Department of Sociology                                      


Welcome!                                                                                         

What is Sociology?
Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. It is the scientific study of human social interaction. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts.  Since all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from divisions of race, social class, gender, sexual orientation to the shared beliefs of a common culture; and from crime to religious institutions.  Few fields have such broad scope and relevance to today's society. (ASA Guide to Careers in Soc. 6/e)

Why Sociology?
With the increasing complexity of modern life in the 21st Century, sociology is increasingly more important.  Leaders in many areas are recognizing the need to apply the understanding of sociology to cope better with a rapidly changing world. Because sociology addresses the most challenging issues of our time, it is a rapidly expanding field whose potential is increasingly tapped by those who craft policies and create programs. Sociologists understand social inequality, patterns of behavior, forces for social change and resistance, and how social systems work. Sociology is an exciting discipline with expanding opportunities for a wide range of career paths. (ASA Guide to Careers in Soc. 6/e)

We're happy you stopped by! Please browse a bit and see what Sociology is all about.

We are located in the Social Sciences Building - Basement SS13 in the Division of Humanities/Social Sciences
Phone: 562-860-2451 x2750