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Sociology
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  1. Home
  2. Programs
  3. Undergraduate
  4. Sociology
  5. Minor

Minor

Minor
  • Sociology opens in a new tab
Program Minimum Units
24 Units
University Minimum Units
18 Units
Interests
Data and Information Sciences, Social Justice & Inequality, Human Rights
Academic Areas
Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts

Overview

There is one Sociology minor, which offers two pathways for students to choose from:

  • The traditional minor pathway, which follows the requirements listed in "Program Requirements".

  • The subplan in Poverty, Inequality, and Policy: This minor subplan provides students with the interdisciplinary tools needed to understand and contribute to the science of poverty and inequality. The coursework, which is drawn from sociology, economics, public policy, education, history, psychology, and political science, provides state-of-the-art training in the types and forms of poverty and inequality, the causes and consequences of poverty and inequality, and the many programs and interventions to reduce poverty and inequality. It provides opportunities to train in big data analysis, algorithms and predictive models, and qualitative and ethnographic methods. It also offers opportunities to participate in individual and group research projects and join teams building poverty-reducing products, apps, and interventions. It is an excellent foundation for students considering careers in business, public policy, medicine, public health, government service, the law, nongovernmental organizations, foundations, or academia.

Students who wish to declare a minor opens in a new tabin Sociology must do so no later than the deadline for their application to graduate.

Requirements

Program Requirements

Core Course Requirements:

Complete all of the following requirements:
Core Courses
Complete all of the following course(s):
SOC 1

Introduction to Sociology

5 Units
or
SOC 170

Classics of Modern Social Theory

4 Units
SOC 2

Self and Society: Introduction to Social Psychology

4 Units
or
SOC 180A

Foundations of Social Research

4 Units
or
SOC 180B

Introduction to Data Analysis

4 Units
and
Foundation Courses
Complete at least 2 of the following courses:
SOC 2

Self and Society: Introduction to Social Psychology

4 Units
SOC 8

Sport, Competition, and Society

4 Units
SOC 114

Economic Sociology

4 Units
SOC 118

Social Movements and Collective Action

4 Units
SOC 130

Education and Society

4-5 Units
SOC 142

Sociology of Gender

4 Units
SOC 145

Race and Ethnic Relations in the USA

4 Units
SOC 149

The Urban Underclass

5 Units
SOC 155

The Changing American Family

5 Units
SOC 156A

The Changing American City

4 Units
SOC 160

Formal Organizations

4 Units
SOC 179A

Crime and Punishment in America

4-5 Units
SOC 189

Race and Immigration

4-5 Units
and
Sociology Electives

Two additional sociology courses

Subplans

Optional
Students have the option to complete a subplan as part of this program. A subplan is an officially declared and defined set of requirements that allows students to go deeper into a discipline or focus within a program.

Poverty, Inequality, and Policy Subplan

Subplan Requirements

Complete all of the following requirements:
Core Courses
Complete at least 2 of the following courses:
SOC 3

America: Unequal

4 Units
SOC 180A

Foundations of Social Research

4 Units
or
SOC 180B

Introduction to Data Analysis

4 Units
or
ECON 102A

Introduction to Statistical Methods (Postcalculus) for Social Scientists

5 Units
or
CS 109

Introduction to Probability for Computer Scientists

3-5 Units

Students must complete SOC 3 and any of the courses listed as their second core course. Additionally, choose at least two courses from at least two of the following breadth areas.

and
Breadth

Students required to complete 2 courses from 2 different categories.

