The Sociology minor no longer admits new students after Fall 2027 and the program will be discontinued Fall 2029. Students already admitted may only complete and be awarded this minor through Summer 2029. If you have any questions please contact the program.
This minor may only be completed by students admitted to the Elementary Education or the Elementary Education and Special Education programs. A minor is not required to complete either program.
Minors provide a depth of study in a particular area of interest and also inform classroom instruction. The completion of a minor is required to teach middle school in some states and may benefit students particularly interested in teaching at this level.
The Department of Sociology is housed in the College of Letters & Science. Students may wish to consult with the undergraduate advisor in the department to discuss course selection and other issues related to this field of study.
Upon completion, the subject area of the minor will be posted on the UW–Madison transcript. Students will not receive an additional certification or license in the subject area. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not offer content licenses in association with the Elementary Education or Special Education teaching licenses.
How to Get In
The Sociology minor no longer admits new students after Fall 2027 and the program will be discontinued Fall 2029. Students already admitted may only complete and be awarded this minor through Summer 2029. If you have any questions please contact the program.
This minor may only be declared by students completing the K-9 Elementary Education or the Elementary Education and Special Education programs. To declare the minor, contact your academic advisor in Education Student Services any time after program admission.
Requirements
Complete a minimum of 24 credits. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 is required, based on all Sociology minor coursework taken on the UW–Madison campus.
Foundational Core Courses
Introduction
Select one of the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC/C&E SOC 210 | Survey of Sociology | 3-4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 211 | The Sociological Enterprise | 3 |
| SOC 181 | Honors Introductory Seminar-The Sociological Enterprise | 3-4 |
Research Methods and Statistics
Students may take methods and statistics in the same semester. If students take methods and statistics in different semesters, it is recommended that methods be taken before statistics. This will provide a better entry point to the methods and materials of the field.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Research Methods | ||
| SOC/C&E SOC 357 | Methods of Sociological Inquiry | 3-4 |
| Statistics | ||
| Complete one of the following statistics courses: | 3-4 | |
| Statistics for Sociologists I | ||
| Statistics: Measurement in Economics | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics II | ||
| Basic Statistics for Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
Classical Theory
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC/C&E SOC 475 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
Distribution Requirements
Select at least one course from two of the following groups of departmental offerings. Courses used to meet the requirements above may not be applied to this requirement. Courses that appear in more than one area may fulfill only one area requirement.
Additional Methods/Statistics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 351 | Introduction to Survey Methods for Social Research | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 361 | Statistics for Sociologists II | 4 |
| SOC 362 | Statistics for Sociologists III | 4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 365 | Data Management for Social Science Research | 3-4 |
| SOC 375 | Introduction to Mathematical Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 461 | Study Abroad in Additional Methods and Statistics 1 | 1-6 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 618 | Social Network Analysis | 3 |
| SOC 631 | Applied Qualitative Methods for Social Science | 3-4 |
- 1
This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.
Theory
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC/ILS/JEWISH 423 | Modern Jewish Thought | 3 |
| SOC 462 | Study Abroad in Additional Theory 1 | 1-6 |
| SOC 476 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 3 |
- 1
This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.
Deviant Behavior
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC/GEN&WS/LEGAL ST 406 | Law, Sexuality, & Society | 3-4 |
| SOC 421 | Processes of Deviant Behavior | 3-4 |
| SOC/SOC WORK 422 | Social Issues in Aging | 3 |
| SOC/GEN&WS/LEGAL ST 425 | Crime, Gender and Justice | 3 |
| SOC/CHICLA/LEGAL ST 440 | Ethnicity, Race, and Justice | 3-4 |
| SOC 441 | Criminology | 3-4 |
| SOC/CHICLA/LEGAL ST 443 | Immigration, Crime, and Enforcement | 3-4 |
| SOC 446 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3-4 |
| SOC 463 | Study Abroad in Deviant Behavior 1 | 1-6 |
- 1
This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.
Social Psychology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 444 | Social Psychology: A Sociological Perspective | 3-4 |
| SOC/PSYCH 453 | Human Sexuality | 4 |
| SOC 464 | Study Abroad in Social Psychology 1 | 1-6 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 532 | Health Care Issues for Individuals, Families and Society | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 533 | Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities | 3 |
| SOC 535 | Talk and Social Interaction | 3 |
| SOC 543 | Collective Behavior | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 573 | Community Organization and Change | 3 |
| SOC 575 | Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging | 3 |
| SOC/AMER IND/C&E SOC 578 | Poverty and Place | 3 |
- 1
This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.
Social Organization
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC/ASIAN 336 | Social Change in Contemporary South Korea | 3 |
| SOC 465 | Study Abroad in Social Organization 1 | 1-6 |
| SOC/CHICLA 470 | Sociodemographic Analysis of Mexican Migration | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/URB R PL 617 | Community Development | 3 |
| SOC 624 | Political Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 626 | Social Movements | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 630 | Sociology of Developing Societies/Third World | 3 |
| SOC 632 | Sociology of Organizations | 3-4 |
| SOC 633 | Social Stratification | 3 |
| SOC 640 | Sociology of the Family | 3 |
| SOC/LAW/LEGAL ST 641 | Sociology of Law | 3-4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/URB R PL 645 | Modern American Communities | 3 |
| SOC 647 | Sociology of Sport | 3 |
| SOC/ED POL 648 | Sociology of Education | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 650 | Sociology of Agriculture | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 652 | Sociology of Economic Institutions | 3 |
| SOC/HISTORY 670 | Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy in America Since 1890 | 3-4 |
| SOC 678 | Sociology of Persecution | 3 |
- 1
This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.
Demography and Ecology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 460 | Study Abroad in Demography and Ecology 1 | 1-6 |
| SOC 575 | Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging | 3 |
| SOC 674 | Demographic Techniques I | 3 |
- 1
This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.
Community and Environmental Sociology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC/C&E SOC 533 | Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/ENVIR ST 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 541 | Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 573 | Community Organization and Change | 3 |
| SOC 575 | Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging | 3 |
| SOC/AMER IND/C&E SOC 578 | Poverty and Place | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/URB R PL 617 | Community Development | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 650 | Sociology of Agriculture | 3 |
Electives
Additional coursework, if needed, to reach the minimum of 24 credits.