Answers to frequently asked questions about the undergraduate program in the UC Davis Department of Sociology.
- Sociology Major
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Do I have to choose a major emphasis?
Yes, students will need to eventually choose a major emphasis, but they are not required to do so right away. The sociology major has several emphasis options to help students choose coursework that focus on their academic interests.
Students do not need to pick an emphasis that aligns with a particular career goal and students can choose any sociology related career no matter which emphasis they choose. Students should review the emphasis descriptions and required coursework to help inform their decision.
Please note the requirements for each emphasis is significantly different for both the lower and upper division coursework.Can I choose more than one emphasis?
No, students can only choose one emphasis. If you have multiple interests and you are having difficulty choosing, the general emphasis could be a good option because it has the most flexibility in coursework.
Can I major in both Sociology and Sociology Organizational Studies?
No, university policy does not allow for students to double major in the same department.
Is it possible to double major with a sociology degree?
Yes! Many of the undergraduates in our department double major. It is recommended that you meet with a sociology advisor to discuss double majoring to ensure that you can complete both majors under the 225 unit cap. You will need to meet with an advisor before declaring the double major.
What do I need to do to declare a sociology major?
Completion of one SOC course, either lower or upper division, with a grade of “C” or better, is required for students wishing to declare a major in sociology or sociology-organizational studies. If you have fulfilled this requirement, you may initiate a Change of Major petition through the Forms & Petitions tab on the UC Davis OASIS portal. If you haven’t met with a sociology advisor, we strongly recommend making an appointment with one of the department undergraduate advisors to discuss your change of major in addition to submitting the online form.
What do I need to do in order to declare a double major?
We encourage you to meet with the advisors of both your major programs to review your academic plan and ensure compliance with any specific rules that would affect success in petitioning for a double major. Once you have met with your advisors, you can initiate a Change of Major petition through the Forms & Petitions tab in OASIS.
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Sociology Minor
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How do I fulfill the Sociology minor requirements?
Students need to take five upper-division SOC courses to satisfy the minor. While we recommend that you take SOC 1, 2, or 3 before taking upper division SOC courses, only upper division SOC courses will count toward the minor. Upper division courses at UC Davis are courses numbered from 100-199
How do I register for an upper division SOC course with a pass 1 restriction?
Upper division SOC courses have a “Pass 1 Restriction” which means you must be declared a SOC or Org Studies major and have completed 90 units by your Pass 1 time to register during Pass 1. During Pass 2, ANY student can register for these courses.
SOC minor students need to wait until Pass 2 to register for upper division SOC courses except for the courses noted on the 2023-2024 Planned Courses Sheet.
Can courses I took at a community college be used to satisfy the minor?
No, there are no upper division SOC courses offered at Community Colleges.
How and when should I file for the minor?
You can file for declaration of the minor in OASIS once you have taken one upper division SOC course and received at least a "C" or better.
Do courses used to satisfy the GE requirements count toward the minor?
Yes.
Can I take courses for the minor on pass/non-pass basis?
Yes, but no more than two courses can be taken on pass/no-pass basis for the minor. You must also meet the university and your college's policies regarding number of units taken pass/no pass.
In addition, if you are considering graduate or professional school in the future, it is not advised to take many courses pass/no-pass as it could impact your admissions.
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Academic Planning
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How do I make an academic plan?
We recommend that you meet with a SOC advisors or peer advisors to create an academic plan in OASIS.
How will I be affected if major requirements change after I have enrolled?
You have the right to complete the requirements listed in the General Catalog at the time you entered the university. However, if you choose to complete the revised requirements instead, you may do so.
Can I interrupt my studies with a leave of absence?
Yes. Please consult the College of Letters and Science Advising Office about the Planned Educational Leave Program (PELP).
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Pass/No Pass
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Can I take courses for the major on a pass/no-pass basis?
Yes, you may take courses pass/no pass, up to the limits set by the University (one third of your total units taken at UC Davis including courses you are required to take pass/no pass) and the College of Letters and Science (one-fourth of your total units taken at UC Davis not including courses that are required to be graded on a pass/no-pass basis only).
In addition, if you are considering graduate or professional school sometime in your future, it is not advised to take many courses pass/no-pass as it could impact your admissions.
Can I take courses for the minor on pass/non-pass basis?
Yes, but no more than two courses can be taken on pass/no-pass basis for the minor. You must also meet the university and your college's policies regarding number of units taken pass/no pass.
In addition, if you are considering graduate or professional school in the future, it is not advised to take many courses pass/no-pass as it could impact your admissions.
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Coursework
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Do community college courses satisfy the UC Davis sociology major requirements?
