Welcome to the Department of Sociology

The mission of the Department of Sociology is to provide our students with the abilities necessary to explore systematically the connections between people and their social worlds in order to better understand the social, political, and cultural context in which problems develop and changes occur. The development of new technologies and the opportunities they bring, changes in personal relationships and public life, increased diversity in our communities, the globalization of a broad spectrum of human endeavors all bring with them both exciting possibilities for reconstructing society, and serious potential pitfalls. Studying the impact of such societal changes and seeking to develop strategies to influence and respond to them is the goal of Sociology. After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, students will have:

• Developed a critical consciousness of the social, political, economic, and cultural contexts of the social world and the processes and possibilities of social change
• An understanding of how these issues and experiences apply to negotiating urban life in a time of increasing diversity, of expanding globalization and rapidly advancing technology
• An appreciation of the differences in perspectives in our diverse communities and how these are informed by differences in their life experiences and positions in the social structure,
• Developed skills in using both innovative and traditional techniques of analysis and empirical investigation and in communicating effectively their knowledge and sociologically informed insights to a broad range of audiences.

For additional important dates and deadlines see the registrar's website.