Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Required Curriculum

We encourage students to follow this curriculum to fulfill the required prerequisites in the correct order to complete the degree in four years. Failing to meet the prerequisites will delay your graduation.

Important Prerequisites

SOC 300 GW: Students must have completed at least 60 units in order to take SOC 300 GW. SOC 370, SOC 371, and SOC 392 require successful completion of SOC 300 GW Sociological Analysis. Sociology majors who successfully complete SOC 300 GW will have met the University Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).

SOC 370 or 371 may be taken concurrently with SOC 392.

SOC 370, SOC 371, and SOC 392: SOC 500 and SOC 501/2 require successful completion of SOC 370 or SOC 371 and SOC 392. SOC 393 and SOC 394 require successful completion of SOC 392.

NOTE: The sequence of core courses must be taken in the order shown above. 

Important Notes

• If you haven't already taken any lower-division Sociology elective by the start of your 5th semester, we recommend you start with one or more of the following courses: SOC 105, SOC 245, SOC 272.
• SOC 105, SOC 200, and SOC 245 meet the BSS-B requirement. SOC 272 meets the BSS-C requirement. These courses also count as sociology electives. 
• Up to 12 lower-division units are accepted as electives including SOC 105, SOC 110, SOC 200, SOC 245 and transferred credits from community colleges and other institutions.
• We strongly encourage students interested in pursuing an M.A. or Ph.D. in Sociology to take both SOC 370, SOC 371, and all three methods courses (SOC 392, SOC 393, and SOC 394).

Required Sequence of Courses for Transfer Students

Below is a suggested graduation plan for transfer students majoring in Sociology and who have completed all GE Segment I requirements, including ENG 214 equivalents, at community colleges, and/or other institutions. The completion of Segment I should be indicated in the Degree Progress Report (DPR) and/or Advanced Standing Evaluation. The DPR is available online and the Advanced Standing Form is mailed to the students early during their first semesters at San Francisco State.

Please note that the Sociology program accepts up to 12 lower-division units as electives toward the major. These units can be transferred credits or taken at SF State, including SOC 105 and SOC 245. Students must have a total of 30 upper-division units toward the major.

Note:  At minimum, 3-4 semesters are required in order to complete the major requirements and the major core courses must be taken in sequence. Students typically do not get into the first core course (SOC 300GW) until their second semester junior year.

Please see the following for the suggested courses for each semester:

Semester 1

Class/Units

• Sociology Elective: 3-4 Units
• Sociology Elective: 3-4 Units
• First Complementary Studies course
• Second Complementary Studies course

Total Number of Units: 12-16

Semester 2

Class/Units

• SOC 300 GW Sociological Analysis: 4 Units
• Sociology Area I Inequalities in the US: 3-4 Units
• Sociology Elective: 3-4 Units
• Third Complementary Studies Course

Total Number of Units: 13-16

Semester 3

Class/Units

• SOC 370 or SOC 371 Classical or Contemporary Theories of Society: 4 Units
• SOC 392 Introduction to Research Methods: 4 Units
• Sociology Area II Global Inequalities: 3-4 Units
• Fourth Complementary Studies course, if needed

Total Number of Units: 14-16

Semester 4

Class/Units

• SOC 393 or SOC 394 Quantitative Analysis or Sociological Field Methods: 4 Units
• SOC 500 or SOC 501/2 or SOC 503/4 Senior Seminar or Internship: Applied Sociology or  Research Internship Seminar: 3 Units
• Sociology Elective: 3-4 Units, if needed
• Sociology Elective: 3-4 Units, if needed

Total Number of Units: 13-15

Total Number of Units for the Major: 42

Total Number of Units to Graduate: 120

Important Prerequisites

SOC 300 GW: Students must complete at least one Sociology course with a grade of 'C' or better in order to take SOC 300 GW. SOC 370, SOC 371, and SOC 392 require successful completion of SOC 300 GW Sociological Analysis. Sociology majors who successfully complete SOC 300 GW will have met the University Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).

SOC 370 or 371 may be taken concurrently with SOC 392.

SOC 370, SOC 371, and SOC 392: SOC 500 and SOC 501/2 require successful completion of SOC 370 or SOC 371 and SOC 392. SOC 393 and SOC 394 require successful completion of SOC 392.

Important Notes

• If you haven't already taken any lower-division Sociology elective, we recommend you start with one or more of the following courses: SOC 105, SOC 245, SOC 272.
• SOC 105, SOC 200, and SOC 245 meet the BSS-B requirement. SOC 272 meets the BSS-C requirement. These courses also count as sociology electives. 
• Up to 12 lower-division units are accepted as electives including SOC 105, SOC 110, SOC 200, SOC 245 and transferred credits from community colleges and other institutions.

