Sociology, BA: Education and Society
Sociology - Education and Society Concentration
This concentration gives Penn undergraduates the opportunity to engage the sociological imagination as they consider pertinent issues in education; from its role in stratification and cultural reproduction to its consideration as an engine of social mobility and a marker of privilege. Through this analysis of education, students will be able to approach jobs in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary institutions with a critical understanding of the impact of these institutions on the populations they serve and don’t serve. Alternatively, students can leverage the academic training within this concentration to approach a wide array of careers related to educational policy.
The Sociology Major
The Sociology major helps students identify and explain patterns of social life and human behavior by emphasizing how large-scale social phenomena (such as class, race, and gender inequality) affect the everyday experiences of individuals and vice versa. The major prepares students for a career in a variety of fields such as law, medicine and healthcare, marketing, education, scholarly and applied social research, social work, demography, journalism and media, management in the public and private sectors, administration, and government. The program offers comprehensive advising and significant research and independent study opportunities. Our program is dedicated to nurturing a strong community of scholars, helping them grow academically and professionally under the large-scale mission of the College of Arts & Sciences.
The minimum total course units for graduation in this major is 34. Double majors may entail more course units.
For more information: https://sociology.sas.upenn.edu/education-and-society-concentration
For information about the General Education requirements, please visit the College of Arts & Sciences Curriculum page.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| College General Education Requirements and Free Electives | ||
| Foundational Approaches + Sectors + Free Electives 1 | 20 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Introductory Course | 1 | |
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Social Research Methods | 1 | |
| Sociological Research Methods | ||
| Sociological Theory | ||
| Select 1 course unit in Sociological Theory | 1 | |
| Classical Sociological Theory | ||
| Contemporary Sociological Theory | ||
| Sociology Advanced Methods | ||
| Select 1 course unit in Advanced Research Methods | 1 | |
| Health of Populations | ||
| Qualitative Methods | ||
| Sample Survey Methods | ||
| Basic Demographic Methods | ||
| Demography of Race | ||
| Social Statistics | 1 | |
| Social Statistics | ||
| Education and Society Concentration | ||
| Select 3 CU from the following: 2 | 3 | |
| Poverty and Inequality | ||
| Sociology of Education First-Year Seminar | ||
| Social Stratification | ||
| Sociology of Education | ||
| Demography of Education | ||
| Contemporary Immigration in the U.S. | ||
| Comparative and International Education - Focus on East Asian Education | ||
| Global Urban Education | ||
| Economic Development, Education, and Inequality in East Asia | ||
| Education and International Development | ||
| (Re)Making U.S. Schools | ||
| Urban Education | ||
| Learning from Children | ||
| Education in American Culture | ||
| Educational Psychology | ||
| Gender & Education | ||
| Migration, Displacement, and Education | ||
| School and Society in America | ||
| Stereotype Threat, Impostor Phenomenon, and African Americans | ||
| Sociology of Education | ||
| Access & Choice in American Higher Education | ||
| Healthy Schools | ||
| History of American Education | ||
| Educating for Democracy in Latin America and the U.S. | ||
| Philosophy of Education | ||
| Urban Education | ||
| Tutoring in Urban Public Elementary Schools: A Child Development Perspective | ||
| Additional SOCI Courses | ||
| Select 4 course units in SOCI Free 3 | 4 | |
| SOCI or Related Courses | ||
| Select 2 course units in SOCI or Related 4 | 2 | |
| Research Poster | ||
| Complete Research Poster | ||
| Total Course Units | 34 | |
- 1
You may count no more than one course toward both a Major and a Sector requirement. For Exceptions, check the Policy Statement.
- 2
Related courses outside of this list are subject to the approval of the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies and Undergraduate Chair
- 3
Students are encouraged to take some courses outside of their concentration.
- 4
For the "SOCI or RELATED” requirement in the major, students in the Education and Society Concentration can count any SOCI course, or courses outside of SOCI that either 1) devote a substantial portion of their subject matter to sociologically related issues, and/or 2) are directly related to education.
Honors
Applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.3 and a GPA of 3.5 in the major.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| SOCI 4100 | Thesis Workshop I | 0.5 |
| SOCI 4101 | Thesis Workshop II | 0.5 |
| SOCI 4998 | Honors Independent Study | 1 |
| Senior Thesis | ||
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.