Sociology, BA BA
Everyone is part of multiple social groups. Your local community, your ethnic group, your religious organization, your workplace, your team, your family - these are all examples of groups to which you might belong. The Sociology major at UWM offers students a chance to better understand these groups and the people within them. Students explore the social causes and consequences of human behavior, including topics such as political movements, population shifts, housing patterns, racism, gender inequality, the legal system, the medical profession, crime, families, sexuality, workplace organization, food cultures, and more.
UWM students in Sociology can customize their major. Beyond the core courses that all majors take, students have many electives to choose from. They can take a broad array of courses or become more specialized by choosing electives focused around particular topics of interest. Our graduates are known for their strong knowledge of the field as well as exceptional technical skills that are highly desirable. Sociology is a social science and relies on data, statistics and research to form theories and draw conclusions. Students in UWM's Sociology program learn how to process, analyze and synthesize large volumes of information in a logical and consistent manner using the latest software tools, a skill that has gotten them noticed by employers from businesses and government agencies that rely on data to make informed decisions.
Sociology is also one of UWM’s majors available entirely online for students that wish to earn their degree from a distance. All classes required for the major can be taken online, or students can mix-and-match and take some online and some traditional classes. Many sociology courses are cross-listed with other certificate programs and interdepartmental majors.
Career Resources and Job Outcomes
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus, Online
Why study Sociology at UWM?
- Customize your major. Take a broad range of courses or develop a specialization in areas such as social inequality, law and society, the sociology of gender or urban sociology.
- Learn skills employers need and value. Sociology relies on data, statistics and research to form theories and draw conclusions. You will learn to analyze large volumes of information in a logical and consistent manner using the latest software.
- Flexibility. Our program is available completely online. Or you can take some courses online and others in-person.
Listed below are the requirements for the Sociology major. In addition to the requirements for the major, students must also satisfy all university and college general degree requirements. Degree requirements will vary depending on when you took your first college class. We encourage you to consult your advisor regularly to ensure you stay on track towards earning your degree. You can read more about the degree requirements on the L&S Degree Requirements web pages.
Sociology Major Requirements
Students must complete at least 15 upper-division (numbered 300 and above) credits in the major in residence at UWM. The College requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work.
The major in sociology requires a minimum of 30 credits including the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| SOCIOL 261 | Introduction to Statistical Thinking in Sociology 1,2 | 3 |
| SOCIOL 361 | Research Methods in Sociology (satisfies L&S research requirement) | 3 |
| SOCIOL 375 | Social Theory | 3 |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Select 21 additional credits | 21 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
PSYCH 210 shall be accepted as a substitute for SOCIOL 261 to fulfill the statistics requirement for students majoring in Sociology. With the approval of the undergraduate advisor, majors may substitute a different elementary statistics course from another discipline for the SOCIOL 261 requirement.
- 2
SOCIOL 261 fulfills the College of Letters & Science "Mathematics and Formal Reasoning" requirement AND the UWM Quantitative Literacy - B (QL-B) requirement.
At least 15 credits must be in upper-division (300 level and above) sociology courses taken in residence at UWM.
Students in the Schools of Education and Social Welfare should consult their programs regarding social science requirements.
Sociology courses often are cross-listed with several certificate programs and interdepartmental majors.
Declare Your Sociology Major with a Faculty Advisor
Advising for the major takes place within the department by a faculty member. Click on "Declare Your Major" to fill out an application to join the program. Then, a faculty advisor will review your transcript and reach out to you to let you know exactly where you are in your progress toward the degree. If you are unable to complete the online request form or for any other questions, please email sociology@uwm.edu.
Applicants who have not started classes at UWM yet who wish to change their major should contact our admissions counselor at let-sci@uwm.edu.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors, and success coaches. Letters and Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional College Advisors and Faculty Advisors. L&S College Advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental Faculty Advisors focus on the major.
College Advisors are located in Holton Hall and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College Advisors will:
- assist you in defining your academic and life goals;
- help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals;
- assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures;
- provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate; and
- monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty Advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a Faculty Advisor when you declare your major. Faculty Advisors are an important partner and will:
- help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department;
- explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences; and
- serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their College Advisor and Faculty Advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
With a BA in sociology, you can build a career in various research positions, especially those dealing with the implementation and evaluation of social programs, as well as in business, marketing and the helping professions.
Career opportunities include: social research, business administration, marketing and market research, banking, counseling (family planning, career planning, substance abuse, etc.), community development, health services, journalism, group and recreation work, sales, teaching, human resources/personnel management and social services.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your sociology major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.
The Sociology major and minor are available for completion entirely online. Learn more about how the online program works.