Welcome to the Department of Sociology at UCSD
We hope that this handbook will be a useful complement to the general catalog. Although most information for your first year will come from the academic advisers in your college, feel free to come by the sociology department for further counseling on your major. The Department of Sociology provides a challenging curriculum, which offers you a superior liberal arts education and a bright future.
What is Sociology?
Sociology is the study of society: its composition, organization, culture, and development. It combines scientific methods with humanistic perspectives, integrating the findings of economics, political science, psychology, and history.
Why Sociology?
Sociology is a valuable major for students who want to enter law, medicine, architecture, business, or politics. It also provides a solid liberal arts education for students who plan careers in education, criminal justice, public health, urban planning, social welfare, counseling, public administration, international relations, or market research.
For students who wish to pursue graduate study in the social sciences for careers in teaching or scholarly research, an undergraduate degree from the Department of Sociology will provide a thorough grounding in recent theoretical and methodological advances in the discipline. Whatever your career choice, the study of sociology can help you cultivate a critical awareness of society.
The Sociology Major at UCSD
This department has developed an innovative curriculum, building on the strengths of our faculty and the breadth of their knowledge. Many courses are taught examining the historical development of societies in diverse regions across the globe: East Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe, and Africa. This international focus allows us to consider the grand social transformations, which are underway on a global scale. A number of courses consider the cultural dimensions of social life, such as religion, popular culture, and film. A strong feature of our curriculum is the study of science and technology. Other courses taught include topics such as education, gender, health and illness, race and ethnic relations, nationalism, and protest movements. The subject matter of sociology courses is quite diverse, yet interrelated by the concern across a number of different fields in the character of inequalities in society and the varying processes of modernization.
The Department
At UCSD, the Department of Sociology may have the most extensive and comprehensive program of comparative and historical sociology in the country. The international emphasis is expressed in the faculty's teaching commitment to the Graduate School of International Relations & Pacific Studies, the Science Studies Program, as well as Eleanor Roosevelt College, which is oriented around international studies. In addition, the department has strong, nationally recognized programs in the sociology of culture and in science studies. The sociology of inequality (on the basis of class, gender, and race) is also a central research and teaching field for many faculty members. Students may also wish to participate in research projects or the honors program offered by the department.
Declaring/Changing Majors
Entering students may declare a major in Sociology when they are admitted to UCSD. Continuing students may declare Sociology as their major at any time, by completing the Undergraduate Declaration of Major or Change of Major Request form and submitting it to the Registrar's Office. The form is available in the Department of Sociology, from your college, or from the Registrar's Office. The major code for Sociology is SO25. By officially declaring your major it allows the undergraduate coordinator to receive transcripts each quarter and track each sociology student's progress in the major. Whenever students have questions about program requirements or courses still needed to fulfill the major, the department will have this information available including copies of petitions and other relevant paperwork.
Requirements
for the Sociology Major
A 2.0 GPA is required in the major and students must earn a C- or better in each course to be used for the sociology major. All courses taken for the major must be taken for a letter grade, with the exception of Sociology E 197, 198 or 199 which can only be taken P/NP. Only one such special studies course may be applied toward the major.
Lower-Division Courses
Lower-division sociology courses provide an excellent background and strong
foundation on which to build your studies. Four lower-division sociology
courses are required: Soc/L 1A, 1B, 20, and 60. For each of these courses
students must attend a lecture and a discussion section.
Soc/L 1A and 1B form an introductory sequence to the discipline of
sociology; introducing the organizing themes and ideas, empirical concerns,
and analytical approaches of sociology. It is strongly recommended
that Soc/L 1A and 1B are taken before taking upper-division courses.
Soc/L 20 provides an introduction to theories of social change and
prepares students for comparative-historical sociology. (Eleanor Roosevelt
College students may substitute MMW5 for the Soc/L 20 requirement.)
Soc/L 60 introduces students to fundamental principles of social research
design: How to pose a sociological question, formulate an appropriate
research design, and evaluate empirical evidence. Soc/L
60 is a prerequisite for all upper division cluster A method courses.
(Soc/A 130M - Soc/A 110B .)
Upper-Division Courses
Upper-division sociology courses are divided into four CLUSTERS, or
areas of sociology: CLUSTER A Theory and Method, CLUSTER B
Culture, Language, and Social Interaction, CLUSTER C Organizations
and Institutions, CLUSTER D Comparative and Historical.
