Sociology is the study of associational life. In this sense, sociology is not the study of people; it is the study of relationships among people. Sociologists explore a wide range of human activity: from politics, technologies, and economies, to cities, culture, media, and religion.
List of courses for the 2024-25 academic year
As a bridging discipline that seeks the scientific exploration of questions that matter to human communities such as inequality and social injustice, sociology addresses many of the same areas of life as our neighboring social science disciplines. Yet we often approach these areas quite differently. For example, problems of economic and political life are a central concern to sociologists. But rather than explore these as independent or particular features of society, we seek to embed them within the complex whole of the social world.
Students will find sociology to be a broad, demanding department that provides its students with the conceptual and methodological tools to make sense of the opportunities and social problems of the global communities in which we live.
Requirements
Core Courses:
SOCI W1000 The Social World (3 points)
SOCI W3000 Social Theory (4 points)
SOCI W3010 Methods for Social Research (4 points)
Electives:
6 courses in the Department of Sociology, including at least 3 lecture courses (2000 or 3000 level, 3 points each) and at least 2 seminars (4 points each). The 6th course can be either a lecture course or a seminar. For students taking the 2-semester Senior Seminar, the 6th course must be a seminar.
For course planning and requirement tracking, please use the Sociology Major Undergraduate Course Checklist.
For questions about double-counting and courses from other schools applying towards the major, contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Teresa Sharpe at [email protected].
The minor consists of 5 courses in sociology:
Core Courses:
SOCI W1000 The Social World (3 points)
SOCI W3000 Social Theory (4 points)
Electives:
3 electives in sociology (3 or 4 point electives)
**The concentration is only available to students who started Columbia before Fall of 2024. For students starting in the Fall of 2024 and after, please look at information about the minor.
Requirements
Core Courses:
SOCI W1000 The Social World (3 points)
SOCI W3000 Social Theory (4 points)
SOCI W3010 Methods for Social Research (4 points)
Electives:
3 courses in the Department of Sociology, including 1 seminar.
To qualify for Departmental Honors, majors must have a minimum GPA of 3.6 overall and 3.8 in courses in the Department of Sociology. In addition, students must produce an honors-quality thesis in the two-semester Senior Seminar (SOCI W3995-SOCI W3996 ).
In order to register for the Senior Seminar, students must:
- Be a rising senior.
- Be a sociology major or concentrator.
- Have completed SOCI W3010 Methods for Social Research.
- Meet the GPA requirements (3.8 in major; 3.6 overall).
- Have their application accepted by the professor who will be teaching the seminar. Applications are due at the end of the semester preceding the seminar.
Click here for the Senior Seminar application and instructions.
Normally no more than 10% of graduating majors in the department receive departmental honors each year.
The Columbia sociology department has a cooperative relationship with Barnard Sociology. Courses taken at Barnard are considered fully equivalent for purposes of the major. So, for instance, W3000 (Theory) and W3010 (Methods) taken at Barnard fulfill Columbia requirements. Similarly, lecture and seminar courses (i.e. BC39##) can fill electives. There is no limit on the number of courses that may be taken at Barnard.
Columbia and Barnard undergraduates who wish to earn a Columbia masters degree in Sociology may make progress toward the M.A. during their senior year. Interested juniors should meet with the M.A. Program Coordinator in their spring term to plan their course selection and registration for their senior year. B.A./M.A. candidates will apply in the fall of their senior year for admission to the M.A. program the following fall, after completion of their B.A.
Curriculum
The requirements for the M.A. degree are the same for Columbia and Barnard students entering through the B.A./M.A. option as for students entering through the standard M.A. admissions procedure.
Admissions
Students applying to the program must follow instructions for internal admission including the standard online application procedure. The deadline for B.A./M.A. students is October 15 of their senior year. Decisions on admission will be made as soon as possible but no later than November 15.
Applications must include all of the materials specified for the standard M.A. application except for GRE scores. This includes a personal statement, undergraduate transcript, letters of recommendation, and a writing sample.
Admission in the M.A. program may be revoked if after admission students fail to make adequate progress toward either the undergraduate or graduate degree. Examples of failure to make adequate academic progress include severe declines in GPA and cases of academic dishonesty.
Prerequisites
Applicants must be current Columbia (CC, SEAS, General Studies) or Barnard undergraduates. Applicants do not have to be sociology majors, although students with a strong social science background will transition more smoothly to graduate work.
Advanced Standing and Transfer Credit
A B.A./M.A. student may be granted up to one half Residence Unit (.5 R.U.) of advanced standing and/or up to three courses (nine to twelve credits) of transfer credit for graduate courses (4000 level and above) taken in excess of the requirements for the Columbia bachelor's degree, as certified by the Dean of his or her undergraduate division. These courses must also be approved by the M.A. Program Coordinator as valid electives under the M.A. degree. Together, these courses will amount to .5 R.U. of the 2 R.U. requirement for a Master’s degree.
Credit Points and Registration
Students cannot count toward M.A. course requirements any course that has counted toward any undergraduate major or concentration or toward the 124 credit points for their overall undergraduate degree. After the senior year, an undergraduate dean will certify what specifically did not count for the B.A. degree and therefore can be applied to the M.A. However, students should consult with deans and advisers before the senior year when designing a course of study for completion of both the B.A. and M.A. degrees.
Students may transfer from their undergraduate school to the M.A. program no more than three 4000 level and above courses (nine to twelve credits).
Regardless of the number of credits that students have accumulated prior to the fall of their senior year, students must register for at least one full residence unit in the fall semester following their senior year and at least one half-residence unit in the spring semester of the M.A.
All other degree requirements for the B.A./M.A. program are the same as for the stand-alone M.A. program. Details of program requirements may be found here: Free-standing MA in Sociology Requirements.
Miscellaneous
Students will have access to the financial aid and housing facilities of their undergraduate division until they complete the bachelor’s degree. There is no guaranteed university housing for master’s students in GSAS.
For more details on the B.A./M.A. option, please refer to the GSAS website: B.A./M.A. Option.
Student advising
Teresa Sharpe, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Winston Gordon, Undergraduate Coordinator
