FAQs

I don’t know what career path I want to choose when I graduate, so 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 found on the sociology advising sheets to help inform their decision.

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 majors from the same department?

Is it possible to double major with the sociology or sociology-organizational studies major?

Yes!  Many students double major in sociology.  It is recommended that you meet with a sociology major advisor to discuss double majoring to ensure you complete both majors under the 225 unit cap.

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 submit a petition online through under "Forms & Petitions."

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.

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 once you have taken one upper division SOC course and received at least a "C" or better. You may file your minor declaration online through the Forms & Petitions tab on the UC Davis OASIS site. 

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 sometime in your future, it is not advised to take many courses pass/no-pass as it could impact your admissions.

How do I make an academic plan?

OASIS has an academic planning tool for you to use.  Once created, you can schedule an appointment to meet with an advisor or submit the academic plan electronically for a SOC advisor to approve through OASIS. To draft or submit an academic plan, go to "forms and petitions" and select "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).

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. 

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 (Articulation System Stimulating Interinstitutional Student Transfer). Courses that are listed in ASSIST will count toward major requirements because 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. 

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 the College of Letters and Sciences regarding senior residency.

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 the College of Letters and Sciences 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.

Can upper-division courses I took at another university be used to satisfy the UC Davis major requirements?

Yes, if the course is substantially similar to a UC Davis sociology course.

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?

It is likely that courses taken abroad can count for the major or other University requirements. You should schedule an appointment with an advisor to determine in advance of your departure overseas regarding which courses taken abroad would be suitable for your major at UC Davis.

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.  Also, 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. 

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 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.

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.

When can I wait-list for a course?

You cannot wait-list for courses until your Pass 2

If the courses 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.

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 instruction 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.