A total of twelve upper-division courses are required to complete a sociology major. From cluster A, two courses are required (please refer to the theory and method requirements listed below), and one course each from cluster B, C, and D. This will give students a total of five courses towards the major and the remaining seven courses, referred to as electives, can be taken from any of the cluster groups.
Theory Requirement: Soc/A 100, Classical Sociological Theory, is a required course for all sociology majors. This is an important course that will provide a strong theoretical foundation to prepare students for other upper-division course work. We strongly recommend that students take it early in their junior year, after the lower-division sociology courses have been completed.
Method Requirement: The sociology major requires one "methods" course. The courses in the method area are numbered Soc/A 103M through Soc/A 110B. They include such topics as: Field Methods, Ethnographic Film, Computer Application of Data Management, Comparative/Historical Methods, and Survey Research and Design. Soc/L 60 must be taken prior to enrolling in any method course.
Electives: After students have taken Soc/A 100, a method course, and a cluster b, c, and d course, they will have seven upper-division courses remaining to complete the major requirements. It is not required that these remaining electives be in only one cluster or area of sociology, but as students choose courses of interest to them, the courses may end up falling naturally into one area. It is also important to include courses that will assist with your career plans after graduation. Method courses help acquire marketable skills, social psychology, and social interaction courses help students planning to go into social service work, while education courses help those planning to go into teaching.
One elective course can be satisfied with a four-unit Independent Study (Soc/E 199) course. Or, if interested in conducting a research project with a group of students, consult with a professor and sign up for a Group Independent Study (Soc/E 198). Another choice, with department permission, would be to take an Internship (AIP 197). Because these courses are taken on pass/no pass basis, remember that only one can be used toward the sociology major. To refer to additional information on internships and special studies, please see "Special Programs" section of this handbook.
Course Prerequisites:
- SOCL 87 - a seminar limited to freshmen
- SOCL 90 - a seminar limited to freshmen
- SOCL 98 & 99 - lower division standing, completion of at least 30 units at UCSD, minimum UCSD GPA of 3.0, and departmental approval
- SOCA 103M – SOCL60
- SOCA 104 - sociology majors only and SOCL60
- SOCA 105 - SOCL60
- SOCA 106 - SOCL60
- SOCA 107 - SOCL60
- SOCA 108A - SOCL60
- SOCA 108B - SOCL60
- SOCA 109 - SOCL60
- SOCA 109S - SOCL60
- SOCA 110A - SOCL60
- SOCA 110B - SOCA 110A
- SOCE 192 - a seminar for seniors, must have consent from instructor or department.
- SOCE 196A/B - for students accepted into the Sociology Honors Program
- SOCE 197 - must have a 3.5 GPA, must have received an A in SOCA 104, and have the consent of the instructor
- SOCE 198 & 199 - must have at least a 2.5 GPA, must be at least a junior, and must receive departmental approval
- All upper-division courses - upper-division standing is required
- Sociology also offers several foreign language discussion sections, which are available to interested students, who are enrolled concurrently in the corresponding sociology course
FOUR-YEAR PLAN
Below is a sample four-year plan that assures that all major requirements are completed. Please be aware that some courses are only offered once each year. Check the department's tentative yearly course schedule to further define your study plan. The plan below should be used in combination with the general education requirements from your college.
Sample Four-Year Plan of Study
- Freshman Year:
- SOCL 1A
- SOCL 1B
- Sophomore Year:
- SOCL 20
- SOCL 60
- Junior Year:
- SOCA 100
- SOCA "method"
- one course from cluster B
- one course from cluster C
- one course from cluster D
- one upper division sociology elective
- Senior Year:
- final six upper division sociology electives
Declaration of Minor
A minor in sociology consists of any two lower-division sociology courses and any five upper-division sociology courses, excluding Soc/E 197, Soc/E 198, and Soc/E 199. A grade of "C-" or better is required in courses used for the minor. A grade of P/NP is not acceptable; courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade. Transfer courses may be used to satisfy a portion of your minor in sociology with permission of the director of undergraduate studies.
An Undergraduate Declaration of Minor Form, available from the Registrar, your college advising office, or from the sociology department, should be given to the undergraduate coordinator for departmental approval.
Tracking Your Progress
Review of Requirements for the Major
Seven upper-division electives are needed in addition to fulfilling Cluster A (two courses), Cluster B (one course), Cluster C (one course), and Cluster D (one course). This will give you a total of twelve upper-division courses for the major. At the lower-division level you need Soc/L 1A, Soc/L 1B, Soc/L 20, and Soc/L 60.
This page will help you track your progress in the major. It is recommended that you meet with the staff undergraduate coordinator on a regular basis for verification of your progress.
