Bachelor of Arts


Requirements for the Major in Sociology

The major in sociology leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. The following courses are required:
Completion of the major requirements entails 39 credits, of which 30 are in sociology courses.

A. Study within the Area of the Major


  1. Required courses: One introductory course selected from among the following: SOC 105 Introduction to Sociology or 106 Introduction to Sociology: Honors
    SOC 201 Research Methods and SOC 202 Statistical Methods in Sociology or another allowed statistics course
    SOC 361 Historical Development of Sociological Theory (beginning in the Fall 2005, SOC 362 will no longer be required)
  2. Sociology electives
    Free selection of courses, totaling 18 credits, from among all sociology course offerings.
Notes on Group A:
  1. SOC 106 is recommended for majors considering graduate study.
  2. If any required course is waived for any reason, it must be replaced with an additional elective.
  3. Only six credits of independent study courses, 447, 487, and 488, may be used toward the requirement of 18 elective credits in sociology.

B. Study in Related Areas

At least three courses (nine credits) chosen from one of the following related social sciences: Africana studies (only those courses with designator AFS), anthropology, economics, history, linguistics, political science, psychology, social sciences, and women's studies (WST only).

C. Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Sociology majors are expected to fulfill the upper-division writing requirement by the end of their junior year. Students may meet the requirement by having their writing evaluated in certain upper-division sociology courses. Students who have indicated that they wish to have their writing evaluated receive a separate report on writing proficiency in addition to their regular course grade.

Students whose writing is not judged adequate should consult with the director of undergraduate studies on further steps to fulfill the writing requirement.

Grading Policy


  1. No more than one course from the requirements of the department, including sociology electives (A, 2 above) and related social science courses (B, above), but excluding required sociology courses (A, 1 above), may be taken for Pass/No Credit.
  2. Except for 475, and 476 all sociology courses offered in satisfaction of major requirements must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
  3. No transferred sociology course with a grade lower than C is accepted for credit in the major.

Note: The Sociology Department requires that transfer students take at least 12 credits in sociology in residence at Stony Brook to complete the sociology major.


Honors Program

The honors program is open to seniors majoring in sociology who have maintained a G.P.A. of 3.5 in the major and 3.0 overall, and who have completed or are in the process of completing the methods and statistics requirement and the upper-division writing requirement. Students should apply for the honors program before the beginning of their senior year. With the approval of the sponsoring faculty member, the student must submit a written proposal for a major paper or research project to be completed during the senior year. Acceptance into the honors program depends on the approval of the proposal by the department.

During the senior year, the student enrolls in SOC 495 during the first semester and SOC 496 during the second semester, for a total of six credits. The student's major paper or research project must be completed no later than four weeks prior to the end of the second semester, to allow for possible revisions. It is read and evaluated by a committee consisting of the student's sponsor, one other sociology faculty member, and one faculty member from another department.

If the honors program is completed with distinction and the student has achieved a 3.5 G.P.A. in all sociology courses taken in the senior year, honors are conferred.

Major Checklist

Upper Division Writing Requirement

Undergraduate Bulletin