How to Declare and Navigate a Sociology Major

This one's really easy. First, take a look at the catalogue to get some sense of what the Sociology major entails. Next, bring in an unofficial transcript and a declaration of major form to the Undergraduate Advisor, who likes to discuss the major, your own goals for studying Sociology and your thoughts about your future with you before signing the form. (This is a way to get to know you!) Next, take a copy of the form back to the Registrar’s Office. Voila! You will also often get preferential treatment in registering for limited-enrollment courses. For advising, the Undergraduate Advisor is available (and happy!) to discuss any questions you may have, as well as to sign forms. You should also feel free to consult any and all members of the department for help in constructing your program and schedule. We encourage you to take courses from our entire faculty as you explore the discipline, for we are proud of our reputation as an excellent teaching department. But…

• What if I’ve discovered Sociology so late it looks difficult to major in it?
  This happens fairly often, because people are not usually exposed to Sociology in high school, so they don’t arrive at Rice wanting to be Sociology majors, but rather discover Sociology through coursework. Even if your schedule makes it really hard to actually major in Sociology, you can take courses so that your transcript shows a record of active and consistent interest in Sociology. This will be enough to satisfy employers or graduate schools that you have a substantive background in Sociology. If you are in this situation, come in and discuss options with the Undergraduate Advisor.
• What if the major requirements change during my time at Rice?
  You have a choice of graduating either under the terms of the catalogue you enter Rice with (your matriculation catalogue), or of the catalogue for the year of your graduation. Be aware of this, and plan your major to meet the requirements of one of those two academic years.
• What do I do if a Sociology class I want or need to take is full?
  First, if you know that you may have trouble getting into a class, register as early as possible. If you are abroad, the only way to do this is to get a friend to register early for you. If the "early bird" tactic fails, then go to the professor and discuss the situation. Some faculty have formal waiting lists, some faculty have a less formal procedure of noting interest and trying to keep a place open for students who need a given course, but it is always worthwhile to discuss your situation with the person offering the course. In general, if you are a Sociology major, and especially an upper class major, this may count in your favor for winning a place in a capped course. If you are having trouble completing one of the required courses for the major, discuss this with the Undergraduate Advisor.