Lower-division requirements
Soc/L 1A _____
Soc/L 1B _____
Soc/L 20* _____
Soc/L 60** _____
* Eleanor
Roosevelt College students can use MMW5 for the L20 requirement
** SOC/L60 is a prerequisite
for all SOC/A Method courses
Upper-division requirements
Cluster A
(theory, major requirement) Soc/A 100
List course taken ____________
Cluster A
(method) 103M - 110B
List course taken ____________
Cluster B
111A,111B, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 118A, 118L, 119, 120S, 122, 125, 128,
130, 131, 142, 143, 145, 146, 160, 160L, 161, 162, 162R,
166, 170, 172, 173, 174
List course taken ____________
Cluster C
121, 123, 124, 126, 129, 132, 134A, 134B, 135,
136A/B, 137, 138, 138A, 138B, 139, 140, 140F, 141, 144, 148, 148L, 149, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 159, 165A/B, 168E, 168T, 180
List course taken ____________
Cluster D
151, 158, 158J, 169, 171, 177, 178,
179, 181, 182, 183, 185, 187, 187S,
188A-B-D-F-J-K, 189
List course taken ____________
Elective ________
Elective ________
Elective ________
Elective ________
Elective ________
Elective ________
Elective ________
Transferring Credits
Sociology courses from other institutions whose units are transferable to UCSD, may be petitioned to count toward the major. Any course taken outside of the sociology department at UCSD must be petitioned to count toward the sociology major, with the exception of those lower-division courses listed on the chart below. Lower-division courses taken at a college that is not listed below must be petitioned with a copy of the course syllabus attached.
Petitions
There are two parts to the petitioning process. The Undergraduate Student
Petition must be completed in full. Petitions are available from the
sociology department, from your college office, or from the Registrar's
Office. The department has a second form, 'Sociology Department's Supplementary
Petition for Acceptance of Transfer Credit,' that must also be completed.
This second form is available only in the sociology main office. The
second sheet will ask for more in-depth information regarding the course(s)
you wish to petition (course description, books used, coursework required,
etc.). You must receive a grade of 'C-' or better in the class to have
it count toward your major. Complete both forms and submit them to the
staff undergraduate coordinator. Your petition will then be reviewed
by the director of undergraduate studies and circulated to the department
chair, your provost office, and the registrar for approval. You may
verify the status of this petition with your college office two to three
weeks after you submit the petition.
It is important that you state in the petition the course or cluster you are attempting to satisfy with your petition request. Please be as specific as possible and submit one petition for each course you are requesting. If you have any questions about course equivalency, it is recommended that you meet with the staff undergraduate coordinator or the director of undergraduate studies.
Articulation Agreements with other Universities
Education Abroad Programs
(EAP)
All courses taken through EAP are considered UC courses for which UC
credit is earned and grades are directly recorded on the transcript
and are factored into your UCSD overall GPA. However, the Department
of Sociology independently determines which courses may be applied to
the major. This decision is made in response to a petition submitted
after students return.
Opportunities Abroad Programs
(OAP)
In the case of course work completed through OAP, the UCSD Admissions
Office is responsible for decisions on the transfer of credits into
UCSD and onto the UCSD academic record (transcripts). Credits transferred
through the Opportunities Abroad Program appear on UCSD transcripts
with course titles and units transferred. Grades from OAP courses will
appear on the transcript from the institution where the work was completed,
but these grades are not recorded on the UCSD transcript, nor are they
factored into the cumulative UCSD grade-point average (GPA). As in the
case of EAP courses, the Department of Sociology will decide independently,
on petitions to accept credits toward the major after the admissions
officer's acceptance of course units.
Petitioning Course Work
Completed Abroad (EAP/OAP)
To apply course work completed abroad toward a major or minor in sociology,
students must submit a petition to the department after their return.
The petition should include: name of the study center or university
where course work was completed, department course number and course
title, and number and level (upper- or lower-division) of credits granted
at UCSD through admissions or EAP. Students should attach a copy of
the syllabus and copies of exams or papers, especially if there is any
doubt about the difficulty of the course or its sociological content.
Students are strongly advised to retain the syllabi, course papers, examinations, and all other paperwork from courses taken abroad. These materials may be useful after you return to facilitate the admissions officer's decision about credit transfers (in the case of OAP programs), as well as departmental approval of courses toward the major for EAP and OAP students. The same materials may help resolve any debates that might arise in the department over possible duplication in course content.
