Certificate Types and Requirements

 

The UCI Sociology Department offers undergraduate Sociology students the opportunity to earn up to four departmental certificates. Each certificate recognizes successful completion of a focused course of study in one of four areas listed below.

 


 

Business, Economy, and Organizations

 

The certificate recognizes special expertise in the social forces shaping the workplace, organizational structures and the economy. This certificate program may prepare students for careers in business development, economic policy, and organizational management. You are required to complete FOUR of the following courses with a grade of C or better. Each course may be used for one certificate only.

Business, Economy, and Organizations Certificate Online Application
 

Courses:

Sociology 41: Small Group Dynamics

Sociology 68: Gender and Race Inequality in the Workplace

Sociology 135: Social Psychology of Networks

Sociology 138: Business Decisions

Sociology 141: Organizations

Sociology 142: White Collar Crime

Sociology 157A: Sociology of Education

Sociology 158C: or 158CW: Money, Work, and Social Life

Sociology 163W: Credit, Debt, and Inequality

Sociology 173 or 173W: Social Inequality

Sociology 174: Protests, Movements, and Revolution

Economics 1: Introduction to Economics (for students graduating in spring/summer 2026 only)

 


 

Diversity & Inequality

 

This certificate recognizes special expertise in the racial, ethnic, gender, age and sexual orientation diversity of communities and workplaces. It places special emphasis on how these population categories are associated with inequality and social injustice. This certificate program may prepare students for careers in diversity management, law, human resources, and social policy. You are required to complete FOUR courses with a grade of C or better. Each course may be used for one certificate only.

Diversity & Inequality Certificate Online Application
 

Courses:

Sociology 44: Births, Deaths, and Migration

Sociology 51: Asian American Family and Community

Sociology 52: Disability in Society

Sociology 62: Families and Intimate Relations

Sociology 63: Race and Ethnicity

Sociology 64: Sociology of Sexuality

Sociology 68: Gender and Race Inequality in the Workplace

Sociology 68A: Ethnic and Immigrant America

Sociology 150: Sociological Lens on Religion

Sociology 151: Social Inequality and Health

Sociology 157A or 157AW: Sociology of Education

Sociology 159: Sociology of Catholicism

Sociology 161 or 161W: Sociology of Sex and Gender

Sociology 163: Gender and Ethnicity: Chicana/Latina Feminisms in the US

Sociology 163W: Credit, Debt, and Inequality

Sociology 164 or 164W: Sociology of Aging

Sociology 166: Immigration and Inequality

Sociology 167A or 167AW: Racial and Ethnic Relations in the US

Sociology 168W: Neighborhood Inequality and Residential Segregation

Sociology 169: Race, Sex and the Media

Sociology 172A: Chicane/Latine Education

Sociology 173 or 173W: Social Inequality

Sociology 173A: Sociology of Poverty

Sociology 174: Protest, Movements, and Revolutions

Sociology 175B: China in the Global Age

Sociology 177C: Undocumented Immigrant Experiences

 


 

Global & International Sociology

 

This certificate recognizes intensive study of significant global issues and world regions undergoing rapid social change. The certificate may prepare students for careers in global affairs, international organizations, international business, and law. You are required to complete FOUR courses with a grade of C or better. Each course may be used for one certificate only.

Diversity & Inequality Certificate Online Application
 

Courses:

Sociology 2: Global and Transnational Sociology

Sociology 43: City and Community

Sociology 44: Births, Deaths, and Migration

Sociology 144: Politics, Power, and Society

Sociology 152W: Global Peace

Sociology 159: Global Health and Development

Sociology 166: Immigration and Inequality

Sociology 170B: U.S. War on Terrorism

Sociology 175B: China in the Global Age

Sociology 176: International Devided Cities

Sociology 178W: Sociology of Human Rights

Sociology 179: Gender & Work in a Global Context

Sociology 179: Socialism and Socialist Societies

Sociology 179: Race & Ethnicity in Comparative/Global Perspective

Sociology 179: Sociology of Humanitarianism 

Sociology 179: Human Rights Advocacy

 


 

Social Problems & Public Policy

 

This certificate recognizes special expertise relevant to developing, implementing, and evaluating programs in education, health care, social work, personnel, law enforcement, and public administration. This certificate program may prepare students for careers in social services and public administration. You are required to complete FOUR courses with a grade of C or better. Each course may be used for one certificate only.

