Department of Sociology

Sociology is the scientific study of social life. Sociology provides fundamental insight on social matters.  Because our lives are affected by our place in the social world, the discipline seeks to understand the connection between people and society. Sociologists study and work across a broad range of issues - from inequality to health, from deviance to family, from work to gender and race. Few fields offer students opportunities of such breadth.

Courses in sociology are designed to provide the student with an understanding of what makes individuals and groups behave the way they do. Social inequality, social order, and social change are prominent themes. In today’s changing job market, the skills developed by sociology majors are important – skills in analyzing problems, understanding diverse peoples, and assessing how changes in the broader social structure shape individuals’ daily lives. Sociology also provides training in social science research methods and statistics, communication, and critical thinking. Successful sociology majors enter the professional world with skills useful in a wide range of careers including public relations, community planning, positions in government and social agencies, as researchers and data analysts, criminal justice system professions, health and medical fields, and business. Sociology also provides an excellent foundation for professions that may require graduate school training, such as counseling, law, public policy and administration, social work, public health or teaching.

The department offers courses of study leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Master of Arts in Sociology, and Doctor of Philosophy. It also offers an undergraduate minor in Sociology, a minor in At-Risk Youth, a minor in Workplace Diversity, a minor in Health and Society, and, in partnership with the Carson College of Business, a certificate in Organizational Leadership in Sustainability. 

Undergraduate Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the bachelor of arts degree in sociology, students will be able to: (1) define and analyze social problems and identify the structural and cultural factors that contribute to social and individual outcomes; (2)  understand and apply basic statistics to social issues, including how to interpret, and draw appropriate conclusions from social science data presented in tables, charts, and graphs, as well as apply quantitative knowledge to present social science data in various forms (graphs, tables, words. etc.); (3) Identify, analyze, and explain the causes and consequences of social inequality across multiple dimensions and social institutions; (4) clearly communicate sociological concepts, theories, and findings through writing and speaking; (5) identify, assess, explain, and conduct social science research including learning the skills of research design, data collection, sampling, and measurement. (6) identify sources of social science research and assess it when reported in both professional and popular publications and use social science to develop informed judgements; (7) analyze the relationships between social, technological, and natural physical systems; and (8) put into practice the skills and habits of successful professionals.