If you are planning to use credits earned abroad toward your major or toward graduation, you are strongly encouraged to confirm before you go abroad, with the Admissions Office (in the case of OAP programs) and the department, that the courses you plan to take are likely to be accepted.
Maximum Transfer Credits
Sociology majors may, with permission obtained through student petitions,
take up to four required courses for the major while abroad. There is
considerable flexibility on the sociology courses that the department
will accept. Students are encouraged to take courses that have a sociological
approach, not simply those that are just about sociology. The department
also does not make the decision on a simple "four units earned
equal one course" formula. In general, most yearlong courses are
more nearly equivalent to two 'four-unit' courses than to three 'four-unit'
courses (even when year-long courses appear on transcripts as twelve
quarter units). Semester courses, which transfer onto the transcript
as six-unit courses, do not necessarily become the equivalent of one
and a half UCSD sociology courses. More typically, it's one course equivalent
per semester course taken.
This section is currently being revised. The Department of Sociology will use the new electronic wait list procedure established by the Registrar's Office. See below.
GOOD NEWS – ELECTRONIC WAIT LISTS HAVE ARRIVED!
Impacts ALL Students, Undergraduate and Graduate!
- If a class you hope to add for Fall 2006 is full, get on the Web Reg wait list now, during pre-registration.
- Web Reg wait lists will be used by ALL departments from pre-registration through the add deadline.
- The wait list sequence is first-come, first-served. Be sure to enroll during your appointment time!
- An automated computer program will move eligible students off the Web Reg wait lists and into classes as
seats become available. It will run nightly from early September through the end of the second week of the quarter
(October 6).
- The program will send messages to your @ucsd email about the outcome of add attempts.
Papers, Exams, Finals & Grades
Papers
All course work should be submitted to your professor, on time and during the scheduled class time. If this is not possible, it can be turned in at the Department of Sociology main office. Papers turned in at the main office must have the professor's name on them, and they need to be date stamped. It is highly recommended that students keep a copy of all papers, in case the original is misplaced. Please do not ever slide papers under a professor's door or pin them on the wall near their office. Remember that turning papers in after the deadline may affect your grade and possibly leave you with a NR (no record) in the class. Include a large, self-addressed stamped envelope with your paper or exam and it will be mailed back to you. Otherwise, final papers or exams may be picked up from the professor during his/her office hours the following quarter. Students may also be asked to sign a waiver in class that allows instructors to leave final papers or exams in a designated location for pick up the following quarter. Instructors are required to retain examination papers for one quarter following the final examination period, but it's best not to wait until the last minute if you want your paper back. Final papers or exams are not kept in the sociology main office with the exception of visiting professors or faculty who may not be in residence the following quarter.
Finals
The schedule for final exams is available here. The instructor may
give a final examination at an alternate time during examination
week; however, students are permitted to take an equivalent examination
at the originally scheduled time, if they wish. An instructor may
not require a take home final examination to be turned in before
the date and hour at which the registrar scheduled the examination
to be given.
An instructor may, at their discretion, administer an examination to
a student at an alternative time if a valid reason is given for not
taking the regularly scheduled examination. Such reasons include illness,
family emergency, or religious holidays. Students need to discuss alternate
arrangements with their professor, as early as possible.
Grades
Don't panic if you feel that a grading error has been made on your course
work or on your transcript. Errors can occur in adding up points or
in marking grade sheets incorrectly. The first step is to contact the
professor or teaching assistant immediately. Leave a message on their
office phone, email them, or see them during their office hours. It
may also be helpful to leave a note for their mailbox, with the administrative
assistant in the front office. IMPORTANT: Do not throw away the course
work that is in question. If an error has been made, the professor
will complete the appropriate form to correct the grade. Remember, this
is your grade, so follow up. Check with the registrar in approximately
two weeks to make sure they received the form and your transcript reflects
the appropriate change.
Disability Provisions
Professors will honor requests for special accommodations from the Office
of Students with Disabilities (OSD) for students who are registered
with that office. Students must meet with the course instructor within
the first two weeks of instruction and present a certificate from OSD
recommending the appropriate accommodations, including accommodation
in test taking.
Integrity of Scholarship
THE UCSD POLICY ON INTEGRITY OF SCHOLARSHIP, approved by the
San Diego Division of the Academic Senate, reads as follows:
The principle of honesty must be upheld if the integrity of scholarship is to be maintained by an academic community. The university expects that both faculty and students will honor this principle and in so doing protect the validity of university grading. This means that all academic work will be done by the student to whom it is assigned, without unauthorized aid of any kind.
