B.A. Programs and Minor
Sociology is the study of social interactions among individuals and social groups. Sociologists examine the cultural, ideological, economic, and political contexts of human action, including the processes through which social institutions are created, maintained, and transformed.
One of our most important teaching goals is to help students develop an understanding of both social change and social justice. In the process, students learn an appreciation for the craft of social science, including the value of disciplined inquiry, observation, and research as part of informed global citizenship.
Our faculty use and teach a wide range of approaches and methods, including field research, critical ethnography, cultural analysis, comparative historical analysis, and quantitative techniques. To learn more about the expertise of particular faculty members, see our Research Areas page.
Learning outcomes
- Critical Thinking: Demonstrate critical thinking skills by analyzing and evaluating social, political, and/or cultural arguments across a variety of areas such as inequality; social problems; and race, class, and gender.
- Sociological Understanding: Demonstrate sociological understandings of phenomena, for example, how individual biographies are shaped by social structures, social institutions, cultural practices, and multiple axes of difference and/or inequality.
- Written and Oral Communication: Formulate effective and convincing written and/or oral arguments.
- Social Theory: Demonstrate the ability to use several of the major classical or contemporary perspectives in social theory.
- Research Methodology: Demonstrate the ability to use several of the major social science research methodologies.
Academic programs
The Sociology Department offers two undergraduate majors and a minor. In addition to the degree options above that are administered by our department, we also partner with the Latin American and Latino Studies Department to offer a Latin American and Latino Studies/Sociology B.A. For requirements, worksheets, and sample plans, visit our Undergraduate Advising page.
Sociology B.A.
The sociology major is a rigorous program of study that retains enough flexibility to accommodate double majors and minors and to prepare students for diverse career goals or graduate school. Our program ensures all students are trained in the main theoretical and methodological traditions of sociology, yet permits considerable variation in students’ areas of specialization. This major can also provide a general liberal education for undergraduates interested in the study of contemporary society and social problems.
Sociology B.A. with an Intensive Concentration in Digital Justice Studies (DJS)
This degree option allows sociology students to focus in the area of Digital Justice Studies (formerly GISES), housed within the Everett Program. While any student, regardless of their major, can participate in the Everett Program, only students in the Sociology Department can add the Everett Program as an intensive concentration in their sociology major. Students interested in this program should review the Everett Program website as well.
Digital Justice Studies (DJS) minor
This minor is designed for highly motivated, self-directed and enterprising students interested in deploying the tools of information-communication technology (ICT) and social entrepreneurship (SE) to advance social justice, sustainable practices, and progressive institutional change at the global and local levels. Students are expected to design and complete an honors-quality project for a civil society group. Students interested in this program should also review the Everett Program website.
What can you do with a degree in Sociology?
There are many career paths and graduate school options you can pursue with a background in sociology. UCSC sociology alumni go on to careers in climate and food justice, higher education, public health and administration, housing reform, state and federal agencies, non-profits, and labor organizations. They take roles as city planners, criminologists, counselors, human resources professionals, lawyers, legal aids, policy analysts, public relations professionals, researchers, school administrators, social workers, teachers, and more.
Meet our students and alumni
Nomsa Khalfani: Health care without stigma
Nomsa Khalfani (Kresge ’91, sociology) co-leads Essential Access Health, a nonprofit organization that advances health equity and promotes quality sexual and reproductive health care for all.
Alyssa Scarsciotti: UCSC prepares alumna for Peace Corps path
UCSC alumna Alyssa Scarsciotti (Stevenson ’20, sociology and linguistics) is teaching in Costa Rica as part of the Peace Corps through May 2025.
Norberto Garcia: Conducting research on immigrant families through COVID-19
Norberto (Norbit) Garcia (Merrill ’21, sociology) found his passion for sociology after realizing he wanted to help underrepresented communities.
More student stories
More alumni stories
Admissions requirements
First-year students
High school students planning to major in sociology should obtain a solid background in English, social sciences, and writing skills, while completing the courses required for UC admission. Students seeking admission to sociology will initially work with UCSC Admissions on their application and selection criteria. Once admitted, students will work with campus advising to begin declaring the major and preparing for enrollment.
Learn more about getting started in our majors as a first-year student via undergraduate advising and the catalog. Students considering a combined major in sociology and Latin American and Latino studies (LALS) should also acquire as much proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese as possible before attending UC Santa Cruz.
Transfer students
This is a screening major. Transfer students expressing an interest in sociology should obtain a solid background in English, social sciences, and writing skills prior to transfer. Students must complete courses equivalent to SOCY 1: Introduction to Sociology and SOCY 10: Issues and Problems in American Society, at their previous school. Students may also complete the equivalent to SOCY 3A: The Evaluation of Evidence and SOCY 3B: Statistical Methods, prior to transfer.
While it is not a condition of admission, students from California community colleges may complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) in preparation for transfer. Learn more about getting started in our majors as a transfer student via the catalog, and Sociology’s Transfer Student Admissions and Advising Guide. For sociology-related advising inquiries, contact socyadvising@ucsc.edu.