for SP10 will be up soon and you will notice some of the course number changes that go into effect with SP10 courses. An excellent time to go over any questions about the changes is when you come in for your TeleBEARS advising session with one of the Undergraduate Advisors in October
For a guide to the changes made to sociology courses, see here (PDF download).
For a comprehensive list of all sociology courses, with or without changes, see here (PDF download).
For a guide to the old and new major requirements, see here.
For answers to frequently asked questions about the sociology course changes, see here.