Students interested in applying to the Sociology major are advised to complete ENG 214 (or equivalent) and any two sociology courses, earning grades of C or higher. Transfer students and first-time freshmen should follow SF State’s online application process. Transfer students should indicate Sociology as their first choice of major and first-time freshmen should indicate “undeclared with an interest in sociology.” Students who are already enrolled at SF State should bring a completed Change of Major form and a copy of their academic advising audits to the Sociology Department office in HSS 370.
All courses numbered 300 and above require upper-division standing and completion of GE Areas A and B4 (formerly Segment I) or equivalent. SOC 370, SOC 371, and SOC 392require passing SOC 300GW. Students are allowed to take one course toward the major as credit/no credit (CR/NC). This course cannot be used as one of the required courses or to satisfy Areas 1 and 2. Students are also allowed to count 3-4 upper-division units outside sociology toward the major upon approval of a departmental advisor. A total of 12 lower-division units, including SOC 105, SOC 110, SOC 200, SOC 245, and those courses completed at community colleges, automatically apply toward the 23-24 units of electives required for the degree.
A total of 30 sociology units must be upper-division. University regulation requires 12 units toward the major must be completed in residence.
Please note that the department strongly encourages students to meet with an advisor early during their first semester at SF State regardless of academic rank. All students are required to have met with a sociology advisor at least once by the time they have completed SOC 300GW.
Program Learning Outcomes
September 2025
College of Health and Social Sciences
1600 Holloway Avenue, HSS Building, Room 204,
SAN FRANCISCO,
California,
94132, United States
Complete a secondary/high school curriculum that totals 12 years of primary-secondary education, be qualified to enter a university in your home country and have a good scholastic record from an accredited/recognized school. Have a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) in the 4.0 grading scale or B- average in academic courses completed after 9th grade.
TOEFL score of at least 61, IELTS score of at least 6.0 or PTE score of at least 45 is required.
Application Deadlines: Spring: Sept-30; Fall: May-1
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.