Best Sociology Programs in Massachusetts for 2027

UMass Amherst sociology majors take seven required courses whatever their path: one 100-level sociology course, Elementary Statistics, Data Collection & Analysis, Writing in Sociology, Foundations in Sociological Theory, a 200+ level elective and an international or intercultural course. Students entering in Fall 2026 or later declare a concentration with the major, choosing General Sociology, Criminology, Law, & Deviance, Labor & Community Advocacy, Social Demography & Data Analytics, or Social Work & Social Welfare. Separate certificates are also offered. At 93 degrees awarded in 2023–24, this is one of the larger options on its Massachusetts state page.

Required Courses

Seven courses including statistics, data collection and analysis, writing and theory

Concentrations

Five choices, from General Sociology to Social Work & Social Welfare

Certificates

Criminology, Law, and Deviance; Population Studies; Social Work and Social Welfare

Program Sources: Major Requirements : Sociology : UMass AmherstUndergraduate Studies in Sociology : Sociology : UMass Amherst

Boston University’s sociology major takes 11 courses: 10 in sociology and one in statistics. Courses are taken within the College of Arts & Sciences unless transferred or approved otherwise, you need a C or higher for credit toward the major, and graduation requires 128 credits. The department sets four learning goals covering theory, research design and data gathering, evaluating research evidence, and communicating sociological knowledge. Majors get a dedicated department advisor, and the department also runs an Undergraduate Mentoring Program and peer writing support. BU awarded 42 degrees in sociology in 2023–24.

Course Load

Eleven courses: ten in sociology and one in statistics

Learning Goals

Theory, research methods, evaluating evidence and communication

Support

Dedicated major advisor, mentoring program and peer writing support

Program Sources: Undergraduate Program | Sociology | Boston University

Boston College requires 30 credits in sociology: an introductory course, Statistics, Research Methods and Social Theory, then nine credits of electives numbered 1003 and above and nine more numbered 3000 and above. You can add up to two optional concentrations: Social Inequality, Global Sociology, Environmental Sociology, Research Methods, or Health and Medicine. Each takes at least three courses, one of them upper level, and the four required major courses cannot count toward one. Concentrations do not appear on transcripts or diplomas, but the department encourages listing them on résumés. The department awarded 26 degrees in 2023–24.

Required Courses

Introductory Sociology, Statistics, Research Methods and Social Theory

Concentrations

Five optional areas, up to two per student, each with at least three courses

Elective Credits

Nine credits at SOCY1003 and above and nine at SOCY3000 and above

Program Sources: Major & Minor - Sociology Department - Boston College

Holy Cross builds community-based learning into many sociology courses, alongside training in qualitative and quantitative research. Required courses include Social Statistics, Logics of Inquiry and Social Theory, and in some cases those can be taken abroad; up to four study-abroad courses, usually electives, may transfer toward the major. You can do research with faculty through the Weiss Summer Fellowship or research assistantships, and some students have presented at national conferences or co-published with faculty. Sample courses include Environmental Racism, Medical Sociology, End of Life, and Food & Mobility. The program awarded 34 degrees in 2023–24.

Methods Courses

Social Statistics, Logics of Inquiry and Social Theory

Faculty Research

Weiss Summer Fellowship and research assistantships

Study Abroad

Up to four courses can transfer toward the major

Program Sources: Sociology | College of the Holy Cross

Harvard's Sociology PhD requires 16 graduate courses and formal training in both quantitative and qualitative methods. Students also take theory and a course joining sociological research design with contemporary theory. The department asks for a qualifying-paper project overview and faculty adviser by the second year, making the first independent research milestone explicit. This structure favors applicants who can explain a question and a workable research approach before arrival, while leaving subsequent workshops and directed readings to deepen a specialty. An MA is not required to apply.

