Major

Students can declare a Major in Sociology upon obtaining third-year standing or completion of 60 credits. You can declare your specialization through the Student Service Centre.

New curriculum incoming

Please note that starting in 2021W new degree requirements will take effect for the Honours in Sociology, Major in Sociology, Minor in Sociology and Minor in Family Studies programs. This will only take effect for students who declare their specialization in 2021 and does not affect students who have previously declared their specialization.
Degree Requirements

The program requires that students complete the following

Lower-level Requirements:

  • 3 credits of introductory sociology (from SOCI 100, 101, 102)
  • 3 credits of SOCI 217 Research Methods
  • 6 additional credits of 100/200-level SOCI courses

Upper-level Requirements

  • 3 credits of SOCI 310 Canadian Society
  • 3 credits of SOCI 328 Social Statistics I
  • 3 credits of classical sociological theory (from SOCI *370 or SOCI 371)
  • 3 credits of contemporary sociological theory (from *SOCI 370, SOCI 372, SOCI 414, SOCI 415, SOCI 416 or SOCI 469)
  • 3 credits of advanced research methods (from SOCI 380, SOCI 381, SOCI 382 or SOCI 383)
  • 15 additional credits of 300- and/or 400-level SOCI courses

*SOCI 370 is a 6-credit course that covers both classical sociological theory and contemporary sociological theory.

For degree requirements for all UBC Sociology programs, click here.

Discover our course curriculum and course overviews.
Keep track of your courses by completing the Sociology Major Credit Worksheet and bringing it to your advising meetings.

Recommended Sequence of Courses

Year One

  • SOCI 100 or SOCI 101 or SOCI 102 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)

Year Two

  • SOCI 217 Research Methods (3 credits)
  • 100/200-level Sociology Electives (6 credits)
  • SOCI 310 Canadian Society (3 credits)
  • 300-level Sociology Elective (3 credits)

Year Three

  • SOCI 370 or SOCI 371 Classical Sociological Theory (3 - 6 credits)
  • SOCI 370 or SOCI 372, SOCI 414, SOCI 415, SOCI 416, SOCI 469 Contemporary Sociological Theory (3 credits)
  • SOCI 328 Social Statistics I (3 credits)
  • SOCI 380, SOCI 381, SOCI 382 or SOCI 383 Advanced Research Methods (3 credits)
  • 300/400-level Sociology Electives (6 - 9 credits)

Year Four

  • 300/400-level Sociology Electives (6 - 9 credits)

During their final year, many students focus on improving their statistical skills by taking our advanced Social Statistics course or participating in other advanced training in research methods. Ideally students will take advantage of at least one of our advanced opportunities in Sociology.

Note: Please see the undergraduate advisor to clarify your program requirements, especially if one of the following pertains to you:

  1. You have sociology transfer credits, or
  2. You have completed an introductory statistics course other than SOCI 328.
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