Best Sociology colleges in California 2023

The Department of Sociology at Berkeley was established in 1946 and in the decades that followed was responsible for creating and developing sub disciplines of sociology including symbolic interaction and deviance, sociology of law, political sociology, industrial sociology, historical and comparative, social theory and collective behavior, religion, culture. Undergraduate courses range from large lectures to intimate seminars, with plenty of opportunities for research that incorporate other social sciences and professional schools on campus. Not only can you get a PhD in sociology at Cal, there is also a PhD program in sociology and demography. There is no M.A. program available, but those accepted into the PhD program can receive their M.A. on the way to being awarded a PhD. Outside of required courses the sociology department also sponsors six undergraduate student organizations. In addition there is the Berkeley Sociology Forum, an intellectual center that addresses issues of a comparative, global, historical, theoretical and methodological nature.

UCSB has one of the largest sociology programs in the country, and is a leader in the areas of gender, sexualities, and feminist theory, the sociology of culture, race and ethnicity, Latina and Latino studies, globalization and its effects, social movements, conversation analysis and social networks. While the faculty is well known for its research, there are also ample opportunities for undergraduates to hone their research skills, either individually with professor supervision, or by participating with a faculty member on their research. There is also an honors program available which gives students the opportunity of graduating with “Distinction in the Major.” Applicants to the graduate program are not able to only pursue an M.A. degree, but are admitted with the intention that their ultimate goal is to be awarded a PhD degree. However, this is dependent upon successful completion of the M.A. requirements and defense of an M.A. thesis.

The UCLA Department of Sociology was founded in 1948, and boasts a faculty of internationally renowned scholars and award-winning instructors who are addressing a wide range of topics from the dynamics of social interaction to the impact of globalization. The Student Research Program (SRP) gives students the opportunity to do research and work individually with participating faculty members. Juniors and seniors are able to participate in the Social Enterprise Academy (SEA) a two-quarter course offered by the Division of Social Sciences that mentors non-profit organizations in developing new social ventures to create earned income opportunities.

In addition to non-profit experience the SEA provides students with market research, consulting, teamwork, networking, and public speaking skills. Not sure what you want to do after graduation? The upper division Careers in Sociology course helps students learn about the many career opportunities available to sociology majors and teaches students to use their interests, needs and skills to make effective career choices. The department accepts applications for the PhD program only, however students may be awarded an M.A. on the way to being awarded a PhD.

The undergraduate curriculum at UC Riverside teaches students about a wide range of sociological topics including ethnicity, race and class inequality, gender, social stratification, sociology of education, the city and urban problems, the environment, sociology of religion, crime and deviance and global social change. Not only can you choose between a B.A. and B.S. in sociology, you can also choose between majors in sociology/administrative studies, and sociology/law and society. The graduate program does not offer a free-standing master’s degree, but offers a M.A. degree as part of the required progress towards a PhD. Candidates must choose two areas of specialization from the following: criminology and socio-legal studies, gender studies, organizations and institutions, political economy and global social change, race and class inequality, social psychology, and sociological theory.