BISP in Social Sciences

The Program

The Berkeley International Study Program in Social Sciences (BISP-Soc) offers students, both bachelors and masters level, from many different areas of study, to take relevant sociology and social sciences courses of interest to transfer back to their home university for their degree. It is common in the U.S. for students to take different subjects in addition to and for their major field of study.

Sociology offers topics of interest to many disciplines and professions such as business administration, health, media, education, international relations and politics, to name a few. Many careers value one’s knowledge and understanding of societal and cultural influences on individuals, groups and organizations.

Opportunities for graduate students are available in BISP-Soc. These options can include graduate-level seminars, undergraduate courses with masters-level work, masters, independent studies and field studies placement.

The BISP experience provides academic and personal growth opportunities that give students an edge in their future endeavors. Most BISP-Soc students choose among all of our sociology course offerings, but there is an option to focus coursework in one of six specialized Tracks.

Eligibility and Criteria

BISP-Soc partners with select universities who nominate qualified students to study abroad for one or two semesters. Students enroll in 15 semester credits (equivalent to 30 ECTS points) in sociology and social sciences courses. Enrollment is on a space-availability basis, and we are very successful in making space for our students in almost every sociology course we offer, between 25-30 upper level courses each semester. BISP students tend to be very happy with their sociology and social sciences courses and our professors love having them in class for the unique cultural perspective they bring.

Sample Social Sciences Tracks and Courses List

BISP-SOC Course Tracks

  1. Business and Economy
  2. Cultural and Global Studies
  3. Education and Special Education
  4. Health and Society
  5. Politics and Law
  6. Research*

*Note: Methodology courses are limited

The following is a list of upper-level bachelor courses in sociology, grouped into six different areas of study, although many courses could be listed in several of these. Most students will take courses from several of these areas, especially sociology and social science students. Be sure to look beyond what is listed in your area of interest, and consult with your advisor at your home university.

Cultural & Global Studies

  • Comparative Perspectives on Culture and Society
  • Comparative Perspectives on Political Economy
  • Contemporary Immigration in Global Perspective
  • Cross-Cultural Communication
  • Development and Globalization
  • East Asia in the Age of Globalization
  • Ethnic and Racial Relations: International Perspectives
  • Latina/o/x Sociology
  • Popular Culture
  • Race & Ethnic Relations: American Cultures
  • Sociology of Culture
  • The Global Elite

Health & Society

  • Cultural Perspectives on Food 
  • Health in a Global Society
  • Sex, Death, and Data
  • Sexual Cultures
  • Social Inequalities
  • Social Problems of the Food Industry
  • Social Psychology
  • Sociology of Emotion
  • Sociology of Health and Medicine
  • Sociology of Mental Health
  • Sport as a Social Institution

Business & Economy

  • Comparative Perspectives on U.S. and European Societies: Political Economy
  • Economy and Society
  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship
  • Leadership and Social Change
  • Organizations and Social Institutions
  • Social Networks
  • Sociology of Poverty
  • Technology and Society
  • Urban Sociology
  • Virtual Communities/Social Media

Politics & Law

  • “Isms” The Political and Social Imagination of The Modern World
  • Politics and Social Change
  • Social Change
  • Social Movements and Political Action
  • Social Policy
  • Sociology of Law
  • Sociology of Policing

Education & Special Education

  • Comparative Perspectives on Education
  • Comparative Perspectives on Inequality
  • Sociology of Childhood
  • Sociology of Disability
  • Sociology of Education
  • Sociology of the Family
  • Sociology of Gender
  • Sociology of Mental Health

Research & Methodology

  • Advanced Methods: In-Depth Interviewing
  • Independent Studies for Masters Students
  • Participant-Observation
  • Quantitative Sociological Methods
  • Research Design and Sociological Methods
  • Seminar and Research in Sociology
  • Sociological Writing and Analysis

Learn more about graduate-level Sociology courses (separate link)