University of Pittsburgh

Undergraduate Studies

Overview

Mission

The sociological lens provides a powerful analytical tool for explaining, predicting, and understanding human behavior. Sociological insights can be applied to virtually every type of group setting, ranging from families, marriages, and small groups to institutions, organizations, and nations... More >

For Sociology majors wishing to pursue specific themes within the discipline, the Sociology Department currently offers four thematic clusters in the following areas:

Global and Area Studies

Interested in doing global and cross-cultural research? This concentration of courses is designed for you.

Social Movements/Inequality

Causes and consequences of social inequality, along with efforts to create social change, are the bases of this concentration.

Race, Gender and Sexuality

This concentration is for students who want to study the social construction of racial, gender-based, and sexual identities, as well as the consequences of those social constructions.

The Helping Professions

This concentration is for students seeking careers in which they can apply sociological perspectives toward solving social problems at the micro and macro levels.

Upon graduation, students who have completed three approved courses (nine credits) in one of these thematic clusters will be awarded a certificate of achievement by the Sociology Department. The list of approved courses for each cluster is available in the Sociology Department.

Requirements for Majors

The required courses for Sociology majors are:

One entry-level Course:
Introduction to Sociology
SOC 0010
Societies
SOC 0005
Sociology of Everyday Life
SOC 0002
One Statistics Course:
Basic Applied Statistics
STAT 0200
Applied Statistical Methods
STAT 1000
Two Methods/Theory Courses:
Social Research Methods
SOC 0230
Social Theory
SOC 0150
One Research Practicum Course:
Cultural Sociology
SOC 1107
Interorganizational Networks
SOC 1231
The Pittsburgh Area Study
SOC 1277
Peace Movements and Peace Education SOC 1360
Race, Gender, and Development
SOC 1365
Social Change in the U.S.
SOC 1435
Demography
SOC 1438
Society and Environment
SOC 1445
Science and Technology in the U.S., Japan, and Europe
SOC 1447

Additional practicum courses may be added.

If you are unsure of what class(es) will count towards the practicum in a certain semester, please call the Sociology Department for clarification.

Additional Courses:

Nine additional elective sociology credits, at least six of which must be from 1000-level courses, and one of which must be a W (writing) course.

See also the requirements for the Honors Program