Academic Dishonesty
- No student shall knowingly procure, provide, or accept any materials that contain questions or answers to any examination or assignment to be given at a subsequent time.
- No student shall complete, in part or in total, any examination or assignment for another person.
- No student shall knowingly allow any examination or assignment to be completed, in part or in total, for himself or herself by another person.
- No student shall plagiarize or copy the work of another person and submit it as his or her own work.
- No student shall employ aids excluded by the instructor in undertaking course work.
- No student shall alter graded class assignments or examinations and then resubmit them for re-grading.
- No student shall submit
substantially the same material in more than one course without prior
authorization.
Responsibility
The instructor should state the objectives and requirements of each
course at the beginning of the term and clearly inform students in writing
what kinds of aid and collaboration, if any, are permitted on graded
assignments.
Students are expected to complete the course in compliance with the instructor's standards. No student shall engage in any activity that involves attempting to receive a grade by means other than honest effort, as described above, under "Academic Dishonesty."
The primary responsibility for maintaining the standards of academic honesty rests with two university authorities: the faculty and the administration. When a student has admitted to or has been found guilty of a violation of the standards of academic honesty, two separate actions shall follow. The instructor shall determine the student's grade on the assignment and in the course as a whole. The recommended academic consequence of a serious breach of academic honesty is failure in the course, although less serious consequences may be incurred in less serious circumstances. The dean of the student's college shall impose an administrative penalty. Under normal circumstances, the recommended minimum administrative penalties are probation for the first offense and suspension or dismissal for a subsequent offense. The transcript of a student who is dismissed for academic dishonesty shall bear a notation that readmission is contingent upon approval from the chancellor.
Special Programs
Honors Program (Soc/E 196A & 196B)
The Department of Sociology offers an honors program for those students who have demonstrated excellence in the sociology major. Successful completion of the Honors Program enables you to graduate "With Highest Distinction," "With High Distinction," or "With Distinction," depending upon your performance in the program. This program runs fall quarter and winter quarter, each year. Enrollment is limited, and the presiding faculty member will make the final decision of acceptance into the program.
Eligibility
Sociology majors may apply to the honors program if they meet the following
requirements:
-
Junior or senior standing (90 units completed)
-
3.5 GPA or better in the major, maintained until graduation
-
Recommendation of a faculty member familiar with your work
-
Must have completed at least four upper- division sociology courses
-
Overall 3.2 GPA or better, maintained until graduation
- Must have completed Soc/A 100 and one upper-division methods course prior to the fall quarter when the honors course begins; alternatively, the consent of the honors program director must be obtained.
Interested students may pick
up an application from the staff undergraduate coordinator in the Department
of Sociology. Completed applications must be in the department office
no later than week five of the spring quarter prior to the start of the
honors program in the fall. If a student will be traveling abroad
during their junior year, the deadline for the application still applies,
so please make arrangements accordingly.
Course Requirements
The program requires students to take Soc/E 196A, Advanced Studies
in Sociology, and Soc/E 196B, Supervised Thesis Research. These
two courses can be counted as two of the seven electives needed for the
sociology major. Students choose a faculty adviser to help supervise their
thesis research and writing. The honors program director will also assist
students in this area and fellow students in the seminar will offer excellent
feedback and suggestions. This is a wonderful program that provides participants
the opportunity to improve their skills in research and writing. Students
planning to go on to graduate school will possess a strong writing sample
to submit with their application.
If a participant's GPA in the major falls below 3.5 or their overall GPA falls below 3.2 or if they do not earn at least an "A-" in the program, they will not graduate with honors. However, the two courses will still count as two of the seven electives required for the sociology major.
- Students earning an A+ will graduate "With Highest Distinction."
- Students earning an A will graduate "With High Distinction."
- Students earning an A- will graduate "With Distinction."
Academic
Internships (AIP 197)
Students interested in sociology should consider the possibility of an
internship sometime during the course of their undergraduate years. The
benefits of an internship are considerable: career sampling, resume enhancement,
and personal growth.
Most undergraduates consider several career options before making a final--or not so final--choice. An internship can be used as a device to test a field as part of the process of making a rational decision about one's future. Although internships do not, as a general rule, offer students all the responsibilities associated with full-time jobs, they do not usually involve all of the pressures of a full-time assignment either. What they do offer, however, is an opportunity to get some substantive experience, while observing firsthand the relationship between the content of a career and the lifestyle choices associated with it.
