Major & Minor

Gettysburg College offers both a major and minor in sociology. With numerous courses cross-listed across a variety of departments—including Africana Studies; Environmental Studies; Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies; Management; Peace and Justice Studies; and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies—students of sociology receive a multidisciplinary education strongly grounded in the liberal arts tradition.

Major Requirements

Students who major in sociology take a minimum of ten full-credit courses, including:

  • (1) Soc 101, 102, or 103, Introductory Course*
    • Grade of C or higher is a required for the major
    • The 100-level course is a prerequisite for all other Sociology courses
  • (1) Soc 202, 209, 217, 240, 243 or 244
    • To fulfill the Inequalities course requirement
  • (1) Soc 296, Introductory Theory
    • (1) 200-level course is required as a prerequisite
    • Grade of C or higher is required for the major
  • (1) Soc 298, Qualitative Methods
  • (1) Soc 299, Quantitative Methods
  • (1) Soc 315 or 318, Advanced Theory
    • Soc 296, with a grade of C or higher, is a prerequisite
  • (1) Soc 400, Capstone Seminar
    • Soc 296, Soc 298, and Soc 299 are prerequisites
  • (3) 200- or 300-level electives, excluding Soc 470 courses and normally excluding Soc 450 courses.

* Students who submit an AP score of 4 or 5 in Sociology may receive course credit for SOC 101, 102 or 103. Course credit for advanced placement will be lost if a student takes an introductory sociology course at Gettysburg.

Sociology majors typically take courses in this order; a major flowchart is available here.

  • Soc 101, 102, or 103
  • Soc inequality course or a Soc elective course**
  • Soc 296
  • Soc 298 and Soc 299
  • Soc 315 or Soc 318
  • Soc 400

** other Sociology electives can be taken at any time.

Minor Requirements

The Sociology minor consists of six courses:

  • (1) Soc 101, 102, or 103 (with a grade of C or higher)
  • (1) Soc 296
    • (1) 200-level course is required as a prerequisite
  • (1) Soc 298 or Soc 299

(3) Sociology electives, normally excluding Soc 450 and 470 courses