The Sociology major begins with Sociology 111, which introduces students to the concepts, theories, and methods of the discipline and is a prerequisite to all courses at the 200 level.
Students considering a major in sociology should take statistics no later than the fifth semester, by taking either Mathematics 336 or 209 (preferred) or Mathematics 115. The required courses in theory and methodology (Sociology 285 and 291) are ordinarily taken in the third year, after at least one 200-level sociology course, in preparation for seminars at the 300 level in the junior and senior years. Faculty strongly encourage sociology majors to take at least two 200-level courses before they take theory and research methods.
The following is a possible four-year plan to complete a major in Sociology:
| FIRST YEAR FALL | FIRST YEAR SPRING | |
| SOC 111 (either semester) | SOC 111 (either semester) | |
| SECOND YEAR FALL | SECOND YEAR SPRING | |
| SOC 2XX | SOC 2XX | |
| MAT 115 or 209 | MAT 115, 209 or 336 | |
| THIRD YEAR FALL | THIRD YEAR SPRING | |
| SOC 285 | SOC 291 | |
| SOC XXX | SOC XXX | |
| FOURTH YEAR FALL | FOURTH YEAR SPRING | |
| SOC 3XX (seminar) | SOC 3XX (seminar) |
