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Sociology

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The broadest social science. Putting it simply, all human life is social. And sociology is the scientific study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. A sociologist might study the possible links between identities and life outcomes. Or how religious affiliation impacts political beliefs. Or how the work environment affects societal perceptions of appropriate behavior for different genders.

If you want to learn as much as you can in four years and then launch your career or further your education, we’ll help you do that. Sociology, by its nature, includes life lessons that affect who you are as a person. It also delivers a specific skill set that applies to careers in business, medicine, law, social work, research, and other fields.

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Bachelor's Program

Your coursework will introduce the social scientific approaches to social phenomena such as race and ethnic relations, gender and sexualities, popular culture, family structure, and more. You’ll learn how sociologists collect data, interpret that data, and why it matters.

A sociology bachelor’s degree can be applied to teaching, marketing, social service, government, and a variety of other fields. An understanding of sociology would benefit those going into law or medicine (the MCAT now asks sociological questions). This degree provides a solid foundation for an advanced degree in sociology or another social science.

Master's Program

Our master’s degree experience includes seminars, guided coursework with accomplished scholars, and exposure to a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches. It culminates in an MA research paper where you conduct original research within our broad areas of expertise.

You will find yourself in a supportive environment here, with a graduate student culture of academic rigor and collaboration. As with an undergraduate degree, this is a good foundation for a doctoral degree, or as applied to careers in a variety of fields.

Doctoral Program

Our particular areas of strength are: gender and sexuality, race and ethnic relations, medical sociology, political sociology, religion, social movements, and criminology.

Our faculty are well-known and respected scholars and will usher you into an academic life that is rich with opportunities. Graduate assistantships and fellowships are available.

Coursework, comprehensive exams, and ultimately a doctoral dissertation, demonstrate your mastery of the field and ability to enter the professional academic world. You will gain teaching experience through our seminar on pedagogy and graduate teaching assistantships, increasing your marketability for academia.