We study social forces, social movements, and the social context that shapes individual lives and actions.
In a time of rapid global change and growing inequality, we pause to ask tough questions about where society is headed and why. And we bring the necessary critical thinking, research and data analysis skills, social justice focus, and theoretical frameworks to envision a better world and inform actions to help us get there.
Academics
Undergraduate
Sociology major
A Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology trains students in the main theoretical and methodological traditions of the discipline and allows students to take advantage of many experiential learning opportunities to deepen and apply their knowledge, including service learning, studying abroad, and undergraduate research.
Undergraduate
Digital justice studies concentration & minor
The digital justice studies major concentration and minor is housed in the Sociology Department and provided through the Everett Program, a student-led organization dedicated to community-engaged activism. The program teaches students to apply technology to create positive social change.
Graduate
Doctoral degree
Our Ph.D. program is renowned for its commitment to a critical engagement with theoretical and methodological approaches across the social sciences. We leverage the broad range of research and teaching experiences among our faculty to train our graduate students in developing innovative pedagogical acuity and conducting leading-edge research.
Graduate
Other graduate programs
A designated emphasis in sociology is the graduate equivalent of a minor. It allows doctoral students to add perspective and methods from our department to their studies in other fields. Additionally, graduate students may pursue a certificate through the Science and Justice Training Program.
Faculty
We are a thoroughly interdisciplinary department, with faculty who have practiced not only within sociology, but also in kindred fields, such as anthropology, cultural studies, critical race and ethnic studies, education, feminist studies, geography, politics, and science and technology studies. This diversity of perspectives is a major source of strength.
As a department, we have one foot squarely in sociology, critically exploring its history and legacy, and another foot testing and pushing sociology’s boundaries, enlivening and enriching both the field of sociology and the learning opportunities for our students.
Research
Our cutting-edge research explores both the directly measurable and hidden underlying dynamics of globally important themes, including development and sustainability, human geography and migration, class and poverty, inequality, political economy, media and culture, science and technology, and facets of identity, like race, gender, and sexuality.
We are national leaders in both critical social theory and community-engaged scholarship. Our faculty and students work together to directly investigate social issues by learning from the personal and collective experiences of those who are affected most.