An internship in any field improves the perceived qualifications of a job applicant. It is seen as an indicator of serious interest; it represents an attempt at careful career preparation. If the internship is in the field in which an application for employment is being proffered, the applicant appears to have reached his or her career choice on the basis of a real and positive experience.
Finally, an internship can be great fun. It is a change from the lifestyle of the university. It usually puts one in contact with persons of more varied age and experience levels than those found in the context of undergraduate life. It offers a taste of "real life." It may serve to confirm a suspected interest. If it does not, it may be of even greater value: it can save a student from seeking a job in an area that he or she might not enjoy.
Most internships need to be set up in advance, so be sure to plan ahead by one or two quarters. For more information on internships, visit the Academic Internship Office (literature building) or look into other internships offered through the Career Services Center.
Special
Studies (Soc/E 198 & Soc/E 199)
Special studies courses give students the rare opportunity to explore
in more detail what they have learned in the classroom. Students engage
in field research in a topic of their choice, under the guidance of a
faculty member. If a student wants to work individually with a professor,
they enroll in Soc/E 199, Independent Study. If several students want
to work as a team on the same project, they take Soc/E 198, Group Independent
Study.
To enroll, a special studies application must be submitted to the Registrar's Office before the end of the add/drop period. For your convenience, there is a step-by-step instruction sheet available in the sociology main office, along with the necessary form. Students should meet with a professor who has either performed research in an area they would like to pursue, or a professor whose course they have previously taken and enjoyed. The student and professor will decide together on a project proposal, including the objective, the method by which it will be carried out, and the type of finished product (paper, artifact, etc.) that will be submitted. The instructor must provide a reading list. Once both student and faculty sponsor have completed and signed the special studies form, it should be given to the undergraduate coordinator, who will obtain the necessary approvals in the department. When this is completed the form will be ready to take to the Registrar's Office for official enrollment in either Soc/E 198 or Soc/E 199. Plan early, allowing time for the proposal to be developed, signatures to be obtained, etc.
Special study courses are highly recommended by the department. A special studies course may be used to satisfy one of the seven upper-division electives for sociology majors. Remember, special studies courses are taken P/NP, so only one may be used towards the major.
Study
Abroad (EAP & OAP)
Students going abroad on the UC Education Abroad Program must fill out
an academic planning form as part of the application process. They may
at that time consult with the department about sociology courses. The
EAP adviser in the Opportunities Abroad Office will have copies of the
course descriptions for courses taught at each of the study centers, as
well as approval forms.
Students going abroad through the Opportunities Abroad Program at UCSD will need to fill out an academic planning form. This procedure is particularly important for OAP students who expect to receive financial aid while abroad or who expect to transfer credits back to UCSD. The academic planning form requires students to check with the department about specific course work to be applied toward the major. In the process of securing approval on the academic planning form, students going abroad on OAP will be advised by the admissions office about which courses are likely to transfer to UCSD.
Please refer to the section
on transferring credits for information
on petitioning courses to be used for the sociology major which are
taken abroad. The sociology department has prepared an instruction
sheet with study abroad academic planning tips for sociology majors
or minors, which is available in the main office.
Research
Paper Award
Each year, the sociology department presents an award for the best research
paper written by an undergraduate sociology major for a sociology course
during the year. Sociology instructors are requested to submit nominations
and the selected papers are reviewed and voted on by the Undergraduate
Program Committee. If your professor raves about one of your papers,
ask them if they would consider nominating it for the yearly Paper Prize.
A gift certificate to the UCSD bookstore for $100, along with an award
certificate, is presented to the winner at the end of the year.
Where To Go When you Need Help
The undergraduate coordinator, Shannon Goodison, is a good place to start for any general information concerning the undergraduate program or if you don't know who else to contact. Questions about forms, transfer credits, petitioning, scheduling, courses, the honors program, sociology major requirements and the minor requirements can be answered by the undergraduate coordinator.
Problems with grades should be discussed with the instructor of the class or TA of the section. If they feel that an error has been made, they will submit a clerical error form to the undergraduate coordinator. If you are having a serious conflict with an instructor, please bring your situation to the attention of the undergraduate coordinator. You must speak with the undergraduate coordinator before you make an appointment with the department chair.
Students may leave material to be placed in an instructor's or TA's mailbox with the receptionist in the main office.
If you are a junior or senior concerned about graduate school, or if you have some questions about our own Ph.D. program, the graduate adviser in our department or a graduate school career adviser in the Career Services Center is the one to contact. The director of undergraduate studies in the department is a useful resource person, as are all of the faculty members in the sociology department.