Roadmap for Students Who Completed an AA-T Degree Entering SF State Fall 2014 or Later

TMC has been completed with 60 units in transfer. 12 units of major and all lower division GE requirements have been satisfied.

Semester Sequence

1st Semester at SF State

Semester Unit Total: 15-16

2nd Semester at SF State

Semester Unit Total: 13-14 Units

3rd Semester at SF State

Semester Unit Total: 17 Units

4th Semester at SF State

Semester Unit Total: 13-17 Units

Notes:  A minimum of 40 upper division units must be completed for degree. This roadmap is a sample pathway. Check with a major advisor regarding the most appropriate course sequence for you.
 

To Do at SF State

Enough total units to reach 120 minimum for graduation; 40 units minimum at the upper division level; to include the following:

University-wide Requirements  

• 9-18 Units
• American Institutions: US History, US Government, California State and Local Government requirements if not completed prior to transfer
• 9 units upper division GE

Sociology Major:

• 30-31 units
• Required Courses (19 units): Note that there is a 4 semester sequence for required courses: 1) SOC 300GW, 2) SOC 370 or 371, 3) SOC 392, and 4) SOC 393 or 394 plus SOC 500 or SOC 501 and SOC 502.

 *At minimum, 3-4 semesters are required in order to complete the major requirements and the major core courses must be taken in sequence. Students typically do not get into the first core course (SOC 300GW) until their second semester junior year.

• One course from Area I and one course from Area II  (6-8 units)
• Major Electives (6-8 units)

University Electives:

• 0-21 units depending on the number of units transferred in and the range of unit choices chosen to satisfy course requirements above.

Any course you have taken in a sociology program at a California Community College counts for our sociology elective unit requirement, up to a limit of 12 units total. You should be aware that some classes you have taken at community college show up on your DPR as courses we offer in the Sociology program at SF State. For example, if you took introductory sociology at a community college, it will likely appear on your DPR as our own SOC 105. That means you already have credit for SOC 105. If you have taken a sociology course that we don’t offer, ‘SOC 100TR’ will appear on your DPR transcript as Transfer Credit (see below). You can count these community college transfer Soc units toward your SF State SOC elective requirement (up to 12 total).

To find out if a course is articulated with a course here at SF State, use Assist.

Our core courses (SOC 300, 370/371, 392, 393/394, and 500/501-502) are all upper division. You may have taken a course entitled “research methods” or “sociological theory” at your community college, but it will not fulfill these five major course requirements. We encourage you to check CSU Fully Online to see if you can take an upper division SOC course at another CSU.

Yes, we currently allow you to count one non-SOC upper division course with sociological themes (think race, class, gender, sexuality) towards your sociology elective units (maximum of 4 units).  You must consult with your advisor to get approval for this course. Students typically take courses in Ethnic Studies, Women and Gender Studies and Public Health that may count as toward your SOC elective units.

Yes, you can “double count” a course for both complementary studies and elective sociology units.  You must consult with your advisor to get approval for this course.

No. You should keep track of your complementary studies units (12 units) as you take them and with the approval and support of your advisor. Your complementary studies will be checked off on your graduation application.

The total units on your DPR includes the current courses you are registered for in its calculation of units. 

Your unofficial transcript only includes units in classes you’ve already completed. If you drop a class you are registered for, it can change what is marked in yellow on your DPR.

Yes, you are allowed to take these courses concurrently. You must have completed SOC 300GWAR successfully to take these courses. Please be aware they are both demanding 4-unit courses. You should make sure you have sufficient time for a heavy reading and assignment load if you take these courses concurrently.

If you are shut out of one of our required courses, please email the following info to us:

• Course you are shut out of
• Your name, student # and email address
• Semester you started/will start at SF State
• Semester and year you were officially accepted into the SOC major
• # of units you will have completed at the end of the Spring semester you have just finished

The department always asks for resources sufficient to get students the courses they need. 

Second, register for other courses that will help you progress towards your degree. For example, register for upper division SOC electives or ensure your Upper Division General Education requirements are completed.

You should immediately consult with your advisor to modify your education plan so that you are not delayed in your path to graduation.

Yes. Complementary studies are courses outside of sociology that augment what you are learning in the major. These courses can be from any number of different departments. As long as they form a coherent “complement” to your major, the courses will count.  You must consult with your advisor to get approval for your complementary studies courses. Please note that if you take 12 units of a single foreign language or if you have a minor, you are automatically considered to have fulfilled your complementary studies requirement.

Students looking to change their major to Sociology should fill out a Declaration/Change of Major (PDF) form and submit it to the department office (email sociol@sfsu.edu). Other change of major and minor information can be found on the Change of Major of Minor page of the Registrar's Office.