Program Description

Sociology is the scientific or systematic study of human groups and societies and patterns of interaction in real-life settings. It uses a variety of research and theoretical perspectives to analyze and explain human social behavior and social change. As all human behavior is essentially social, sociology students examine a wide range of human interactions.

This program includes a range of courses that analyze sociological topics and enable students to develop and apply a Sociological Imagination or the ability to examine the broader connections between personal life, public issues, and the social structure.

Sociology, with its extensive scope of subject matter, provides a valuable major for a diverse range of career paths.

Learn more about the program on the Sociology website.

Associate Degree for Transfer

This program also offers Associate Degrees for Transfer. Learn more and review the degree requirements on the following listings: Sociology AA-T, Social Justice Studies AA-T, and Social Work and Human Services AA-T.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the core concepts of sociology: social structure, culture, social stratification and inequality, race, ethnicity, gender, and globalization.
• Students will be able to apply their understanding of sociology to their professional, personal, and civic lives.

Career Opportunities

A major in sociology prepares students to seek employment in various employment sectors. The level of education completed influences the range of career opportunities offered. Advanced degrees in sociology broaden students' career paths to include high school through university teaching, research, consulting, business, politics, journalism, public relations, and public administration and all fields that require strong analytical skills and attention to issues of diversity. As a liberal arts major, sociology also provides a foundation for various professions such as social welfare, law, marketing, non-profit management, and counseling. Regardless of focus, all sociology students should become proficient in writing and speaking, research techniques, and technology.

Award Type(s)

• AA = Associate in Arts Degree
• CP = Certificate of Proficiency [Non-Transcriptable]

Units Required

• Major: 30
• Certificate(s): 13-23

Additional Information

Note: Students having difficulty attaining an associate degree because of timing or availability of classes should consult with a counselor to submit a petition for course substitution.

Associate Degree Requirements

A minimum of 90 units is required¹ to complete the associate degree, including:

• Core and support courses for the major (30 units total)
• Completion of one of the following general education patterns:
  • Foothill College General Education
  • Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth)²
  • Summer Session 2025 only–Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)²
  • Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)³

¹

Additional elective course work may be necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement for the associate degree.

²

Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information.

³

Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.

Note: A grade of "C" (or "P") or better is required for all core and support courses used for the degree or certificates. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Refer to the Associate in Arts & Associate in Science Degree Requirements page for complete information about graduation requirements and catalog rights.

Core and Support Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Core Courses
SOC 1	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY	5
or SOC 1H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
And 12 units from the following:		12
SOC 8	POPULAR CULTURE
SOC 10	SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
or PSYC 10	RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
SOC 11	SOCIAL WORK & HUMAN SERVICES
SOC 14	SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME
SOC 15	LAW & SOCIETY
SOC 19	ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE
SOC 20	MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS
SOC 23	RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS
SOC 28	SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER
SOC 30	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
or PSYC 30	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOC 40	ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY
SOC 45	SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITY
Support Courses
Select 13 units from the following:		13
ANTH 2A	CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
or ANTH 2AH	HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
CHLD 8	CHILD, FAMILY & COMMUNITY
CHLD 51A	AFFIRMING DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION
ECON 1A	PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
ECON 9	INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
or ECON 9H	HONORS INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
or POLI 9	INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
or POLI 9H	HONORS INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
ETHN 1	INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES
ETHN 2	INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
ETHN 3	INTRODUCTION TO LATINX STUDIES
ETHN 4	INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES
ETHN 5	INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES
GEOG 2	HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
GLST 1	INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
or GLST 1H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
GLST 2	GLOBAL ISSUES
HIST 8	HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA
HIST 10	HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA: THE MULTICULTURAL STATE
HIST 17C	HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1914 TO THE PRESENT
MATH 10	ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
or PSYC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or SOC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
PHIL 1	CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING
PSYC 22	PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
SOC 54H	HONORS INSTITUTE SEMINAR IN SOCIOLOGY
SOC 70R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN SOCIOLOGY
SOC 71R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN SOCIOLOGY
SOC 72R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN SOCIOLOGY
SOC 73R	INDEPENDENT STUDY IN SOCIOLOGY
WMN 5	INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S STUDIES
Total Units		30

Certificate Requirements

Social Welfare Certificate of Proficiency

• Units: 22-23 [Non-Transcriptable]

Course List

Code	Title	Units
SOC 1	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY	5
or SOC 1H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
SOC 11	SOCIAL WORK & HUMAN SERVICES	5
SOC 19	ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE	4
And one course from the following:		4-5
MATH 10	ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
or PSYC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or SOC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
SOC 8	POPULAR CULTURE
SOC 10	SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
or PSYC 10	RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
SOC 14	SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME
SOC 15	LAW & SOCIETY
SOC 20	MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS
SOC 23	RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS
SOC 28	SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER
SOC 30	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
or PSYC 30	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOC 40	ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY
SOC 45	SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITY
And four units from the following:		4
BUSI 18	BUSINESS LAW I
COMM 12	INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
GLST 1	INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
or GLST 1H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
GLST 2	GLOBAL ISSUES
HLTH 21	CONTEMPORARY HEALTH CONCERNS
PSYC 22	PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
Total Units		22-23

General Sociology Certificate of Proficiency

• Units: 13-15 [Non-Transcriptable]

Course List

Code	Title	Units
SOC 1	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY	5
or SOC 1H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
And one course from the following:		4-5
MATH 10	ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
or PSYC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or SOC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
SOC 8	POPULAR CULTURE
SOC 10	SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
or PSYC 10	RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
SOC 11	SOCIAL WORK & HUMAN SERVICES
SOC 14	SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME
SOC 15	LAW & SOCIETY
SOC 19	ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE
SOC 20	MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS
SOC 23	RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS
SOC 28	SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER
SOC 30	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
or PSYC 30	SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOC 40	ASPECTS OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY
SOC 45	SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITY
And one course from the following:		4-5
ANTH 2A	CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
or ANTH 2AH	HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ECON 1A	PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
GEOG 10	WORLD REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY
GLST 1	INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
or GLST 1H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
GLST 2	GLOBAL ISSUES
HIST 4A	HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION TO 800 CE
HIST 4B	HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION: 700-1800
HIST 4C	HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION 1789-PRESENT
PHIL 1	CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING
PSYC 22	PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
Total Units		13-15