A list of equivalent coursework at California Community Colleges can be found on ASSIST. Courses that are listed in ASSIST will count toward major requirements since the Department of Sociology has already reviewed them for equivalency.
Any courses not listed in Assist as equivalent must be reviewed by the department. Students will need to email a copy of the syllabus of the course they took (or plan to take) to the sociology advisors for review. socantadvisor@ucdavis.edu
Courses taken at a non-California Community College will need to be reviewed. This includes courses taken at other UC’s or other four-year institutions.
Can I take courses at a Community College?
UC Davis students are allowed to take courses at a community college during the summer. Students can find equivalent courses at California Community Colleges in the ASSIST database.
Students who wish to take course during the regular academic term (not summer) will need to get permission from their college. Also, if it is your senior year, please contact your college regarding senior residency.
Students are limited to transferring 105 quarter units of lower division coursework from non-UC institutions. If you have already reached this limit, but want to take courses at a community college, you can check with an advisor about your options.Can I take courses at another UC?
UC Davis students are allowed to take courses at other UC’s during the summer. Students who wish to take course during the regular academic term (not summer) will need to get permission from their college. Also, if it is your senior year, please contact your college regarding senior residency.
Students will need to email a copy of the syllabus of the course they took (or plan to take) along with information about which requirement they think the course should fulfill to the sociology advisors for review in order for the course to count for the major. socantadvisor@ucdavis.edu
Students typically receive unit credit toward their 180 required units even if not part of the major. Courses numbered 100-199 are upper division at other UC's.
Can upper-division courses I took at another university be used to satisfy the UC Davis major requirements?Yes, this is possible. Students will need to email a copy of the syllabus of the course they took (or plan to take) along with information about which requirement they think the course should fulfill to the sociology advisors for review.
Do courses taken abroad count toward the major?
Yes! In a lot of cases, students are able to have courses taken abroad approved for the major or other university requirements. After determining some study abroad programs of interest, you should schedule an appointment with a SOC advisor to determine how studying abroad can fit into your academic plan.
Do graduate courses count toward the major?
They can, but courses must be approved through the SOC advising office prior to taking the course. Students also must get the instructor’s permission before registering for a graduate level course.
In addition, if you want the course counted toward your 180 units needed to graduate, the College of Letters and Science must also approve your enrollment in a graduate-level course. Be aware that graduate courses do not count toward the College of Letters and Science 64 upper-division unit requirement.Can courses that are used to satisfy the GE requirements count toward the major?
Yes.
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Registration
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How many units do I need to take to be considered a full-time student?
Students need to register for 12 units per quarter to be considered full-time. Students who have financial aid, need to be registered for 12 units if they are a full-time student.
Part-time students should check with the financial aid office about the specifics of how going part-time will effect their financial aid.What do I do if I missed my pass 1 time or need to make changes to my schedule?
If you need to make changes to your schedule or missed your pass time, you do not have to wait until your Pass 2! Once your pass time occurs, you can make use of open registration hours, M-F 8pm-midnight and weekends 10am-6pm. You still will have to wait for pass 2 to register for any course with a pass 1 restriction if you don’t meet the Pass 1 requirements.
How do I register for a course with a pass 1 restriction?
Upper division SOC courses have a “Pass 1 Restriction” which means you must be declared a SOC or Org Studies major and have completed 90 units by your Pass 1 time to register during Pass 1. During Pass 2, ANY student can register for these courses.
Upper division SOC courses that do not have a pass restriction are noted on the 2023-2024 Course Planning Sheet.SOC minor students need to wait until Pass 2 to register for upper division SOC courses.
Many other departments also have pass restrictions. If there is a pass restriction in place and you are not a declared major in their department, you will have to wait until Pass 2 to register for those upper divisions courses, even if you are minoring in that discipline.
How do I wait-list for a course?
Information about how to wait-list for a course can be found on the Registrar's website
If the courses that you want to take are full or you can’t register for them until Pass 2, we recommend that you find alternative classes so that you are registered for 12 units to maintain full-time status. Make sure that your alternative courses are classes that you would legitimately take in case you cannot get into your preferred courses. If you are wait-listed for your preferred courses, you will also want to attend your alternative classes the first week or until you get into your preferred courses because there is no guarantee that you will get into your wait-listed courses.
Please note that wait-listed courses do not count toward the 12 units required for financial aid.What are registration holds?
If you have a hold on your account with an effective date for the current quarter, you will need to resolve it before you can register for courses. Please read the instructions on the hold carefully and contact the appropriate department if you have questions about the hold. Only the department that placed the hold will be able to remove it.
For all other questions or concerns, consult an undergraduate staff advisor.