• How do I have my “Term Advisement Required” hold released? Each semester, all students have a term advisement hold placed on their account. Students in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology will receive an email with instructions from their advisor about what they have to do to have their hold released. Once the required advising steps are completed, the hold will be released prior to registration so that you can register on your assigned date and time.
• I have a different kind of hold on my account. What should I do? Holds may be placed by different university offices, such as Student Accounts, Health Services, or the advising unit. Non-advising holds must be resolved directly with the issuing office.
• A course requires instructor or department approval. How do I enroll? If the course is outside Sociology and Anthropology, contact the course instructor or the department offering the class. For Sociology and Anthropology courses, reach out to an academic advisor for assistance.
• Why are some course sections reserved or closed? Reserved seats are often held for specific student populations, such as majors, minors, or students in particular programs. If you do not meet the requirements for a reserved section, consider other open sections or add yourself to the waitlist.
• My advisor says I need to do a Pack Planner in order to get my advising hold released. What do I do? The Pack Planner is a tool that the university offers to help you plan your coursework during your time at NC State. Because the Sociology and Anthropology degree offers a range of options to meet most of the requirements, some advisors ask or require students to fill out their Pack Planner each semester in order to have their registration hold released. This ensures that you are continuously making progress toward your degree and that you will graduate within the time frame that you have planned. In order to actually enroll in courses that you have planned for in your Pack Planner, you will have to use the enrollment wizard to do so during your specified enrollment time. Putting courses in your Pack Planner does not automatically place the course in your shopping cart. There is no guarantee that courses pulled into the Pack Planner beyond the next semester will be available to take, so make sure you have backup plans.
• How do I make a plan with the Pack Planner? Helpful video tutorial on how to use the Pack Planner. As a starting point, you can use the “load suggested plan” button to get placeholders for all the courses you still need to complete your Sociology and Anthropology degree. From there, you can rearrange the placeholder courses to specific semesters, and then you can choose specific courses that you are interested in and meet the requirements, rather than just having those placeholders there. 

• What is the Degree Audit? The Degree Audit shows you the courses you have taken and the courses you are required to complete to receive your degree. It is broken into sections for different requirements.
• What do the “details” links show me? While there are some specific courses you must take, other requirements can be met by several different classes. Clicking on the “details” link shows you a list of all of the possible classes you could take to fulfill the requirement in question. 
• What does the “social science (3 different)” requirement mean? Why doesn’t the class I picked fulfill the requirement? You must have four social science classes from three different disciplines. Sometimes classes are “cross-listed” and fall into two disciplines. This situation will frequently violate the “three different disciplines” rule and you will have to pick a different class to fulfill the requirement.
• What is the free electives section? How is this different from Sociology and Anthropology electives? Free electives are courses that are not required for your major or general education requirements. Always review your Degree Audit to confirm how a course is applied. For free electives, you can take nearly any class. A lot of people use free electives to explore other areas of interest or to complete a minor or second major.
• Why do I have classes in the non-degree section? There are several reasons for this. Common reasons include: 1. Foreign Language 101 classes can fall into non-degree classes. If this is where you place via your placement test, you will still need to take this class! Talk to your advisor to discuss whether this can be a free elective. 2. You have planned for the same class multiple times. 3. You overplanned for your degree. If you exceed the number of free electives you need for your degree, they will start falling into the non-degree section. 4. You received a grade that is unsatisfactory for fulfilling the requirement (e.g., a D in a class that requires a C- or a U that requires an S). 5. You used a grade exclusion.
• I took a class that’s on a list for one of my requirements, but that course is currently listed as a free elective and it says I still need that requirement. Why is it there instead of where the requirement is? There are a few reasons this may happen: 1. You changed the course to Credit Only Grading – All courses to be used towards graduation requirements must be taken for a letter grade. If you took a course that would normally count towards a requirement, but is showing up as a free elective, then you probably took the course Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (for Credit Only). Remember that the university rule is that the only courses you can take for Credit Only are your two HES and up to 12 hours of free electives. If you are taking a course towards a requirement and you change it to Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading, then it can no longer be used towards the requirement. 2.For the social sciences requirement, you are required to take 4 courses from 3 different categories.
• What do ‘CR’, ‘WA’ and ‘MET’ mean? Regardless of which letters you see, the bottom line is that you have MET the requirement! CR: Credit. You likely have AP credit from high school WA: Waived. You got this requirement waived. This can happen in specific circumstances. However, you are still required to make up these hours. Consult with your advisor! MET: You have met this requirement (Global Knowledge). Typically, this is achieved without any additional classes or specific planning. If you have questions, consult your advisor.
• What is S/U grading, and which courses may be taken S/U? S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) Credit Only grading is permitted only for specific courses and requirements. Free Electives and HESF courses are permitted to be taken as S/U. Other degree requirements are not. More details on grading options.
• What do ‘IN’ and ‘LA’ mean on a transcript (grade report)? IN means Incomplete. This temporary designation is usually agreed upon by both student and professor and is assigned in situations where class work is not complete. You should get in touch with your professor as soon as possible if you receive an IN grade. IN grades will convert to an F at the end of the next semester if not resolved. Follow up with your instructor to complete missing work or get the IN extended beyond this timeline. LA means Late. This happens if a professor does not submit his or their grades by the deadline. Therefore, there is nothing a student must do to resolve an LA grade. Keep checking your transcript via the MyPack Portal. Also, LA grades will appear on students’ records temporarily during the second summer session for students enrolled in 10-week summer courses. For more details, see the Academic Regulations for grading descriptions.
• Am I required to complete a world language requirement? Yes. To fulfill the GEP World language requirement, you must complete a 200-level language course. This means completing 3 semesters of coursework in the same language. So, if you have taken a 101 and 102 class, you will still need to take a 201 class. If you place into a 102 class, you will have to take that and 201. If you place into 201, you will need to complete that class.
• Can I place into a language class or place out of a language? Yes, this is possible. To do this, you must make arrangements to take the placement test according to the requirements of the World Languages Program. For information on how to arrange a placement test.
• Can I substitute a course on my degree audit? Course substitutions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students who are looking to make a substitution should contact their advisor by sending an email explaining the course you want to move, where you want to move it, and your justification.
• My courses appear incorrectly on my degree audit. What should I do? If courses are applied incorrectly, contact an academic advisor to request a degree audit review or correction.

