Major Requirements
The major requires successful completion of ten courses, distributed as specified below. Students may substitute up to two courses (6 credits total) from another four-year institution or an approved study abroad program toward the major requirement – except to fulfill one's theory and methods requirements. Courses that satisfy major requirements must be completed with a letter grade of C- or better. Credit / No Credit courses do not satisfy program requirements.
(a) Introductory requirement (6 credits): Any two 1000-level or 2000-level Sociology courses.
Students may substitute an upper-level sociology course for one of their two introductory courses with the written approval of their program advisor.
(b) Theory requirement (3 credits): SOC 3000: Social Theory or SOC 3003: Black Feminist Theory
(c) Methods requirement (6 credits): SOC 3030: Introduction to Research Methods and SOC 3040: Statistics for Sociology
As SOC 3040 draws on specific sociological applications of statistical analyses, we strongly encourage students to enroll in our department’s Statistics for Sociology course. However, students may substitute SDS 2020, SDS 3020, or a disciplinary statistics course from another social science for SOC 3040 - if they are not using it to fulfill any other program's requirements and have the written approval of their major advisor. Majors who receive approval to fulfill this requirement with a course from another department or university are required to take an additional upper-level sociology course in lieu of SOC 3040 – totaling six upper-level courses rather than the standard five.
(d) Upper-level sociology electives (15 credits): Any five 3000- or 4000- level Sociology courses, excluding courses taken to fulfill Theory or Methods requirements. Independent studies, such as SOC 4910: Internship in Sociology, SOC 4920: Teaching Practicum in Sociology or SOC 4950: Undergraduate Research in Sociology can fulfill one of these five elective course requirements with the approval of one's major advisor/research mentor/instructor [as applicable]. SOC 4902: Sociology Honors Thesis Seminar can fulfill one of these five elective course requirements with approval from course instructor(s).
(e) Capstone: For juniors and seniors only. Majors will choose any one of the following options:
i. Capstone project tied to a sociology course (1-3 credits) – Students electing this option may align the research project with any sociology course taken during or prior to the semester in which they undertake this accompanying capstone paper. Capstones usually take the form of research papers, which typically are 10-15 pages in length, and represent some application of course content to a related topic developed by the student in consultation with the instructor. However, with the approval of their major advisor, students may opt to submit a different final product (podcast, public engagement, etc.) as their capstone. Students interested in this option should register for the section of SOC 4900: Capstone Project for Sociology Majors assigned to the relevant instructor, who will then (1) approve the capstone paper topic at the outset of the semester, (2) be available for consultation at all stages of the project, (3) assign a final grade for this 1-3 credit course, and upon completion (4) certify the final product as fulfilling the capstone requirement. Students should request to schedule a meeting with the relevant instructor at the start of the semester (i.e. prior to the end of the add/drop period) to obtain the required approval for enrollment in SOC 4900 and to discuss the paper. While only 1 credit hour is required, students can register for up to 3 credit hours, with the required approval from their major advisor.
ii. Internship (2-3 credits) – Students electing to complete a field internship are able, in consultation with their internship advisor, to identify and select a position with an organization of their choosing. For help identifying options in St. Louis, we recommend that students utilize resources offered by the Center for Career Engagement and the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement. Over time, our department website will also provide resources to connect with local organizations in need of student interns with a background in sociology. Capstone internships are intended to integrate and apply knowledge gained in the classroom to community and organizational settings, and as such students are required to identify a faculty advisor of their choosing to approve and oversee the experience in consultation with the on-site internship manager (note that the internship advisor need not be the same as the student’s major advisor).
Student can now elect to receive credit for paid internships. To receive credit for the internship, students should first obtain approval for the proposed experience in advance of the internship start date from their preferred internship advisor, who will then provide the required permission to enroll in the advisor’s assigned section of SOC 4910: Internship in Sociology. Students should complete and file an Internship Learning Agreement with the department no later than two weeks after the first day of the internship. As the university stipulates 45 hours of work for each academic credit earned, students will need to complete at least 90 internship hours, along with a series of reflective assignments arranged in consultation with their advisor, to fulfill their capstone requirement. While only 2 credit hours are required, students can register for up to 3 credit hours (requiring 135 internship hours worked).
iii. Sociology Honors Thesis (6 credits) – Students who opt for the thesis capstone option can apply three of their thesis credits toward their upper-level major requirements (SOC 4902) (d), meaning that – in addition to their thesis project – they would only need to complete four (rather than five) additional 3000/4000-level courses. Students who wish to complete an Honors thesis must take SOC 4902: Sociology Honors Thesis Seminar in the Fall and SOC 4900: Capstone Project for Sociology Majors for 3 credits in the Spring. To be eligible for Latin honors in Sociology, students must complete an Honors thesis. Find more information about Honors Thesis application and program requirements in our Undergraduate FAQ and Policies page.
iv. Other special course-based opportunities – The Department may occasionally offer capstone-eligible coursework; however, these opportunities are highly episodic. When planning, students should expect to complete one of the three options listed above.
