Sociology Major

The major consists of a minimum of 9.5 full courses (or the equivalent).

Note: Students must earn minimum grades of C- or P for all courses that apply toward the major.

View the catalog page for the sociology department.

Summary of Requirements

One Full Introduction to Sociology Course
3.5 Full Sociology Core Courses
One Full Statistics Course
Four Full Sociology Major Elective Courses

Note(s) on Requirements

Only one introductory course may be taken for credit toward the major and toward graduation.
A first-year seminar offered by a sociology faculty member may count toward the major elective course requirement, but is not considered a substitute for an introductory course.
The required statistics course must be taken previously to or concurrently with SOCI 301 /SOCI 302 .
The required sociology core courses must be taken at Oberlin.

Transfer of Credit Toward the Major

The sociology department will accept up to the equivalent of two full courses of transfer credit to count toward the sociology major requirements. Two types of approval are needed. (1) Approval from the Office of the Registrar that the transfer course meets Oberlin’s transfer-of-credit eligibility standards and (2) approval from the department/program chair that the course(s) may count to the major. Current students taking post-matriculation credit must secure this approval before registering for course(s). Students who enter Oberlin as transfer students will have their pre-matriculation credit evaluated by the Office of the Registrar for elective credit, and they can later seek approval from the department/program for applying coursework to major requirements.

Study Away

Students are encouraged to broaden their educational experience by taking advantage of off-campus programs, preferably sometime during their junior year. Sociology majors may find the GLCA Philadelphia Center study away program of particular interest.

Course of Study

Given the breadth of the discipline, students thinking about majoring in the department should consult an advisor early in their decision process. Courses in many other disciplines add strength to a major in sociology. The particular pattern of courses chosen will vary, depending on the plans and interests of the student. The pattern should be worked out in close consultation with the major advisor.

Honors in Sociology

The department invites a number of qualified majors to apply to participate in the Honors Program in Sociology by submitting a written proposal to the department chair in the second semester of their junior year. To be eligible, students must have completed SOCI 301 and SOCI 302 by the end of their junior year. Students are not formally accepted into the honors program until the research proposal is approved by the department. The level of honors is determined by the thesis grade, assessment of oral presentation of the project, and major GPA.

Detailed Major Requirements

Sociology Major Course Lists

Introduction to Sociology Courses

Return to the summary of requirements.

Note: Only one introductory course may be taken for credit toward the major and toward graduation.

Sociology Core Courses

Return to the summary of requirements.

Note: The required sociology core courses must be taken at Oberlin.

Statistics Courses

Return to the summary of requirements.

Note: The required statistics course must be taken previously to or concurrently with SOCI 301 /SOCI 302 .

Sociology Major Elective Courses

Return to the summary of requirements.