Program Structure
Requirements
In addition to the college-level academic requirements established by the College of Arts and Sciences, you must also fulfill requirements for the sociology major. The 10 course requirements for the major are divided into the following categories:
Sociology 1101, Introduction to Sociology
Sociology 3010, Evaluating Statistical Evidence
Sociology 3750, Classical Theory or Sociology 3190, Contemporary Sociological Theory
Seven additional (i.e., elective) courses in sociology
All 10 courses must be taken for a letter grade, and students must earn a C- or higher in each course. Students may petition for exceptions to these requirements, and some course substitutions may be available for Sociology 1101, 3010, and 3750. Students are encouraged to take 3000-level and 4000-level courses for at least three of their seven elective requirements.
NEW REQUIREMENT FOR THE CLASS OF 2011: Beginning with the Class of 2011, students who wish to write a senior honors thesis must have completed Sociology 3010 by the end of the junior year. For more detail on guidelines for senior thesis writers, see the description of the Honors Program.
Declaring the Sociology Major
If you are a student in the College of Arts and Sciences and wish to declare a major in sociology, it is in your best interest to do so as soon as possible (see the college’s advice on how to select a major). If you are not currently in the College of Arts and Sciences, you need to be admitted to A&S before you can declare. In order to declare the sociology major, you need to take the following steps:
- Complete the major declaration form. Turn it into the undergraduate coordinator, Sue Meyer, in her office, 316 Uris Hall.
- Your declaration will be reviewed by the director of undergraduate studies, Doug Heckathorn, and then sent to the College of Arts and Sciences for official notification that you have declared. Please allow two weeks for your declaration to be approved and entered into the campus computer.
A student file will then be set up to maintain your records in the department. Once you are officially recognized as a major in sociology, the sociology department will receive a copy of your transcript at the end of each semester, which will be kept in your student file in 316 Uris Hall. Your records will be maintained by the department until five years after you graduate.
Academic Advising in Sociology
As a student at Cornell, you are ultimately responsible for the policies, procedures, and requirements regarding your degree as stated in the current the college-level academic requirements and Courses of Study. After reading these documents, you may find that you are still confused or unclear about some of the requirements, and you may have questions about your individual situation. Several sources of academic assistance and advice are available to you:
College Advisor: As a sociology major, you remain a student in the College of Arts and Sciences. College Advisors are available to you by appointment in the Office of Advising in 55 and 172 Goldwin Smith Hall. These advisors are far and away the best source of guidance on college-level academic requirements for graduation. You are strongly encouraged to meet with a College Advisor once a year to discuss the completion of College course distribution and residency requirements.
Undergraduate Program Coordinator: The undergraduate program coordinator in the Sociology Department is Sue Meyer, and she is located in Room 316, Uris Hall. She is available to advise students interested in the sociology major and can provide assistance with:
- the process of declaring the sociology major
- forms relating to transferring courses from other universities and/or other departments
- any other administrative matters or concerns (e.g., add/drop forms)
Faculty Advisor: When you declare sociology as a major, you will be asked to name your preference for an advisor; however, if you are not sufficiently familiar with the program, the director of undergraduate studies will assign a faculty member as your advisor. Faculty advisors are available to discuss your education, career goals, and graduate school opportunities. They are also available to meet with you to discuss courses and plan your program of study within the department. They try their best to give accurate advice on fulfilling college-level course and residency requirements, but College Advisors in the Office of Advising in 55 and 172 Goldwin Smith Hall are the best source of such guidance.
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Doug Heckathorn is the director of undergraduate studies. He reviews applications for sociology majors and accepts students into the program. He also screens sociology classes taken outside Cornell for acceptance as Cornell credit. Although many routine questions can be answered by Sue Meyer, the director of undergraduate studies, Professor Heckathorn, is available to meet with prospective majors who wish to ask about features of the undergraduate program, such as the honors program. He also fills in for faculty advisors who are on academic leave.
Next: Honors Program