Sociology Major

Students must also complete the Undergraduate Registration Requirement and the degree requirements of their home school.

NOTE: This Catalog describes Weinberg College BA requirements that pertain to students who matriculated at Northwestern after spring quarter 2023. Refer to the Archives if you are following BA requirements described in the 2018-2019 through 2022-2023 editions.

Course Title
Department Courses (12 units)
2 sociology courses at the 100 or 200 level 1
3 courses in the methods of sociological research:
SOCIOL 226-0
Sociological Analysis (recommended to be taken by sophomore year)
SOCIOL 303-0
Analysis and Interpretation of Social Data 2
SOCIOL 329-0
Field Research and Methods of Data Collection
1 course in sociological theory
SOCIOL 306-0
Sociological Theory
6 sociology courses at the 300 level 3
Related Courses (4 units)
4 related courses 4
1

This does not include SOCIOL 101-7 College Seminar, SOCIOL 101-8 First-Year Writing Seminar, or SOCIOL 226-0 Sociological Analysis. 

2

Students taking MATH 385-0 for the adjunct major in MMSS may double-count this class in place of SOCIOL 303-0 (for triple major limitations see MMSS Adjunct Major).

3

The following applies:

  • SOCIOL 398-1 and SOCIOL 398-2 Senior Research Seminars may count as 2 of the 6 courses.
  • SOCIOL 376-0 Topics in Sociological Analysis may count multiple times with different topics and advisor approval.
  • SOCIOL 399-0 Independent Study may be taken more than once, but only one unit may count toward the major.
  • With adviser approval, students may count either 1 Chicago Field Studies unit of credit or 1 Global Engagement Studies Institute unit of credit toward their 300-level course requirement. If students wish to count both a CFS and a GESI unit, they will be permitted with adviser approval to count the CFS credit toward the 300-level course requirement and the GESI credit toward the related courses requirement. If students wish to count a 4-credit CFS course as 2 courses toward the 300-level course requirement, they may submit a written appeal to the director of undergraduate studies, who will determine whether the level, amount, and kind of work merits this decision.
4

Related courses may include 300-level courses in African American studies, American studies, anthropology, Asian American studies, communication studies, economics, gender and sexuality studies, global health studies, history, international studies, Latina and Latino studies, legal studies, linguistics, philosophy, political science, psychology, science in human culture, statistics, or other fields. Students doing the adjunct major in MMSS may use four MMSS classes to complete the related course requirement. Related courses must be approved by an adviser.

Honors in Sociology

Majors with strong academic records and an interest in pursuing honors should enroll in both quarters of Senior Research Seminar (SOCIOL 398-1 and SOCIOL 398-2). All sociology majors are eligible to enroll in this sequence of courses and are encouraged to write a thesis. Both courses may count toward the requirements for the major.

Students whose theses and grades meet department criteria are recommended to the college for graduation with honors. For more information consult the department website and/or the director of undergraduate studies and see Honors in the Major.