Data Science, Markets and Management Track

Sociology majors interested in a more quantitative grounding may choose to pursue the ‘Data Science, Markets and Management Track’. This set of requirements within the Sociology BA major provides students the opportunity to study social phenomena through a computational lens. Students in this track take courses on network analysis, computer programming, experimental methods, and big data, alongside “classic” sociology courses. Students pursuing this track are well-placed for careers that blend technology with the understanding of social behavior.

This quantitative Sociology BA track would require:

  • 15 classes or approximately 60 units:
    • 5 Core
    • 1 WIM
    • 2 Foundation
    • 7 Electives

Please note that the Sociology major will require a capstone sequence for students beginning with the Class of 2025.

  • For seniors completing an honors thesis, the thesis will fulfill the capstone.
  • For seniors not completing an honors thesis, the capstone project will be completed over a three-course sequence: SOC 204A, SOC 204B, and SOC 204C. The project will be designed in SOC 204A in the fall, and work will be accomplished with guidance through SOC 204B in the winter, and SOC 204C in the spring, culminating in a presentation at the end of the Spring Quarter. A wide variety of capstone projects will be allowed, including team projects.

Core Requirements

Required:

Can be fulfilled with:

1 class in experimental methods

SOC 2, Social Psychology, Self and Society (Willer); SOC 120, Interpersonal Relations

1 class in data analysis/regression

SOC 180B, Introduction to Data Analysis (Jackson)

1 class in computer programming

CS 105, CS 106A, CS 106B, CS 106X, or equivalent, or a more advanced CS class

1 class in analysis of big data

MS&E 231/SOC 278, SOC 10 Introduction to Computational Social Science

1 class in network analysis

SOC 31N, Introduction to Social Networks; SOC 126, Introduction to Social Networks; or SOC 224B, Relational Sociology (McFarland); or CS 224W, Machine Learning with Graphs; or ECON 291 Social and Economic Networks; or MS&E 135, Networks

Writing in the Major Class

SOC 204 (usually fall of senior year) or SOC 202 (usually winter of junior year). SOC 202 is designed for students who will be embarking on an honors thesis project. SOC 204 is a capstone senior course for students not doing an honors thesis.

Foundation Courses

Sociology courses on Economics, Organizations, Business, Labor Markets and the Economy (select 2 from list):

  • SOC 3, America: Unequal (Grusky)
  • SOC 18N, Ethics, Morality, and Markets (Kiviat)
  • SOC 114, Economic Sociology (Granovetter)
  • SOC 117A, China Under Mao (Walder)
  • SOC 130, Education and Society (Ramirez)
  • SOC 162, Markets and Governance (Young)
  • SOC 167A, Asia-Pacific Transformation (Shin)
  • SOC 187, Ethics, Morality, and Markets (Kiviat)

Electives

Seven classes broadly distributed:

  • Additional Sociology electives: 4 additional Sociology courses
  • Additional Computer Science, Math, Statistics, or quantitative Social Science electives: 2 additional classes
  • Additional non-Sociology social science electives: 1 class
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