• What are the academic deadlines I should be aware of each semester? Check the Registration and Records calendars for details.
• I’m thinking about changing a course to credit only. What should I be considering in my decision? A maximum of 12 hours of free electives can be taken for credit only. Any course that is taken to satisfy an academic requirement must be taken for a letter grade (with the exception of HES). Therefore, changing a course like PSY 200 to credit means it cannot be used towards your Social Sciences requirement. It could be used as a free elective only, as long as you have not reached the limit on credit-only free electives. Courses taken as credit-only do not factor into your GPA, but will factor into your total number of credit hours. It is always wise to ask your advisor before you make any changes to your schedule. Make sure to check the academic calendar.
• I’m thinking about dropping a course. What should I do? It depends on what time of the semester it is. If it is within the first week or two, you can use the MyPack Portal to make adjustments to your schedule. Remember to stay above 12 hours in order to maintain full-time enrollment status. As always, consult your advisor if you are uncertain about which course to drop or add. If you are dropping a course before the deadline, you should think carefully about how it will affect your academic progress, financial aid, etc. Your advisor can help. If you are considering dropping a course after the deadline, speak to your advisor. You can withdraw from the course directly in the MyPack Portal. Depending on the time of the semester and your specific circumstances, you may or may not be allowed to withdraw from the course. Your advisor will inform you about the consequences of withdrawing from a course. A “W” will appear on your transcript, and there is a limit on how many courses you can withdraw from during your academic career. If you are trying to withdraw from the university (dropping all of your classes for the semester), you should speak with your advisor. Usually, a semester withdrawal is processed through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Counseling Center.
• Where do I go if I have questions about money (tuition or fees, financial aid, housing charges, etc.)? Advisors cannot provide information on Financial Aid or other financial issues. You must contact the relevant office directly. You should go to the Cashier’s Office and/or the Financial Aid.
• How do I transfer credit from another institution? Official transcripts must be sent to NC State Undergraduate Admissions. Once processed, approved transfer credit will appear on your Transfer Credit Report and Degree Audit. For more information on Transfer Credit Evaluation.
• Is there a limit on the number of courses I can transfer? Yes, you can review the full policy in relation to your coursework. Keep in mind this statement about limits from the linked policy: “There is no limit to how many credits you can transfer. However, not all courses will apply toward degree requirements. Per the NC State transfer residency requirement, transfer students must have earned at least 30 of the last 45 hours of degree credit at NC State in order to graduate. Some departments have additional residency.” Further, there is a residency requirement for all majors in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology: “A minimum of 15 hours in the major, including at least 9 at the 400-level or above, must be completed at NC State.” Be sure to check in with your advisor on this.

