BA in Sociology

Sociology is the study of social life, social relations, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociology majors acquire critical analytic skills in evaluating sociological research, including the background assumptions, appropriateness of methods used, and the strength of explanatory evidence; learn the fundamentals of theoretical and methodological approaches used by sociologists; and gain substantive expert knowledge in a variety of sociological subfields, including medical sociology, gender and sexuality, culture, urban sociology, global and transnational sociology, crime and policing, race, immigration, economic sociology, political sociology, and much more. Critical-thinking skills and broad theoretical knowledge prepare majors for many different career options. Sociology graduates work in fields that range from medicine and law to social work, education, market research, business, journalism, criminal justice, policy analysis, and nonprofits. Many students go on to complete graduate work in a variety of academic and professional fields, such as sociology and other social sciences, business and management, education, law and criminal justice, and medicine and public health.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental theoretical approaches and key disciplinary concepts.
• Demonstrate understanding of sociological methods including research design, data gathering, and analysis.
• Exhibit critical thinking skills in evaluating sociological research, including the background assumptions, appropriateness of methods used, and strength of explanatory evidence.
• Communicate sociological knowledge in appropriate oral, written, and graphic forms.

Requirements

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Sociology will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Scientific and Social Inquiry, Diversity, Civic Engagement and Global Citizenship, Communication, and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.

The major in Sociology comprises 11 courses: 10 in sociology and 1 in statistics, as described below. All courses must be taken within the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), except for transfer-of-units courses, based upon department approval and only as described below.

All courses for the major must be completed with grades of C or higher.

Required Courses

• CAS SO 100 Principles in Sociology (4 units)
• CAS SO 201 Sociological Methods (4 units)
• CAS SO 203 Introduction to Sociological Theories (4 units)
• CAS SO 303 Substantive Themes in Sociological Theory (4 units)
• Two additional 4-unit CAS sociology (SO) courses at the 200 level or above
• Two additional 4-unit CAS sociology (SO) courses at the 300 level or above
• Two additional 4-unit CAS sociology (SO) seminars at the 400 level or above
• One 4-unit course in statistical analysis chosen from CAS MA 113, 115, 116, 213, QST QM 221, QST QM 222

Students are expected to take CAS SO 201 and CAS SO 203 in their sophomore year or the first term after declaring the major. It is recommended that CAS SO 303 be taken in the term following completion of CAS SO 203.

Sociology majors admitted to CAS from the College of General Studies (CGS) who have completed CGS SS 101 and SS 102, each with a grade of C or higher, will receive units for completing the introductory sociology course, CAS SO 100 Principles in Sociology.

Transfer units from outside the University will not be given for CAS SO 201, 203, 303, or any seminar (400-level) course.

Honors in the Major

The department encourages interested and qualified students to pursue a special program aimed toward graduating with honors in the major. After completion of the sociological research practicum in the spring term of their junior year, students conduct a year-long independent research project under a faculty advisor, then write and defend a thesis before a committee of department faculty in the spring term of their senior year.

Interested students are encouraged to discuss the senior honors thesis with their advisors in the fall term of the junior year, when students are considering which courses to register for in the spring term ahead. For more information, visit our departmental website or consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

To pursue the senior honors thesis option, the course sequence is as follows:

CAS SO 400 Advanced Research Practicum (4 units) is taken in the spring of junior year. This course counts for one of the two required seminars for graduation in the major. Students must earn a B or higher in this course to continue with the sequence.

CAS SO 405 Senior Research Seminar (4 units) is taken the fall of senior year. This class meets every other week as a class in addition to one-on-one meetings with the instructor and covers topics such as data analysis, writing literature reviews, and presenting findings. Students must earn a B or higher in this course to continue with the sequence.

CAS SO 401 Senior Independent Work (2 units) can be taken the fall of senior year instead of SO 405 in some circumstances with departmental approval. This is a directed study course with the student’s primary thesis advisor, who will continue to work with the student on specific details of their project. Students must earn a B or higher in this course to continue with the sequence.

CAS SO 402 Senior Independent Work (2 units) is taken the spring of senior year. This will consist of a directed study under the primary supervision of the student’s thesis advisor, culminating in the final draft of the thesis and the oral examination, including the thesis defense. To receive honors, students must earn a B+ or higher for this course.