
Sociology is a social science that explores the study of groups, culture, collective behavior, classes and caste, community, and ecology, among other topics. At UC Davis, the sociology department offers a wide range of courses relevant to contemporary society, allowing students to explore various topics in sociology and other social science disciplines. The department offers two major options, both leading to Bachelor of Arts degrees, and five emphasis choices: general, law and society, social services, international and global sociology, and race, ethnicity, and immigration. Additionally, students can minor in sociology by completing five upper-division sociology courses. The sociology organizational studies major also offers four distinct tracks: business and society, public policy and social welfare, nonprofit and social movement organizations, and a student-initiated theme. With its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, UC Davis provides a rich academic environment for students interested in the social sciences.
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What You'll Learn

Majors and minors
Sociology is a social science that embodies the fundamentals of all other social sciences, according to pioneering sociologist Auguste Comte, who referred to it as the "Queen of the Sciences". UC Davis offers a wide range of courses relevant to contemporary society, allowing students to explore various topics and interests in sociology and other social science disciplines.
The Department of Sociology at UC Davis offers two major options, both of which lead to Bachelor of Arts degrees. The first major option, Sociology Organizational Studies, offers four tracks:
- Business and Society: This track focuses on the intersection of business and society, including the role of organizations in social change.
- Public Policy and Social Welfare: This track explores the impact of public policies on social welfare and the well-being of individuals and communities.
- Nonprofit and Social Movement Organizations: This track examines the unique ability of formal and informal organizations to drive social change and address societal challenges.
- Student-Initiated Theme: This track allows students to work with a sociology advisor to design a personalised course of study, selecting five courses that align with their specific interests and goals.
The second major option is a general Sociology major with five different emphasis choices:
- General: This emphasis provides a broad foundation in sociology, covering various topics within the discipline.
- Law and Society: This emphasis explores the intersection of law and society, including the impact of legal systems on social issues.
- Social Services: This emphasis focuses on the application of sociology in social services, such as social work, community development, and social policy.
- International and Global Sociology: This emphasis takes an interdisciplinary and historical approach, examining global issues, regional characteristics, and the social aspects of political and economic life, culture, communities, and more.
- Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration: This emphasis brings together two sociological subfields, providing a comprehensive understanding of race, ethnicity, and immigration, including common core courses and specialised electives.
In addition to the major options, UC Davis also offers a Sociology minor. To declare a minor, students must complete an upper-division sociology course (excluding specific course numbers) with a grade of "C" or better and submit a minor declaration petition through OASIS. The minor requires completing any five upper-division sociology courses for a total of 20 units. The minor provides flexibility, allowing students to choose courses that complement their major while fulfilling graduation requirements.
UC Davis also offers a college-wide program for students who enter without a declared major. This program helps students explore a variety of courses, make progress on general education requirements, and discover their interests to ultimately decide on a major.
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Sociological considerations
Sociology is often referred to as the "Queen of the Sciences" by pioneering sociologist Auguste Comte, as it embodies the fundamentals of all other social sciences. The department at UC Davis offers a wide range of courses relevant to contemporary society, allowing students to explore various topics and interests within sociology and other social science disciplines.
The sociology curriculum at UC Davis offers a comprehensive exploration of sociological concepts and their practical applications. One key area of focus is the study of groups, culture, collective behaviour, classes and caste systems, communities, and ecology. Students delve into the dynamics of social interaction and its impact on self-formation, identity transformation, and the development of roles within society. This includes an examination of how individuals make decisions, form relationships, and navigate conflicts.
The curriculum also addresses contemporary social issues and their relation to sociocultural change. Students analyse pressing problems within society and explore potential programs for improvement. This includes a social and demographic analysis of immigration, examining the motives and experiences of immigrants, as well as the impact of immigration on social mobility, assimilation, and cultural dynamics. By understanding the complexities of immigration, students can better grasp the evolving nature of diverse and multicultural societies.
Another key aspect of the sociological curriculum is the exploration of change and diversity in world history, with a specific focus on the United States. This includes studying population and family structures, technological advancements and economic development, power dynamics and status, and cultural identity. By understanding these historical shifts, students can gain insights into the underlying factors that shape societies and the interconnectedness of various sociological phenomena.
Additionally, UC Davis offers specialised tracks within the sociology major, such as "Nonprofit and Social Movement Organisations." This track delves into the unique capacity of formal and informal organisations to drive social change. Students learn about the role of nonprofits in addressing social issues and the ways in which these organisations interact with and influence society. Another track, "Global and International Sociology," fosters an interdisciplinary understanding of global issues, regional challenges, and cultural characteristics. Students explore a range of disciplines, including economics, anthropology, political science, and history, to grasp the complexities of the social bases of political and economic life.
Overall, the sociological considerations at UC Davis provide a robust foundation in theoretical and applied sociology, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to analyse contemporary social issues, understand the dynamics of social change, and explore potential solutions for a diverse and evolving world.