Complete any of the following requirements:
Education
Complete any of the following course(s):
EDUC 107

Education and Inequality: Big Data for Large-Scale Problems

3 Units
EDUC 201

History of Education in the United States

3-5 Units
EDUC 347

The Economics of Higher Education

3-4 Units
SOC 129X

Urban Education

3-5 Units
SOC 130

Education and Society

4-5 Units
or
Gender
Complete any of the following course(s):
CSRE 162

The Politics of Sex: Gender, Race, and Sexuality in Modern America

3-5 Units
SOC 142

Sociology of Gender

4 Units
SOC 155

The Changing American Family

5 Units
or
Health and Well-Being
Complete any of the following course(s):
PEDS 229

Reducing Health Disparities and Closing the Achievement Gap through Health Integration in Schools

3 Units
SOC 152

The Social Determinants of Health

4 Units
or
Inequality and Mobility
Complete all of the following course(s):
CLASSICS 12N

Income and wealth inequality from the Stone Age to the present

4 Units
ECON 22N

Causes and Consequences of the Rise in Inequality

3 Units
ECON 113

Historical perspectives on inequality and opportunity in America

5 Units
SOC 14N

Inequality in American Society

3 Units
SOC 156A

The Changing American City

4 Units
or
Labor Markets
Complete any of the following course(s):
SOC 114

Economic Sociology

4 Units
or
Poverty and the Safety Net
Complete any of the following course(s):
ECON 11N

Understanding the Welfare System

3 Units
ECON 19Q

Government by the Numbers

3 Units
SOC 149

The Urban Underclass

5 Units
or
Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration
Complete any of the following course(s):
ANTHRO 31Q

The Big Shift

4 Units
CSRE 121L

Racial-Ethnic Politics in US

5 Units
SOC 145

Race and Ethnic Relations in the USA

4 Units
SOC 146

Introduction to Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity

5 Units

Electives

Choose two electives. Although all pre-approved courses are listed here, students may petition for approval of other courses related to inequality, poverty, and mobility. Students may also elect to take additional elective courses from any of the breadth areas above.

Complete at least 2 of the following courses:
AMSTUD 73

Mexican Migration to the United States

3-5 Units
AMSTUD 107

Introduction to Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

4 Units
AMSTUD 264

History of Prisons and Immigration Detention

4-5 Units
ANTHRO 153

Asylum: Knowledge, Politics, and Population

5 Units
CEE 33C

Housing Visions

3 Units
CHILATST 180E

Introduction to Chicanx/Latinx Studies

5 Units
CS 51

CS + Social Good Studio: Designing Social Impact Projects

2 Units
CS 106S

Coding for Social Good

1 Units
CSRE 141

Gentrification

5 Units
CSRE 144

Transforming Self and Systems: Crossing Borders of Race, Nation, Gender, Sexuality, and Class

5 Units
CSRE 156

The Changing American City

4 Units
CS 181

Computers, Ethics, and Public Policy

4 Units
ECON 19Q

Government by the Numbers

3 Units
ECON 46

Networks and Human Behavior

5 Units
ECON 241

Public Economics I

2-5 Units
EDUC 173

Gender and Higher Education: National and Global Perspectives

3-4 Units
EDUC 197

Gender and Education in Global and Comparative Perspectives

3-4 Units
FEMGEN 183

Re- Imagining American Borders

5 Units
FEMGEN 297

Gender and Education in Global and Comparative Perspectives

3-4 Units
LAW 2515

Environmental Justice

3 Units
PSYCH 138

Wise Interventions

3-5 Units
PUBLPOL 101

American Politics and Policy: In Defense of Democracy

5 Units
PUBLPOL 154

Politics and Policy in California

5 Units
SOC 134

Gender and Education in Global and Comparative Perspectives

3-4 Units
SOC 156A

The Changing American City

4 Units
SOC 173

Gender and Higher Education: National and Global Perspectives

3-4 Units
SOC 179A

Crime and Punishment in America

4-5 Units
SOC 298

The Social Psychology of Contemporary American Politics

4-5 Units
STS 177

The Cultural Politics of Food and Eating: Technology, History, and Justice

4 Units
URBANST 141

Gentrification

5 Units
URBANST 156A

The Changing American City

4 Units
URBANST 169B

Race and Ethnicity in Urban California: Research Seminar

5 Units

Research Apprenticeship

Optional Research Apprenticeship (up to five units)

Students may replace one elective with a research apprenticeship with faculty in an ongoing research project. The Center on Poverty and Inequality also offers opportunities for students interested in participating in larger team projects. Prior arrangement required.

Complete all of the following course(s):
SOC 192

Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship

1-5 Units