Students interested in the LALS/sociology B.A. are encouraged to enroll in LALS 1, Introduction to Latin American and Latino Studies, and two of the required lower-division sociology courses - chosen from SOCY 1, SOCY 10, or SOCY 15 - at their earliest opportunity.
LALS Program Learning Outcomes:
We expect that all graduating LALS seniors will have gained proficiency or competency in the following five areas: critical thinking, research methods, communication, language, and lifelong learning skills.
- Critical Thinking. Ability to analyze from a transnational/transborder/translocal perspective—to see the interconnections between Latin American and Latino issues, people, ideas, problems and solutions. This includes key skills, such as understanding sources, comparing arguments, analysis, and historical perspective.
- Research Methods. Working knowledge of social scientific and/or humanistic approaches to LALS relevant topics. This includes acquiring qualitative and quantitative skills, gathering or obtaining research data, finding/using primary sources, and other research methods.
- Communication. Key communication skills, including written, oral presentation, and digital, including an understanding of media sources and ability to apply media literacy to cross-cultural analysis.
- Language. Fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese, in addition to English.
- Lifelong Learning Skills. Acquisition of practical hands-on skills in community engagement, cross-cultural fluency, familiarity with Latin America, and familiarity with Latino experience acquired through experiential learning while working with community and civic organizations.
Sociology Program Learning Outcomes:
Students graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology will:
Demonstrate critical thinking and critical citizenship skills intended to promote social justice through the ability to analyze and evaluate social , political, and/or cultural arguments.
Demonstrate sociological understandings of phenomena, for example, how individual biographies are shaped by social structures, social institutions, cultural practices, and multiple axes of difference and/or inequality.
Formulate effective and convincing written and/or oral arguments.
Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to use, several of the major classical and/or contemporary perspectives in social theory.
Demonstrate an understanding of several of the major social science research methodologies.
Demonstrate knowledge of some of the key substantive areas within the field of sociology.
Major Qualification
Students must complete the lower-division sociology courses, two chosen from SOCY 1, SOCY 10, or SOCY 15, and LALS 1 with a grade of C or better, and both departments must approve a study plan before the major can be declared.
Appeal Process
Students who are notified they are not eligible to declare major appeal this decision by submitting a letter of appeal to the department chair within 15 days of notification. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal letter, the department will notify the student and their college of the appeal decision.
How to Declare a Major
Students must follow the declaration procedure for both LALS and sociology, beginning with the Sociology Department. Find more information on department websites or by speaking with the LALS or sociology undergraduate adviser.
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
Students planning to apply in this major are not required to complete specific major preparation courses for consideration of admission to UC Santa Cruz.
LALS welcomes transfer students. Students interested in transferring in to UCSC as a LALS and sociology combined major are encouraged to enroll in courses related to both disciplines prior to transfer. Visit Assist.org to review our transfer articulations.
Getting Started at UCSC as a Transfer Student
Transfer students must complete LALS 1, Introduction to Latin American and Latino Studies, and two courses chosen from SOCY 1, SOCY 10, or SOCY 15 (or transferred in with equivalent credit) to declare the LALS/sociology combined major. LALS 1 is offered in fall and winter quarters and during Summer Session. To make timely progress in the major, transfer students often opt to enroll in LALS 1 and the first course in our core series, LALS 100, Concepts and Theories in Latin American and Latino Studies, in their first quarter.
For combined majors, academic performance must meet the criteria in both departments to be awarded honors. Honors can only be conferred if both departments agree.
For LALS, honors are awarded based on performance in courses taken for the major. Students who achieve a 3.7 or higher in their coursework are awarded honors; those who achieve a 4.0 are awarded highest honors. LALS also awards honors for the thesis, or creative or community action projects by the recommendation of the faculty adviser.
For sociology, honors are awarded based on the student’s cumulative GPA for all courses taken to satisfy the program’s major requirements, excluding the comprehensive requirement. Students with a GPA of 3.75 or above will be considered for honors in the major. Students with a GPA of 3.9 or above will be considered for highest honors in the major. No more than approximately 15 percent of the graduating class will be considered for honors or highest honors in the major. Comprehensive honors is awarded to students who complete the senior thesis option, and their faculty thesis sponsor and one additional reader evaluate the thesis to be of honors quality.