BA in Sociology

Program Requirements and Policies

  •  A minimum of ten courses and 30 semester hour units (SHUs) in Sociology are required to complete the Sociology major.
  • All courses and semester hour units used in fulfillment of the major must be taken for a letter grade (not pass/fail). Grades below C- will not be counted.
  • At least six of the courses and at least 18 semester hour units must be listed or cross-listed by the Tufts University Department of Sociology.

Course Requirements

  • The following three core courses, at least two of which must be taken in the Tufts Department of Sociology:
    1. SOC 001: Introduction to Sociology
    2. SOC 103: Sociological Theory
    3. Research Methods Requirement*, which is satisfied by taking one of the following options: 
      - Option 1: SOC 100: Research Design and Interpretation or
      - Option 2: SOC 101: Quantitative Research Methods AND SOC 102: Qualitative Research Methods 
  • One seminar course numbered 180 or above, and designated as a seminar (SEM:). Must be taken in the Sociology Department on the Tufts Medford Campus.
  • Six unrestricted electives (Five if SOC 101 AND SOC 102 are taken as the research requirement), except for students who choose to complete a cluster.

*Additional Information About the Research Methods Requirement

As you plan, keep in mind that we generally offer:

  • SOC 100 Research Design and Interpretation each Fall and Spring
  • SOC 101 Quantitative Methods each Fall 
  • SOC 102 Qualitative Methods each Fall and periodically in the Spring
  • SOC 103 Sociological Theory each Fall and Spring

Read a detailed explanation on the Department of Sociology Research Methods Requirement.