Career Options
If you're like most students, you're probably wondering about the type of employment sociology majors can expect after graduation. You enjoy the major and the course of study, but will it get you a job? Rest assured, there is life after sociology at UCSD for sociology majors. In fact, you may be surprised to find that your broad liberal arts education gives you a wide range of career options.
One of the virtues of a major
in sociology is flexibility in the job market. Actual entry-level
job titles of UCSD sociology graduates show this diversity; operations
planner for a defense firm, program assistant for a social service
agency, teacher, programmer, production coordinator for a publishing
firm, social worker for a large, local health agency, communications
technician for a telecommunications company, sales representative,
analyst, and health intake counselor. For a more thorough list of
positions held by recent graduates of UCSD in sociology, check the
Career Services
web page to see the survey results.
Now that you know that opportunities exist, how do you proceed with
your own career search? Remember three crucial pieces of advice that
will enhance your chances of finding meaningful employment after graduation.
First, decide what you want to do. A clear career goal is the essential
first step of any career search. It doesn't have to be a lifetime goal,
just a plan of action for now. The Career Services Center has many services
available to help you identify an occupation you'd like to pursue. There
are workshops and information sessions focusing on specific occupational
areas, computerized career guidance programs, printed resources on various
occupations, videotapes, and helpful advisers who can assist you in
putting all the information together.
Occupations of alumni who have been in the work force for a few years will reveal even more opportunities. Some examples are: magazine editor, contract and grants administrator, attorney, personnel manager, probation officer, career counselor, information specialist, and political consultant. You can speak to these alumni about their jobs and how they applied their sociology education to their career. Check the Career Explorations section of the Career Services Center's home page.
Second, get practical, work-related experience. For students who enter the job market, studies have shown that part-time practical experience is a significant factor of their college years that helped them to achieve success. Graduates who had such experience consistently show a lower unemployment rate, higher salaries, and better career potential for their jobs than those without it. Even if you decide to go on to graduate or professional school, admissions committees for advanced degrees favor candidates with such experience. In addition, practical experience can help you decide what you might like to do in the work force. By testing an occupation before committing to a full-time career, you can see if it suits you.
There are many ways you can find pre-professional employment while going to school. The Job Opportunities Program Office in the Career Services Center lists on- and off-campus part-time and temporary jobs as well as paid internships and co-op positions. Other offices on campus, specifically the Associated Students Internship Office and Academic Internship Program in the literature building, list internships as mentioned previously in this handbook. If you have ideas for developing your own internship and need assistance approaching an employer, you can discuss them with a career adviser.
Third, as you begin your job search it is important to remember that not all methods work equally well for all types of positions. For example, most recent UCSD alumni surveys show that while engineering students can best spend their job search time utilizing Career Services' job listings, attending job fairs, and participating in on-campus interviews, sociology majors and other liberal arts graduates should plan to utilize other strategies depending on their job goals. Those seeking human services-related jobs would be better served using networking and previous experience with related employers in addition to Career Services' job listings to increase their odds of a successful outcome. For more information on which strategies work best for your field of interest, plan to attend Career Services' fall workshop, "How to Get a Job," or check the Job Search section of the Career Services' page. As you heed this advice, remember, you don't have to do it alone. The Career Services Center is there to help, wherever you are in the search process. Even if you reach your senior year and haven't followed the conventional wisdom described here, it's not too late. Custom-made programs for last-minute job seekers prepare seniors, and even graduates, for employment.
What Will I Have To Offer?
There are numerous skills developed through the sociology major that
you might want to highlight on your resume. They include: researching;
analysis; writing; quantitative/statistical skills; critical thinking;
sociological/ cultural perspectives. For personalized assistance with
your resume, the Career Services Center can help you.
Where Are They Now?
There is life after UCSD, and there are quite a few recent success stories
from the Department of Sociology at UCSD. For those of you who choose
to go on with a career in lieu of jumping into a graduate program after
receiving your B.A., here are samples of some of the jobs held by recent
sociology graduates: alcohol counselor (Inland Behavioral Service),
systems analyst (Electronic Data Systems), human resources specialist
(Sharp Cabrillo Hospital), social worker (American Cancer Society),
teacher (The Children's School-La Jolla) (San Diego County Juvenile
Department), social worker (Department of Social Services-San Diego)
(American Cancer Society-San Diego Branch), legal aide (U.S. Congressional
Office-Washington, D.C.), director (Calpirg), analyst (COM 3 Forecasting),
operation planner (General Dynamics), production coordinator (Harcourt
Brace-San Diego), student affairs officer (UCLA), buyer (U.S. Navy),
marketing representative (Greater S.D. Health Plan), admissions representative
(DeVry Institute of Technology), business analyst (Pan Pacific Trading),
buyer (USN), psychology technician (VA Medical Center-La Jolla), and
the list goes on and on.