• What is SOC 413, and when do Criminology majors do an internship? All Criminology majors are required to take SOC 413 (fieldwork/internship) during their senior year (92 + credits). Once students have reached senior status (92 credits), they will receive an email from Dr. Schell (Incgschell@ncsu.edu), Internship Coordinator, inviting them to an informational meeting. Dr. Schell will be the student’s contact person for any information or questions related to the internship requirements. The department also offers a Capstone course as an alternative to the internship. This is a research and professionalization course taught by a rotating faculty member. If you are interested in this option, you should talk to your advisor about this, as you will have to be enrolled in the course by the Director of Undergraduate Advising.
• How do I schedule an appointment if I have questions about the internship requirement? Students should contact the Internship Coordinator, Dr. Schell, cgschell@ncsu.edu. 
• What is the capstone option? Each Spring, the department offers a Capstone course as an alternative to the internship. This is a research and professionalization course taught by a rotating faculty member. If you are interested in this option, you should talk to your advisor about this, as you will have to be enrolled in the course by the Director of Undergraduate Advising.

• Please see the Departmental Honors page

Special Topics Courses for Fall 2026

Special Topics courses are new, cutting-edge classes instructors have developed based on their expertise and student interest. They can count toward many degree requirements at equivalent levels. Check with your advisor on how these can count toward your degree.

SOC/ANT 495:  International Justice and Humanitarianism
T/Th, 11:45am-1pm, with Prof. Christian Doll
(meets 400-level criminology elective requirement)

SOC/ANT 496: Anthropology/Sociology of the Criminal Justice System
MW 4:30 – 5:45pm, with Prof. Jennifer Carroll
(meets 400-level criminology elective requirement)

ANT 395-01: Think Like a Neanderthal
M/W 4:30 – 5:45pm, with Prof. Tara Clarke

ANT 395-02: Anthropology of Social Movements
M/W 11:45am – 1pm, with Prof. Chelsey Dyer

ANT 495-01: Disability Cultures
M/W 3:00 – 4:15pm, with Prof. Katie Kinkopf

ANT 495-02: Collections Management
T/Th 10:15 – 11:30am, with Prof. Dru McGill

SOC 395-01:  Crime Data
M/W 11:45am – 1pm, with Prof. Jim Yocom

SOC 395-02:  Criminal Justice System in Action
M/W 10:15 – 11:30am, with Prof. Chris Schell

SOC 495-01:  Race and Health
T/Th 1:30 – 2:45pm, with Prof. Mia Brantley

SOC495-02: Dating and Partnering Inequality
T/Th 10:15 – 11:30am, with Prof. Marbella Hill
Field Schools

Blackfriary Archaeology Field School, Ireland

The Blackfriary Archaeology Field School is part of the award-winning Blackfriary Community Heritage and Archaeology Project (BCHAP) in the town of Trim, County Meath, Ireland. Focusing on the buried remains of the 13^th century AD/CE Dominican friary and associated graveyard, the field school is suitable for students from a wide range of backgrounds, including archaeology, history, anthropology, and forensics, and for students looking for a unique study abroad experience. As participants in a public archaeology project, students are actively engaged with our outreach activities on site. They are also housed with families in Trim, allowing them to integrate with the local community.  