Course Requirement

16 graduate courses

Method Coverage

Quantitative and qualitative

Program Sources: Harvard Sociology PhD RequirementsHarvard Sociology Admissions FAQ

BU’s sociology PhD takes 64 credits, made up of 5 core courses and 11 electives. Before the dissertation prospectus you show mastery of two subfields, choosing for each a critical essay, a take-home exam, or a research paper. The timetable has you finish courses by the end of year two, then qualifying requirements, the oral defense and the prospectus by the end of year three, with seven years to complete everything including the dissertation. Recent dissertations looked at gentrification in two Boston neighborhoods, earthquake risk in Istanbul, and medical tourism in Thailand. Five degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Coursework

5 core courses and 11 electives for 64 credits

Qualifying Requirements

Mastery of two subfields through a critical essay, take-home exam or research paper

Timetable

Courses by year two, prospectus by year three, all requirements within seven years

Program Sources: Graduate | Sociology | Boston University

Teaching training at UMass Amherst follows a set order: grader in the first year, discussion section leader in the second, then instructor of your own course with a faculty mentor. Every student also takes a Teaching Sociology seminar to articulate a teaching philosophy and produce a syllabus. Coursework covers theory, research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, a Proseminar, and a writing course, followed by at least 18 dissertation credits that most students register for from year three. First-year students typically hold a 20-hour-per-week assistantship. The program awarded 4 degrees in 2023–24.

Teaching Sequence

Grader, then discussion leader, then instructor of your own course

Teaching Seminar

Required Teaching Sociology seminar with a syllabus project

Dissertation Credits

At least 18 dissertation credits, usually taken from year three

Program Sources: Preparation for Teaching : Sociology : UMass AmherstAcademics : Sociology : UMass Amherst

Holyoke’s Sociology Option is an Arts and Science A.A. designed for students who want a liberal arts base or plan to transfer to a four-year college in the social sciences. The 60 credits split into 36 of general education, including Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Psychology and Statistics for Psychology, then 15 credits in any five SOC courses and 9 suggested elective credits. Recommended sociology courses are SOC 213, 214, 215, 220 and 235. Holyoke awarded 2 degrees in 2023–24.

Program Courses

Any five SOC-designated courses for 15 credits

General Education

36 credits including Introduction to Sociology and Statistics for Psychology

Transfer Pathway

Qualifies for MassTransfer to Massachusetts state colleges and universities

Program Sources: Program: Sociology Option, Arts and Science, A.A. - Holyoke Community College

Bunker Hill lays its sociology concentration out semester by semester over four terms. You begin with Principles of Sociology, Principles of Psychology and Statistics I, add Cultural Anthropology and The Family in semester two, and finish with Social Problems, the capstone course, alongside The Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. SOC-204 gives you job shadowing if a Learn and Earn internship doesn’t fit your schedule. Advising notes ask you to build an ePortfolio, attend a sociology discipline conference, and prepare transfer essays and recommendation letters in your last year. The program awarded 8 degrees in 2023–24.

Capstone

SOC-203 Social Problems in semester four

Job Exposure

Learn and Earn internship or SOC-204 job shadowing

Portfolio

ePortfolio of sociology course artifacts and conference participation

Program Sources: Program: Sociology Concentration, A.A. - Bunker Hill Community College

Quinsigamond’s Liberal Arts, Sociology Option is a four-semester Associate in Arts built around transfer, with every course taught at the West Boylston Street campus. Sociology starts in semester one with Introductory Sociology and continues with Social Problems and Social Change. Statistics arrives in semester three, along with the first of two 200-level sociology electives, and the second follows in semester four. The plan also has you confirm the MassTransfer 34-credit general education block, so the rest of your schedule covers humanities, lab science and a history survey. Three students completed it in 2023–24.

Sociology Sequence

Introductory Sociology, Social Problems and Social Change, and two 200-level sociology electives

Statistics

MAT 122 Statistics in semester three

Transfer Pathway

MassTransfer 34-credit general education block, 61-62 credits total

Program Sources: Liberal Arts - Sociology Option | Quinsigamond