Declaring a Major in Sociology

To obtain a major program form, complete the following steps:

  1. Attend a sociology information meeting. You must call the Department of Sociology at 624-4300 to sign up for one of the following times. All information meetings are held in 915 Soc Sci.

    Summer and Fall 2008 Information Meeting Schedule:

    • Wednesday, August 6 at 3:30 pm
      Thursday, August 21 at 9:30 am
    • Tuesday, September 9, 2 pm
      Friday, September 19, 10 am
      Monday, September 29, 2:30 pm
      Thursday, October 16, 3 pm
      Monday, October 27, 9 am
      Wednesday, November 5, 2 pm
      Friday, November 14, 10 am
      Tuesday, November 25, 1:30 pm
      Monday, December 8, 9 am

  2. After attending the information meeting, you will schedule a "red dot" appointment with the Sociology undergraduate advisor by contacting the Department of Sociology. Students are strongly encouraged to come to an actual appointment, rather than walk-in hours, since filling out the major program form takes some time.

    You must bring the following materials to your red-dot appointment:

    • All students must bring:
      1. A one to two page, typed letter introducing yourself and describing why you are choosing a major in sociology. (Click here for guidelines.); AND

      2. A current Sociology APAS report from One Stop.  Rather than bring in an APAS report for another major or an undeclared report, please take an extra few moments and click on

        Generate a "What-If" APAS report (major-shopping) for this student... 

        • There are four easy steps under the “What If” link to pull a report as if you were already a Sociology major. 
        • Once the Soc APAS report opens remember to click at the top on the link for “printer friendly report” before hitting print.

      • If you are interested in the Bachelor of Science option, you should also bring your B.S. proposal, stating why you are choosing this option and offering a justification for the four supportive field courses you're choosing for your program. (You may want to send this document in advance of your individual meeting, so you can be signed up for the B.S. option when you come to your red-dot appointment. Otherwise, you will be signed up for the B.A. option until your B.S. proposal is approved.)

    The advisor cannot complete your online major program form without these materials. If you do not bring the required materials to your red-dot appointment, you will be invited to schedule another appointment.

    To schedule a red-dot appointment, contact the Department of Sociology.

  3. You are not officially a Sociology major until your on-line major program form has been processed by your college advising office! For most sociology majors, your college advising office is the CLA Social Sciences Student Community in 575 Heller Hall or the CLA Honors Office in 20 Nicholson Hall.

Department of Sociology - University of Minnesota
909 Social Sciences Building, 267 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612-624-4300 Fax: 612-624-7020 E-mail: socdept@soc.umn.edu