Program Requirements 

Major

Minor

Transfer

Core Courses and the Hub

Major

• A total of 11 courses are required for the sociology major: 10 in sociology and 1 in statistics. All courses must be taken within the College of Arts & Scienes with the exception of transfer-of-credit courses or with department approval. A grade of “C” or higher is required to earn credit for the major. Students must earn a total of 128 credits prior to graduation.

Courses (4)

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

• Principles in Sociology 

  • CAS SO 100 (4 credits)
  • BU Hub- Social Inquiry 1, The Individual in Community, and Critical Thinking
  • An introduction to the major theories and basic principles of sociological analysis. Explores culture, media, socialization, race and ethnicity, globalization, capitalism, gender and sexuality, inequality and poverty, power in American society, and health and medicine from a sociological perspective. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS.

• Sociological Methods 

  • CAS SO 201 (4 credits)
  • BU Hub- Social Inquiry 1, Research and Information Literacy
  • Required of concentrators and minor concentrators. Scientific method, measurement, experimentation, survey research, observational methods, projective techniques, and content analysis.

• Introduction to Sociological Theories 

  • CAS SO 203 (4 credits)
  • Required of sociology majors and minors. Theoretical problems in sociology. The works of the three major founders of the discipline are the focus: Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. In-depth comparisons and contrasts in respect to themes and approaches are offered.

• Substantive Themes in Sociological Theory 

  • CAS SO 303 (4 credits)
  • BU Hub- Historical Consciousness, The Individual in Community
  • Critique and application of major sociological theories to key themes and topics. Connections between classical and modern arguments, syntheses of alternative perspectives, and gaps between various perspectives. Themes include the maintenance of social order, power and authority, conflict and change, and sources of alienation. 
• Two additional 4-credit CAS sociology (SO) courses at the 200 level or above
• Two additional 4-credit CAS sociology (SO) courses at the 300 level or above
• Two additional 4-credit CAS sociology (SO) seminars at the 400 level or above
• One 4-credit course in statistical analysis chosen from CAS MA 113, 115, 116, 213, QST QM 221, QST QM 222

For more information on the major go here.

Minor

The minor in sociology comprises six 4-credit sociology courses, as described below. All courses must be taken within the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS), with the exception of transfer-of-credit courses, based upon department approval and only as described below. A grade of “C” or higher is required to earn credit for the major. Students must earn a total of 128 credits prior to graduation.

• Sociological Methods 
  • CAS SO 201 (4 credits)
  • BU Hub- Social Inquiry 1, Research and Information Literacy
  • Required of concentrators and minor concentrators. Scientific method, measurement, experimentation, survey research, observational methods, projective techniques, and content analysis.
• Introduction to Sociological Theories 
  • CAS SO 203 (4 credits)
  • Required of sociology majors and minors. Theoretical problems in sociology. The works of the three major founders of the discipline are the focus: Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. In-depth comparisons and contrasts in respect to themes and approaches are offered.
• Two additional 4-credit sociology courses at the 200 level or above*
• Two additional 4-credit sociology courses at the 300 level or above.
  • Students should note that CAS SO 100 Principles in Sociology may be substituted for one of the two required 200-level courses.

Transfer

For information on transferable courses go here.

• For information on all sociology courses offered
• For information on upcoming courses and Hub Units

Core Courses that Carry Hub Units

• For more information on the BU Hub and sociology, check out our page.