Sociology - IAI Major Course Recommendations
To transfer as a junior into a bachelor's degree program in Sociology, students should complete at least 60 semester credit hours. Community college students are strongly encouraged to complete an Associate in Arts (A.A.) or Associate in Science (A.S.) degree before transferring.
Students planning to major in Sociology are encouraged to build a strong foundation in the social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, and related disciplines during their first two years of study. Because sociology requirements vary among institutions, students should limit the number of sociology courses taken before transfer and work closely with an academic advisor when selecting coursework.
Students should consult their intended transfer institution to confirm course equivalencies, transfer policies, and program requirements.
Note to Faculty and Course Submitters working with IAI Courses:
Before submitting to the GECC Social and Behavioral Sciences panel (where the Sociology courses reside within IAI), please review the panel criteria and other important documents which are available at
Sociology IAI Major Recommendations
Major Course Recommendations (Up to 12 semester credits)
Required Sociology Prerequisite: S7 900 – Introduction to Sociology (3 semester credits)
In addition to the prerequisite course, students may complete up to 9 semester credit hours (typically three courses) from the courses listed below. A maximum of three sociology courses beyond Introduction to Sociology are guaranteed to transfer under the following conditions:
If the receiving institution offers the course as a lower-division course, transfer is guaranteed on a course-for-course basis.
If the receiving institution does not offer the course or does not offer it at the lower-division level, the student will receive lower-division elective credit in Sociology.
Students should consult with advisors at both their current and intended transfer institutions when selecting sociology coursework.
S7 901 - Social Problems (3 semester credits)
S7 902 - Marriage and Family (3 semester credits)
S7 903D - Racial and Ethnic Relations (3 semester credits)
S7 904D - The Sociology of Sex and Gender (3 semester credits)
IAI GECC Recommendations (Minimum 37 semester credits)
These are the specific courses in the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum (IAI GECC) that should be taken for this emphasis.
Communication: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
Select a two-course sequence in writing (6 semester credits) with a grade of "C" or better and, Select 1 course in oral communication (3 semester credits).
Mathematics: 1 course (3 semester credits)
Recommended: M1 902 General Education Statistics (3-4 semester credits) or M1 906 Finite Math (3-4 semester credits)
Physical and Life Sciences: 2 courses (7-8 semester credits)
Select 1 course from Physical Sciences. Select 1 course from Life Sciences. Select at least 1 laboratory course. (Students with the appropriate preparation may substitute an initial course designed for science majors for a more general course.)
Humanities and Fine Arts: 3 courses (9 semester credits)
Select 1 course from Humanities, Select 1 course from Fine Arts and Select 1 from either Humanities or Fine Arts. - Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 courses (9 semester credits) from at least two different disciplines.
Required Sociology Prerequisite: S7 900 Introduction to Sociology (3 semester credits)
- Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.
Recommended: S1 900N Introduction to Anthropology (3 semester credits) or
S1 901N Cultural Anthropology (3 semester credits)
- Courses can be taken from the same identifier as long as the course outcomes are different.
Check the worksheet to see what courses you can take to fulfill your general education requirements. The worksheet allows you to see what courses to take to fulfill the IAI Gen. Ed. package (Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum) at any participating college or university in the State. You will find it helpful to use the major recommended general education courses shown above. You may want to print or copy a hard copy of this page.
Return to the Illinois Baccalaureate Majors' Recommendations (IAI Majors).