• I am planning on graduating in the next semester or two. What should I be doing now to make sure that everything goes smoothly? There are several things you should do to make sure that everything goes just as you hope: If you haven’t already done so, you should meet with your advisor to make sure that everything is going to count the way you think it will and that you are as close to graduating as you believe yourself to be. You need to make sure that all of your courses are in the correct place on your degree audit. If you believe that any of the courses you have previously taken are not meeting the intended requirement, contact the Director of Undergraduate Advising or your academic advisor. You should submit your electronic application for graduation in your MyPack Portal. Please submit your graduation application following registration for your final semester (i.e., during October if you plan to graduate in May or during April if you plan to graduate in Summer or December) and before the graduation application deadline. Follow this link for further details, deadlines, and instructions. If you are completing an official university minor, you also need to fill out the Application for Minor at the same time as the electronic graduation application. The department administering the minor should send it to the Dean’s Office of the college of the minor department. If your minor advisor gives you the application, you should submit it to the college Dean’s Office for the minor department. If you do not know what to do in order to obtain, complete, or submit the Application for Minor, visit the official NCSU Minors page to see if the instructions are available there.
• What is the difference between graduation and commencement? Graduation refers to the successful completion of a program of study. You “graduate” when your degree is posted to your transcript and your diploma is given to you because you successfully completed your program requirements. Commencement refers to an academic exercise in which degrees are conferred. The commencement ceremony is a culminating experience to celebrate your years of hard work at the university.
• I’ve heard there is a university commencement ceremony and a department ceremony. What’s the difference, and which one should I attend? Yes, there are two commencement ceremonies. Students are encouraged to participate in both, but they may choose to participate in only one or neither. The University Commencement ceremony is a very large traditional commencement ceremony, typically about 2- to 2 1/2-hours long, with inspirational speeches to help you reflect on the time you’ve spent at the University and to provoke thoughts about what you will do in the future. Because all of the students graduating from the University attend the ceremony, students are not given individual recognition at the University commencement ceremony, except for students completing their doctoral degrees. The Department ceremony is the ceremony at which you will get individual recognition. It is at the Department ceremony where your name is called, any honors you are graduating with are announced, and you walk across a stage. Because we assume that you have been to the University commencement ceremony, there are only one or two brief speeches and the ceremony is kept short and sweet. The ceremony is primarily focused on recognizing all of our graduating students. Depending on what aspects of the experience you seek from the commencement ceremonies, you may wish to attend both commencement ceremonies, or you may prefer to attend only one.
• Will I actually get my diploma at the commencement ceremony? Students will not actually receive their diplomas at commencement. Instead, they will receive their diplomas in the mail approximately 4-8 weeks after the official graduation date.
• I plan to graduate during the summer but there isn’t a commencement ceremony for summer graduates. Which commencement ceremony can I participate in? The University rule is that students must have completed all of the requirements for graduation at the time of commencement in order to participate in the commencement ceremony. Therefore, students who graduate at the end of a summer session are eligible to participate in the December commencement ceremony of the same year in which they graduate.
• When is the Sociology and Anthropology commencement? There is a Fall and a Spring commencement ceremony for students who graduate in Fall and Spring; details will be announced when they are available. You will be contacted by the department to confirm your participation and will be required to pick up tickets to the ceremony at the administrative offices of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology on the 3rd floor of the 1911 Building.
• I plan to graduate at the end of the semester. How do I find out about commencement ceremony details? Information about the University commencement ceremony will be mailed to you during the first half of the semester in which you plan to graduate IF you submitted your graduation application by the deadline. Details regarding the University commencement ceremony can be found at University Commencement. Details regarding the Department ceremony will be disseminated via email.
• I need to purchase a cap and gown. Where and when can I purchase them? Caps and gowns may be purchased at the NC State bookstore. Students must be on the official list of graduation candidates in order to purchase caps and gowns. You may be required to show your student ID card in order to purchase a cap and gown.
• How do I determine whether or not I will be graduating with honors, and how do I know which honor sash to purchase? There are different ways to graduate with honors from NC State. If you have participated in the University Honors program, the University Scholars program, or the Sociology and Anthropology Department Honors program, those items will be reflected on your transcript but not on your diploma. Typically, this question refers to the Latin honors that are associated with graduating with a particular GPA. There will be an indication on your diploma, as well as your transcript, if you graduate with honors. The cutoffs for these honors for NC State are as follows (note that the university does not round here): Cum Laude – for grade point averages of 3.25 through 3.499 Magna Cum Laude – for grade point averages of 3.5 through 3.749 Summa Cum Laude – for grade point averages of 3.75 and above Whether or not you graduate with such honors on your official record is determined by your GPA at the end of your entire career, so it does include your final semester. However, many students purchase their honor sash before they know their final grades for the semester. Therefore, you purchase the sash based on your grades up through the current semester. The bookstore’s list of graduation candidates also includes whether or not any students are eligible to purchase a particular honor sash. Keep in mind that if you have a rough last semester and your GPA drops below the cutoff, or if you have a very good semester and your final GPA rises above a cut-off, your sash may not match what will be on your official record. If you want to purchase a sash that is different from the bookstore list because of the final shift in your GPA, you may need a letter from the department stating what has happened with your GPA and for which honor sash you are now eligible. You may need to present this letter at the bookstore in order for them to be willing to sell you that sash.