In addition to these jobs, some of our graduates have had an enriching experience as volunteers in the Peace Corps. One of our recent graduates was located in Thailand and acted as a teacher for the community. As you can see from the jobs listed above, the possibilities are endless.
Graduate School
As you consider career options with a major in sociology, you may find you need some additional education to achieve your goal. Your sociology B.A. can provide solid preparation for an advanced degree. Previously, UCSD sociology graduates have pursued law, medicine, social work, education, or business degrees, as well as Ph.D.'s in sociology or other academic disciplines.
Two pieces of advice can help you succeed in applying to graduate or professional school. First, plan ahead. Gaining admission to graduate or professional schools involves more than just completing and sending applications by the deadline and waiting for a response. Start the process at least by your junior year.
Second, if you are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in Sociology, meet with your professors and conduct independent research under their guidance on topics that interest you. The advantage of doing a Soc/E 199 is two-fold. Admissions committees for graduate programs want a proven record of your ability to do scholarly work on your own. By working closely with a faculty member on a Soc/E 199, you can later collect a specific letter of recommendation from one who knows you and your work.
Visit the professional and graduate school advisers at the Career Services Center. They can explain the process more thoroughly and recommend a timetable to follow to maximize your preparation for graduate school. Explore a wide range of schools and programs when you apply. Successful applicants research many schools to find the ones whose requirements match their qualifications. The director of undergraduate studies, as well as other faculty members, can tell you about different emphases in the study of sociology at various universities.
The Career Services Center
has a comprehensive reference area with catalogs and literature on a
whole range of graduate programs like academic degree programs in sociology
to professional schools like social work, business, health administration,
law, and public policy, international affairs and medicine.
Whether you seek employment immediately after graduation or pursue
an advanced degree, it's important to plan ahead. "The best time
to start the process," recommends Neil Murray, the former director
of Career Services, "is when it's on your mind." That is
sound advice.
Faculty Contacts For Graduate
School
Harvard University -- B. Jules-Rosette, R.
Klatch,R. Madsen,
J. Skrentny, C. Waisman
Northwestern University
-- A. Binder
Princeton University
-- D. Phillips, A.
Scull, J. Evans
Stanford University
-- M. Charles, C. Turner
State Univ. of New
York, Stony Brook -- D. Phillips
UC Berkeley -- R.
Biernacki,
S. Epstein, H.
Goldman, J. Haydu, R.
Klatch, T. McDaniel, G.
Shafir, . Lakoff, I. Martin
UC Los Angeles -- D. Fitzgerald
UC Santa Barbara -- H.
Mehan
University of Chicago
-- M. Lampland,
M. Blair-Loy, K. Ng
University of Manchester (England) -- L. Zamosc
University of Michigan -- A. Rona-Tas
University of Pennsylvania -- A. Scull
University of Kansas -- L. Zamosc
University of Washington -- A. Linton
University of Wisconsin-Madison -- I. Evans
Newsletter
The department publishes a quarterly newsletter for sociology majors
entitled SOCIO-PATHS. Copies are available in the main office. The
newsletter contains information on visiting professors and highlights
upcoming courses. Special topic courses are more fully described and
new information in the field of sociology and careers after graduation
are covered. Programs available to sociology majors are also covered.
This is a good way to stay up-to-date and involved with your major
department.
Archived Newsletters:
Web sites
Following is a sampling of the many Web sites that undergraduate students may find helpful:
UCSD - www.ucsd.edu
UCSD Department of Sociology - sociology.ucsd.edu
UCSD Catalog - www.ucsd.edu/catalog
UCSD TritonLink - https://tritonlink.ucsd.edu
UCSD Career Services - career.ucsd.edu/index.shtml
Nondiscrimination Statement
The University of California, in compliance with Titles VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or age in any of its policies, procedures, or practices; nor does the university discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, university programs and activities, including but not limited to, academic admission, financial aid, educational services, and student employment.
Inquiries regarding the university's equal opportunity policies may be directed to the campus compliance coordinator, (858) 534-6861.
In an effort to address the limited participation of minorities and women in doctoral programs, UCSD continues to seek out women and minorities qualified for admission to graduate studies at UCSD and to provide the support needed to enable such students to meet their degree objectives.
