Sociology
Overview
Sociology is concerned primarily with the scientific study of social groups and social relations. Sociologists seek to understand how societies, institutions, organizations and other social forces shape and are shaped by individuals. One of the department's primary aims is to provide students with the analytical critical skills needed to understand and evaluate social institutions and social change more effectively.
The sociology faculty complement one another in a way that allows them to offer a varied range of courses. Courses reflect a growing interest and focus in the discipline on disadvantaged groups and classes of people and the ways they interact with social institutions. Occidental's proximity to Los Angeles, one of the most ethnically and economically diverse cities in the world, makes this focus all the more appropriate and provides students with the opportunity to observe many of these social phenomena firsthand.
Sociology majors will receive excellent preparation for graduate and professional study in sociology, law, social work, journalism, public health, business management, teaching, public administration, and other fields that require the ability to think critically, analytically, and ethically about a wide range of social issues in the search for viable solutions. While the department is committed to providing majors with the best possible preparation for careers in sociology and related fields, it is equally committed to providing non-majors with knowledge of social life as well as evaluative and analytical skills from which they will benefit in their chosen field of study and their careers in an increasingly diverse and complex world.
Requirements
Major
Eleven courses (44 units) are required to complete the major.
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 4 units |
| Or | ||
| SOC 102 | Introduction to Sociology: Global Perspectives | 4 units |
| Or | ||
| SOC 105 | Immigrant Youth and Youth Cultures | 4 units |
| And | ||
| SOC 304 | Sociological Inquiry | 4 units |
| SOC 490 | Senior Seminar in Sociology | 4 units |
Theory
Students must select one course from below:
| SOC 200 | Classical Sociological Theory: Marx, Weber, Durkheim | 4 units |
| SOC 205 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 4 units |
Methods
Students must select one from the list below:
| SOC 305 | Quantitative Research Methods | 4 units |
| SOC 306 | Qualitative Research Methods | 4 units |
Electives:
Choose six additional courses from within the department
The Sociology Department encourages students to declare the major by the end of their first year.
Second-Stage Writing
Students majoring in Sociology will satisfy the second-stage component of Occidental College's college-wide writing requirement by completing any 300-level Sociology course by the end of the fall semester of the junior year with a grade of B- or higher. Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the Writing Program and consult the department chair for additional information.
Comprehensive
Students will engage in a major research project that will culminate in a written senior thesis.
Honors in the Major
A distinctive ("PD") comprehensive senior thesis based on primary research along with a 3.5 grade point average in the department and 3.25 overall.
Minor
Five courses (20 units) in Sociology for which at most one of SOC 101 and SOC 102 may count. The remaining four courses are electives that students may select from all the other courses offered by the department.
Transfer Credit Policies
The Sociology Department may accept online courses to count toward the major or the minor.
While there is not an AP or IB examination in Sociology, a qualifying A-level examination score on any of the three, post-2017 Sociology examinations will be considered equivalent to completing SOC 101 or SOC 102. Students will earn four units of credit for each qualifying examination score. Up to eight units may be applied toward the major and up to four units may be applied toward the minor.
Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.
The department will apply toward the sociology major most broad-based courses in Introduction to Sociology taken at accredited colleges and universities.
In addition to Introduction to Sociology, the department will accept a maximum of 9-units of Sociology courses taken at other institutions and passed with grades of C or better toward the completion of the Sociology major. Please consult with your academic adviser and the department chair for course approval.
Students transferring from another institution in the junior year or students who have taken a leave of absence for more than 1 semester may transfer Introduction to Sociology and up to 17-units of other Sociology courses, with approval from the department chair.