Sociology
Major in the College of Liberal Arts
Sociology is the study of how people live together and how their lives are structured by social institutions, culture, and history.
Sociologists are interested in the causes and consequences of social phenomena such as social inequality, racism, changing family structures and gender roles, white-collar and violent crime, mental and physical illness, the aging of the population, and much more.
Students of sociology do not study individuals as isolated beings. Instead, they study people within the larger cultural, social, and political contexts that influence their behavior. The Department of Sociology places a tremendous value on our core training in sociological theory as well as research methods and statistics.
Declaration Requirements
ShowProspective students should visit UT Admissions to learn about the application process and how to declare your major.
Current UT Austin students do not need to meet any specific requirements to be eligible for the sociology major.
How to Declare
ShowUndergraduates currently enrolled at UT who wish to major in sociology must first meet with a sociology advisor. There is no formal application process.
Required Courses
ShowVisit the sociology degree plan to view all required courses for the sociology major in the College of Liberal Arts. View course descriptions of current sociology courses.
View the Sociology FAQs for additional information.
Personality
ShowInterest in sociology is not a question of personality. Sociologists bring an open-minded curiosity about why societies – in the U.S. or elsewhere – take on particular structures and demonstrate predictable patterns. People who enjoy sociology tend not to be satisfied with simplistic answers nor do they assume that something works well simply because it has always been that way. In their study, sociologists offer answers to questions such as: What causes crime? Who succeeds and why? What makes organizations function well or poorly? Which social factors allow economies to work? Answers to sociological questions inform multiple domains, from helping a students understand their own sense of self in relation to others, to budding criminologists, health care professionals, or leaders in industry. Students will learn how to use empirical data to answer questions, but the major and minor permit wide flexibility in the specific topics students may pursue.
Skills
ShowSociology provides a foundation for the work force and graduate study in a wide range of fields including law, business, social work, medicine, public health, public administration, and sociology.
Sociology majors will acquire the following foundational skills:
- Qualitative and quantitative research and data analysis
- Critical thinking skills
- Effective verbal and written communication
- Global and historical perspective about various cultures, groups, and societies; social issues; and policies