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Social and demographic analysis
Sociology is a social science that explores the basics of other social sciences. The department at UC Davis offers a wide range of courses relevant to contemporary society, allowing students to explore various topics and interests within sociology and other social science disciplines. The sociology major offers five different emphasis areas: general, law and society, social services, international and global sociology, and race, ethnicity, and immigration.
The sociology curriculum at UC Davis includes a social and demographic analysis of immigration. This involves studying the motives and experiences of immigrants, the relationship between immigration and social mobility, the process of immigration, assimilation, and social change, and the dynamics of multicultural societies. This analysis falls under the broader theme of understanding social change and its impact on individuals and communities.
UC Davis's sociology courses also cover the exploration of self and identity formation and transformation through socialization and social interaction. This includes the influence of roles, groups, institutions, power dynamics, and social change. Additionally, students examine how people make decisions, form relationships, and resolve conflicts.
The Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration emphasis brings together two sociological subfields. Students take a common core of lower-division courses that provide foundational knowledge in race and ethnicity and immigration. They then build on this foundation by selecting from various upper-division Sociology courses that offer in-depth instruction in specific areas related to race, ethnicity, and immigration.
The Global and International Sociology emphasis offers an interdisciplinary and historically informed perspective on global issues and regional characteristics. Students examine the social foundations of political and economic life, culture and communities, inequalities, ethnic relations, migration, and environmental changes. This emphasis encourages students to explore diverse disciplines, including economics, anthropology, political science, history, religious studies, and international agriculture.
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Social change and diversity
Social sciences at UC Davis offer a wide range of courses relevant to contemporary society, allowing students to explore a variety of topics and interests in sociology and other social science disciplines. The sociology major offers five different emphasis choices: general, law and society, social services, international and global sociology, and race, ethnicity, and immigration.
The exploration of social change and diversity is integral to the study of sociology at UC Davis. Students have the opportunity to delve into the dynamics of change and diversity in world history, including the United States. This includes examining the interplay of population and family structures, technological advancements, economic development, power dynamics, and cultural identity.
The curriculum also addresses contemporary social problems in relation to sociocultural change and improvement programs. Courses in this area provide a sociological lens on immigration, exploring motives, experiences, social mobility, assimilation, and multicultural societies. Additionally, students can gain insights into how self and identity are shaped and transformed by socialization and social interaction, including the influence of roles, groups, institutions, and power dynamics.
The Global and International Sociology emphasis further expands on these themes by offering an interdisciplinary and historically informed perspective on global issues. Students engage with topics such as the social foundations of political and economic life, culture and communities, inequalities, ethnic relations, migration, and environmental changes. They are encouraged to explore diverse disciplines, including economics, anthropology, political science, history, religious studies, and international agriculture.
Nonprofit and Social Movement Organizations is another area of focus within the sociology curriculum at UC Davis. This track highlights the unique capacity of formal and informal organizations to drive social change. Students gain an understanding of how these organizations respond to and impact societal transformation, empowering them to become agents of change themselves.
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Career paths
Social science careers typically require an understanding of statistics and statistical analysis, as well as strong communication skills. Social science professionals often need to present ongoing research to stakeholders and must be able to convey important ideas and concepts effectively.
A degree in social science can be a great basis for many jobs. With a social science degree, graduates can pursue jobs such as paralegals, administrative assistants, and social service assistants, and brand evangelists. They can also pursue specialized roles such as sociologists, economists, portfolio managers, and political scientists, which often require a master's or doctoral degree.
The social sciences encompass diverse areas, including psychology, sociology, economics, anthropology, and political science. During their studies, students learn broad skills that can be applied to many careers. For example, a degree in sociology can lead to a career in hotel sales or financial services, where understanding and managing complex group dynamics is essential.
Additionally, social science graduates can pursue careers in education, law, and history. They can also work in fields that require an understanding of human behavior and organizational systems, such as growth hacking and private investigation. Graduate certificates in the field of social sciences offer specializations in international relations, political economy, terrorism studies, and negotiation and conflict resolution, which can lead to exciting career paths.
Overall, a degree in social science provides a strong foundation for a variety of career paths, and graduates can find opportunities in many different industries.
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Frequently asked questions
The social sciences major at UC Davis offers a wide range of courses relevant to contemporary society so that students can explore a variety of topics and interests in sociology and other social science disciplines.
The sociology department at UC Davis offers two major options, both of which lead to bachelor of arts degrees. The first is a general sociology major, and the second is a sociology organisational studies major. The latter offers four tracks: 1) business and society, 2) public policy and social welfare, 3) nonprofit and social movement organisations, and 4) a student-initiated theme.
The core subjects of the social sciences major at UC Davis include sociology, economics, anthropology, political science, history, and religious studies.
If you are an incoming student at UC Davis without a declared major, you will automatically be enrolled in a college-wide program designed to help you sample a wide range of courses and clarify your interests to help you decide on a major.
The graduation requirements for a social sciences major at UC Davis include completing the necessary number of units in your chosen major and minor, as well as fulfilling the general education requirements.

























