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This minor may only be completed by students admitted to Elementary Education options leading to certification in K-9 or Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence. A minor is not required to complete the K-9 certification program, but students may elect to complete one.

Minors provide a depth of study in a particular area of interest and also inform classroom instruction. The completion of a minor is required to teach middle school in some states and may benefit students particularly interested in teaching at this level.

The Department of Sociology is housed in the College of Letters & Science. Students may wish to consult with the undergraduate advisor in the department to discuss course selection and other issues related to this field of study.

Upon completion, the subject area of the minor will be posted on the UW-Madison transcript. Students will not receive an additional certification or license in the subject area as was possible prior to fall 2022 program admission.  The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not offer content licenses in association with the K-9 educator license.

This minor may only be declared by students completing Elementary Education certification in either K-9 or Middle-Childhood-through-Early-Adolescence. The declaration form is located on the School of Education's Undergraduate Admissions page and can be submitted at any time after admission into the program.

Complete a minimum of 24 credits. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 is required, based on all sociology minor coursework taken on the UW–Madison campus.

Foundational Core Courses

Introduction

Select one of the following:

SOC/​C&E SOC  210 Survey of Sociology3-4
SOC/​C&E SOC  211 The Sociological Enterprise3
SOC 181 Honors Introductory Seminar-The Sociological Enterprise3-4

Research Methods and Statistics

Students may take methods and statistics in the same semester. If students take methods and statistics in different semesters, it is recommended that methods be taken before statistics. This will provide a better entry point to the methods and materials of the field.

Research Methods
SOC/​C&E SOC  357 Methods of Sociological Inquiry3-4
Statistics
Complete one of the following statistics courses:3-4
Statistics for Sociologists I
Statistics: Measurement in Economics
Quantitative Methods in Geographical Analysis
Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics II
Basic Statistics for Psychology
Introduction to Statistical Methods
Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences

Theory

SOC/​C&E SOC  475 Classical Sociological Theory3

Distribution Requirements

Select at least one course from two of the following groups of departmental offerings. Courses used to meet the requirements above may not be applied to this requirement. Courses that appear in more than one area may fulfill only one area requirement.

Additional Methods/Statistics

Additional Methods/Statistics course options

SOC 351 Introduction to Survey Methods for Social Research3
SOC/​C&E SOC  361 Statistics for Sociologists II4
SOC 362 Statistics for Sociologists III4
SOC/​C&E SOC  365 Data Management for Social Science Research3-4
SOC 375 Introduction to Mathematical Sociology3
SOC 376 Mathematical Models of Social Systems3
SOC 461 Study Abroad in Additional Methods and Statistics 11-6
1

This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.

Additional Theory

Additional Theory course options

SOC 462 Study Abroad in Additional Theory 11-6
SOC 476 Contemporary Sociological Theory3
1

This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.

Deviant Behavior

Deviant Behavior course options

SOC 421 Processes of Deviant Behavior3-4
SOC/​SOC WORK  422 Social Issues in Aging3
SOC/​GEN&WS/​LEGAL ST  425 Crime, Gender and Justice3
SOC/​CHICLA/​LEGAL ST  440 Ethnicity, Race, and Justice3-4
SOC 441 Criminology3-4
SOC/​CHICLA/​LEGAL ST  443 Immigration, Crime, and Enforcement3-4
SOC 446 Juvenile Delinquency3-4
SOC 463 Study Abroad in Deviant Behavior 11-6
1

This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.

Social Psychology

Social Psychology course options

SOC/​PSYCH  453 Human Sexuality4
SOC 464 Study Abroad in Social Psychology 11-6
SOC/​C&E SOC  532 Health Care Issues for Individuals, Families and Society3
SOC/​C&E SOC  533 Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities3
SOC 535 Talk and Social Interaction3
SOC 543 Collective Behavior3
SOC/​C&E SOC  573 Community Organization and Change3
SOC 575 Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging3
SOC/​AMER IND/​C&E SOC  578 Poverty and Place3
1

This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.

Social Organization

Social Organization course options

SOC/​LEGAL ST  415 The Legal Profession3-4
SOC 465 Study Abroad in Social Organization 11-6
SOC/​CHICLA  470 Sociodemographic Analysis of Mexican Migration3
SOC/​GEN&WS  611 Gender, Science and Technology3
SOC/​C&E SOC/​URB R PL  617 Community Development3
SOC 621 Class, State and Ideology: an Introduction to Marxist Social Science3
SOC 624 Political Sociology3
SOC 626 Social Movements3
SOC/​C&E SOC  630 Sociology of Developing Societies/Third World3
SOC 632 Sociology of Organizations3-4
SOC 633 Social Stratification3
SOC 640 Sociology of the Family3
SOC/​LAW/​LEGAL ST  641 Sociology of Law3-4
SOC/​C&E SOC/​URB R PL  645 Modern American Communities3
SOC 646 Race and Ethnic Relations3
SOC 647 Sociology of Sport3
SOC/​ED POL  648 Sociology of Education3
SOC/​C&E SOC  650 Sociology of Agriculture3
SOC/​C&E SOC  652 Sociology of Economic Institutions3
SOC/​HISTORY  670 Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy in America Since 18903-4
SOC 678 Sociology of Persecution3
1

This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.

Demography and Ecology

Demography and Ecology course options

SOC 460 Study Abroad in Demography and Ecology 11-6
SOC 575 Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging3
SOC/​ECON  663 Population and Society3
SOC 674 Demographic Techniques I3
1

This course, taken abroad, could be a UW–Madison sociology course in the designated area although it is not a direct equivalent to a departmental offering.

Community and Environmental Sociology

Community and Environmental Sociology course options

SOC/​C&E SOC  533 Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities3
SOC/​C&E SOC/​ENVIR ST  540 Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability3
SOC/​C&E SOC  541 Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice3
SOC/​C&E SOC  573 Community Organization and Change3
SOC 575 Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging3
SOC/​AMER IND/​C&E SOC  578 Poverty and Place3
SOC/​C&E SOC/​URB R PL  617 Community Development3
SOC/​C&E SOC  650 Sociology of Agriculture3

Electives

Additional coursework, if needed, to reach the minimum of 24 credits.