<p>i might major in sociology but i've never heard much about sociology at ucsd. so i have a few questions:</p>
<p>how is the department? what are the best classes? is there anything annoying about doing this major? is it generally viewed as hard or easy? are sociology students happy with their major? stuff like that. thank you all!</p>
<p>Of the social sciences, Sociology is probably UCSD’s lowest-ranked department, albeit the graduate division is still #31 (out of a little over 100 departments) according to USNEWS.</p>
<p>That said:</p>
<p>The undergraduate division does not seem to hold a candle to the graduate division. From the degree requirements, it does not seem to be very empirical/research-based. You’ll get a thorough theoretical understanding of topics through lecture, but like any other academic field, the best pedagogical experience comes from hands-on training of how to be a scholar. The undergraduate degree will help you be a better analytical writer without really showing you how to be an effective empiricist.</p>
<p>No idea on classes.</p>
<p>You’ll probably not be respected by the bevy of science/engineering majors on campus.</p>
<p>Many of my friends majoring in Sociology switched into it, mainly because they took the Lower-Div sequences and thought it was easy. No idea on Upper-Div classes.</p>
<p>Too ambiguous to say as a whole. Some love it; some hate it. Depends on you.</p>
<p>thank you so much Oyama. i figured it wasn’t too great of a department at sd just judging from how little i hear of it. i appreciate your take on the undergrad vs. grad aspect!</p>
<p>oyama, how many undergrad liberal arts degrees do you think are empirical/research based? that is graduate level stuff… my undergrad science degree isn’t even really ‘empirical’, just a handful of lab classes that pretty much amount to following a procedure.</p>
<p>“You’ll probably not be respected by the bevy of science/engineering majors on campus.”
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<p>That’s ridiculous. I really don’t think most people go around and stop respecting people when they find out their major. That’s like middle school ****. Don’t associate yourself with those people if you meet them. What does it matter anyway? You’re paying around 20k a year to go here, do whatever you want, it’s your future.</p>
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<p>I’ve done plenty of research for my Econ and Psyc degrees through graduate courses, 199s and honors theses. I had a completely different view of each field after actually getting involved in research than when I was just attending courses. Sometimes I really find UCSD to be leading undergraduates towards a great theoretical degree, but really don’t prepare them for actual experiences that are related to their field.</p>
<p>hey oyama, can i hear what you think about the ucsd econ major?</p>
<p>sorry i kno this thread is about sociology, but since it came up i thought i wouldnt be a random question to be asked. im thinking of majoring in economics.</p>