Sociology

Courses Offered at

Woodland Campus

Lake County Campus

Colusa County Campus

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Certificates & Degrees

Sociology (A.A.-T)

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Fall 2026 — Classes start Aug 17

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SOCIL Class Schedule

About the Sociology Discipline

Sociology is the study of society and how individuals' lives are shaped by the larger social structure. Sociologists study a wide range of topics, including inequality, race, gender and sexuality, family, media, crime and deviance, government, social policy, and religion. Students who obtain the Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer (AA-T) will fulfill general education and transfer requirements that prepare students for further study in sociology and related fields.

“The first wisdom of sociology is this – things are not what they seem.” –Peter Berger

Associate Degrees in Sociology

Sociology is the study of society and how individuals’ lives are shaped by the larger social structure. Sociologists study a wide range of topics, including inequality, race, gender and sexuality, family, media, crime and deviance, government, social policy, and religion. Sociology provides students with career opportunities in education, criminology and law, social work, urban planning, and public policy. Most career options require more than two years of college study. Students who obtain the Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer (AA-T) will fulfill general education and transfer requirements that prepare students for further study in sociology and related fields. This degree aligns with both the CSU and UC Transfer Pathways. Note that all courses required for the major are CSU/UC transferable and can also count towards the 60 units and the GE-Breadth or IGETC requirements.

Students who complete an Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) will receive priority admission with junior status to the California State University System and priority admission consideration to their local CSU campus or to a program that is deemed similar to their community college major. This priority does not guarantee admission to specific majors or campuses. Students should consult with a counselor for more information on specific university major admission and transfer requirements. The following are required for all AA-T or AS-T degrees: – Minimum of 60 CSU transferrable semester units – Minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework – Satisfactory completion (C or better OR Pass*) of courses used to satisfy major requirements AND courses used to complete the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) requirements *Some majors may not accept a Pass in place of a letter grade. Consult with a counselor before choosing the P/NP grading option.

Program MapOpen PDF

Program maps suggest courses to take by semester and include career and transfer information when available.

Required Courses for this major (19 Units)^†

Required Core Courses (10 Units)

SOCIL1 Introduction To Sociology (3 Units)
SOCIL2 Social Problems (3 Units)
STATC1000 Introduction To Statistics (4 Units)

Major Electives (choose three) (9 Units)

PSYCH22 Social Psychology (3 Units)
SOCIL5 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (3 Units)
SOCIL6 Sociology of Sex and Gender (3 Units)
SOCIL8 Social Science Research Methods (3 Units)
SOCIL10 Sociology of Marriage and Family (3 Units)

^†Additional courses are required to earn your degree. Talk to a counselor to learn more.

Woodland Campus

Courses in Sociology

SOCIL1 (3 units) —

Introduction To Sociology

SOCIL2 (3 units) —

Social Problems

SOCIL5 (3 units) —

Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

SOCIL6 (3 units) —

Sociology of Sex and Gender

SOCIL8 (3 units) —

Social Science Research Methods

SOCIL10 (3 units) —

Sociology of Marriage and Family

SOCIL class schedules

All other class schedules

Courses in Sociology

SOCIL1 Introduction To Sociology

3 units

This course provides a broad introduction to the basic principles and concepts of sociology including theories and methods, culture, socialization, organizations, institutions, stratification, collective behavior and social change.

Course Details:

Letter Grade Only

54 lecture hours

Transferable to both UC and CSU

This course satisfies these GE requirements:

WCC Graduation: Area 4

Cal-GETC: 4

UC-TCA: UC-B

C-ID: SOCI 110

SOCIL2 Social Problems

3 units

This course uses a sociological perspective to identify structural causes, consequences, and solutions to social issues that affect everyday life. Topics covered include unemployment, food and housing insecurity, structural racism, gender discrimination, environmental policy, and systemic inequality in institutions such as education, healthcare, and criminal justice.

Course Details:

Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

54 lecture hours

Transferable to both UC and CSU

This course satisfies these GE requirements:

WCC Graduation: Area 4

Cal-GETC: 4

UC-TCA: UC-B

C-ID: SOCI 115

SOCIL5 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

3 units

This course focuses on critical analysis of how social construction of race and ethnicity impacts everyday life through institutions such as the labor market, education system, environmental racism, healthcare, media, political system, and the criminal justice system. The course contextualizes US race and ethnic relations in the context of global migration and colonization, applying sociological theories and evidence to explore strategies to dismantle systemic racism.

Course Details:

Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

54 lecture hours

Transferable to both UC and CSU

This course satisfies these GE requirements:

WCC Graduation: Area 4

Cal-GETC: 4

UC-TCA: UC-B

C-ID: SOCI 150

SOCIL6 Sociology of Sex and Gender

3 units

This class focuses on sociological analysis of the construction, reproduction, and consequences of biological sex categories, sexuality, and gender roles and identities. The class explores gender and sexual identities as part of a spectrum, focusing on how individuals' lives are impacted by the social construction of gender, biological sex, and sexuality as binary. Topics include inequality in relationships, education and the workplace, law and public policy, and popular cultural representations.

Course Details:

Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

54 lecture hours

Transferable to both UC and CSU

This course satisfies these GE requirements:

WCC Graduation: Area 4

Cal-GETC: 4

UC-TCA: UC-B

C-ID: SOCI 140

SOCIL8 Social Science Research Methods

3 units

Covers basic issues in the design and implementation of social science research. Topics covered include the scientific method, ethics, research design, basic descriptive and inferential statistics, and qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Student will conduct and present original research projects.

Course Details:

Letter Grade Only

54 lecture hours

Prerequisites:

Satisfactory completion of SOCIL1

Transferable to both UC and CSU

This course satisfies these GE requirements:

Cal-GETC: 4

UC-TCA: UC-B

C-ID: SOCI 120

SOCIL10 Sociology of Marriage and Family

3 units

This course examines social factors that impact our private lives and challenges mainstream assumptions about what marriage and family should be. Sociological analysis of family includes historical and cross-cultural comparisons of family form and function, family values, gender roles, childhood and parenting, marriage and divorce, and contemporary debates about the meaning and purpose of family.

Course Details:

Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

54 lecture hours

Transferable to both UC and CSU

This course satisfies these GE requirements:

WCC Graduation: Area 4

Cal-GETC: 4

UC-TCA: UC-B

C-ID: SOCI 130

Learn more about Sociology

The Sociology Program at WCC offers a transfer degree and a range of courses that fulfill general education and transfer requirements and prepare students for further study in sociology and related fields.

Join the Sociology Program Canvas community
View sociology student research in our annual Symposium event

What is sociology?
Sociology is the study of society and how individuals’ lives are shaped by the larger social context. Sociologists study a wide range of topics, including: