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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Sociology

Major in Sociology (Bachelor of Arts in Sociology)

Students on Fall 2026, Spring 2027, or Summer 2027 requirements SOCBA

The major in Sociology acquaints students with basic principles, methods, and findings in sociology—the scientific study of society and human social interaction as organized in systems of social relationships, organizations, and institutions. It seeks to explain the order, disorder, and change that characterize social life as well as their implications for individuals. Major subfields offered by the Department of Sociology include social psychology; deviance; social inequality; medical sociology; and the study of the family, schools, gender roles, ethnic and racial groups, and social classes. Provision is made for students who wish to acquire a general background as well as for those who wish to develop particular interests in a subfield of sociology. The major provides a foundation for careers in many professional fields, such as law, social service administration, and business, as well as for graduate training as professional sociologists in government, business, community agencies, research organizations, or universities.

Requirements

The major requires at least 30 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Introductory Course. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology
  2. Social Theory. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 340 Social Theory
  3. Research Methods in Sociology. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 370 Research Methods in Sociology
  4. Statistics in Sociology. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 371 Statistics in Sociology
  5. Capstone. One (1) course:
    • SOC-S 410 Topics in Social Organization
    • SOC-S 431 Topics in Social Psychology
  6. Additional Elective(s). Additional courses, as needed, to fulfill remaining requirements.
  7. Concentration or Electives. One (1) of the following options:
    • Law and Society Concentration. See the requirements below.
    • Social Science and Medicine Concentration. See requirements below.
    • Electives option. Both of the following:
      1. Introductory Elective. One (1) course:
        • SOC-S 101 Social Problems and Policies
        • SOC-S 102 Medicine in the U.S. - From Genes to Global Health
        • SOC-S 103 Sociology of Sport
        • SOC-S 104 Racism as a Social Problem
        • SOC-S 105 Sociology Laboratory
        • SOC-S 110 Charts, Graphs, and Tables
        • SOC-S 122 Envisioning the City
        • SOC-S 201 Social Problems
        • SOC-S 210 Economic Sociology
        • SOC-S 215 Social Change
        • SOC-S 217 Social Inequality
        • SOC-S 220 Culture and Society
        • SOC-S 230 Society and the Individual
      2. Advanced Electives. Nine (9) additional credit hours:
        • Any SOC-S 300–399 except SOC-S 340; SOC-S 370; SOC-S 371
        • Any SOC-S 400–499
        • Any SOC-X 300–399
        • Any SOC-X 400–499
  8. Major Hours and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
    2. Major Upper Division Courses. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300-499 level.
    3. Minimum Grade. A grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.

Major Area Courses

  • Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

    • Any course at the 100–499 level with the SOC subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
    • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
    • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
Restrictions

The following restrictions apply to the minimum credit hours required in the major:

  • No more than 9 combined credit hours of the following may count toward the major:
    • SOC-X 371 Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship
    • SOC-X 373 Internship in Professional Practice
    • SOC-X 477 Field Experience in Sociology
    • SOC-X 490 Individual Readings in Sociology

This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

  • Area Certificate in Social Research in Health and Medicine [SOCRHMACRT]
  • Interdepartmental Major in African American and African Diaspora Studies and Sociology (Bachelor of Arts) [INTRBA_M05]
  • Interdepartmental Major in Sociology and African American and African Diaspora Studies (Bachelor of Arts) [SOCAAADBA]
  • Minor in Social Science and Medicine [SSMEDMIN]
  • Minor in Sociology [SOCMIN]
  • Minor in Sociology of Work and Business [SOCWKBSMIN]
  • [Name unavailable] [SOCTSBA]

Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Concentrations