Social Problems & Public Policy Online Application
 

Courses:

Sociology 3: Social Problems

Sociology 41: Small Group Dynamics

Sociology 43: ity and Community

Sociology 44: Births, Deaths, and Migration

Sociology 52: Disability in Society

Sociology 62: Families and Intimate Relations

Sociology 68: Gender and Race Inequality in the Workplace

Sociology 135: Social Psychology of Networks

Sociology 141: Organizations

Sociology 142: White Collar Crime

Sociology 143: Social Networks and Social Support

Sociology 144: Politics, Power, and Society

Sociology 154 or 154W: Medical Sociology

Sociology 156: Deviance

Sociology 157A or 157AW: Sociology of Education

Sociology 158: Sociology of Mental Health

Sociology 164 or 164W: Sociology of Aging

Sociology 166: Immigration and Inequality

Sociology 167A or 167AW: Racial and ethnic Relations in the US

Sociology 168W: Neighborhood Inequality and Residential Segregation

Sociology 169: Criminalization of Immigration

Sociology 169: Immigration and Detention

Sociology 171: Environment and Society

Sociology 173A: Sociology of Poverty

Sociology 174: Protests, Movements, and Revolution

 


 

Submission Details

 

Please click on the certificate you would like to apply to above to review the requirements. The requirements for each certificate is incredibly simple - simply complete 4 courses from the list of approved courses with a C or better! Each certificate topic has a different list of approved courses, so be sure to review the list by clicking the title of the certificate you are interested in above.

Applying for a certificate is even easier! In order to apply, complete the Google Form Application by May 15th (if deadline falls on a holiday or weekend, the due date will be the next working day). ALL certificate applications submitted before May 15th will be processed in the Spring quarter, not earlier. Please read the FAQ below for more information.

NOTE: The Google form application for your certificate must be complete to be reviewed. Complete applications must include your unofficial transcripts (and any backup for transfer course, substitution courses, or grade verifications if applicable) to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

 


 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

When Will I Receive My Certificate?:
If you submit your application via the Google Form Application by the deadline posted above, then your certificate will be ready for you to receive at our annual certificate ceremony typically held in early June. It will also be available to pickup around the same time from our department offices (SSPB 4211). If you come to pick up your certificate after June, there is no guarantee that we will still have it.

 


 

What If I Cannot Pickup my Certificate In Person and/or Attend the Ceremony?
If you cannot attend the ceremony or pickup your certificate in person, that is completely fine! We are more than happy to give your certificate to a trusted friend if you let us know ahead of time. We do not mail out certificates, so if you have no way of picking up the physical copy please reach out and we can send you a digital PDF for you to print or keep.

 


 

For Students Graduating in Spring:
If you are graduating in the spring and would like to receive your certificate in the spring ceremony, but are still completing a course, please still complete the application form by the deadline and Indicate the course information on your application, and note “in progress” next to the course.

 


 

For Students Graduating in Fall or Winter:
If you are graduating in either the Fall or Winter, you can still submit your certificate application/s. However, these will NOT be processed earlier. These applications will be processed along with the rest in the Spring quarter, and mailed out to you over the Spring and Summer. Be sure to list a permanent mailing address on your application.

 


 

Have Transfer Courses?
Please submit the following via email to Undergraduate Director at cariane@uci.edu and sociolstudentassist@uci.edu

  1. Your transcripts for all eligible courses
  2. The syllabi for any *non-sociology or non-UCI courses (*cannot be approved without syllabi)

 


 

Course substitutions?
For course substitution requests please submit the following via email to Undergreaduate Director at cariane@uci.edu and sociolstudentassist@uci.edu

  1. Your transcripts for all eligible courses
  2. The syllabi for any *non-sociology or non-UCI courses (*cannot be approved without syllabi)

 


 

Completing a course over the Summer?
If you are taking a course during Summer Sessions to complete your certificate requirements - once this course is completed, please email sociolstudentassist@uci.edu and let us know that you have completed your final course requirement.

 


 

Completing a course in Spring Quarter?
If you are taking a course in Spring quarter to complete your certificate requirements, email the instructor of the course and ask them to verify that you will finish this course with a C or better. Upload that email, along with your unofficial transcripts, to the Online Sociology Certificate Application Form.

 


 

Course requirements?
For each certificate, you are required to complete FOUR courses in its field with a grade of C or better. Requirements for the certificates may be completed over the course of your academic career here at UC Irvine. You are not required to complete all the coursework in one academic year. Please click on the certificate title at the top of this webpage to view the application and the qualifying courses.