The Concentration in Analysis and Research—an elective option within the undergraduate sociology major—is designed for students who do well and are interested in research methods and statistics. CAR prepares students for entry-level jobs in applied social research and/or for graduate study. Key features of the concentration include advanced statistics courses, training in social science computing, and research. By selecting appropriate electives and internships, students may focus their training on demography, survey research, marketing and communications, criminal justice, health care, education, social services, natural resources, organizations, or personnel and human resources.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CAR OPTION (CAR)

36 credits of SOC, to include: 1

All requirements for the general Sociology major

All students are required to take four foundation core courses (Introduction, Research, Statistics, and Theory) and additional CAR Distribution courses in Statistics, Research, Computing, and Practicum that build on prior sociological and social scientific knowledge from the foundation core courses.

Students are strongly encouraged to complete the four required foundation core courses as early as possible. These foundation courses are prerequisites for most upper-level courses and the option has several sequenced courses, some of which are taught only once a year.

REQUIREMENTS

36 credits in SOC courses to include Foundation (Core) requirements for the general Sociology major (above), plus these CAR-specific requirements: 1

CAR requirements

Two Additional Statistics courses are required
SOC/​C&E SOC  361 Statistics for Sociologists II3
or ECON 410 Introductory Econometrics
or STAT 302 Accelerated Introduction to Statistical Methods
SOC 362 Statistics for Sociologists III3
or STAT 312 Introduction to Theory and Methods of Mathematical Statistics II
Data Management
SOC/​C&E SOC  365 Data Management for Social Science Research3-4
Distribution - Two Research Electives from: 26
Introduction to Survey Methods for Social Research
Introduction to Mathematical Sociology
Mathematical Models of Social Systems
Talk and Social Interaction
Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging
Poverty and Place
Social Stratification
Demographic Techniques I
Applied Demography: Planning and Policy
COMP SCI 371
Applied Dynamical Systems, Chaos and Modeling
Introduction to Stochastic Processes
Elections and Voting Behavior
Public Opinion
Research Methods
Introduction to Time Series
Introductory Nonparametric Statistics
An Introduction to Sample Survey Theory and Methods
Applied Categorical Data Analysis
Statistical Methods for Epidemiology
Technology of Computer-Based Business Systems
Marketing Research
Research Practicum
SOC/​C&E SOC  693 Practicum in Analysis and Research3
Total Credits18-19
1

 Although students may choose courses outside of the SOC subject to meet some requirements of the CAR option, all 36 of the credits required for this major option must be in SOC courses.  


In addition, students must complete the Residence & Quality of Work requirement which includes 15 credits of Upper Level work in the major, taken in Residence.  Major courses outside of SOC do compute into the major GPA, but are not considered Upper Level for purposes of this requirement.  

2

 Unlike the general major, CAR option students are required to complete two (not four) courses in distribution, among the courses listed as Research Electives.

CAR option Quality of Work

A minimum 3.000 GPA on all CAR-specific courses is required at the time of graduation.  

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication A3SOC/​C&E SOC  210 or 211 (SOC 211 also satisfies Communication B)3-4
Quantitative Reasoning A3SOC/​C&E SOC  3574
Foreign Language (if required)4Biological Science Breadth3
Ethnic Studies (may be taken in the major)3Intermediate MATH, COMP SCI or STAT (for B.S.)3
Physical Science Breadth3 
 16 14
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC/​C&E SOC  360 (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning B)4SOC/​C&E SOC  4753
INTER-LS 2101SOC Distribution (upper level)4
Humanities Breadth3Natural Science Breadth3
Science Breadth3Literature Breadth3
Elective4Elective2
 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Declare the majorSOC Distribution (upper level)4
Humanities Breadth 6SOC/​C&E SOC  3653-4
SOC Distribution (upper level)4CAR Research Elective4
Additional statistics for CAR option3Electives3
Electives2 
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC Distribution (upper level)3SOC/​C&E SOC  6933
CAR option Research Elective3Electives12
Electives9 
 15 15
Total Credits 120