Sociology

The scientific study of social life

Sociology provides fundamental insight on social matters. Our lives are affected not only by our personal psychology, but by our place in the social world. Sociologists study and work across a broad range of issues—from inequality to human ecology, from deviance to religion, from medicine to politics. Few fields offer students (and researchers) opportunities of such breadth.

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Featured Undergraduate Course

Drugs and Society (SOC 368)

An eye-opening look at the incredibly complex social world of drugs and addiction.

Drugs are ubiquitous in contemporary American society. Everyone has opinions and personal experience with them, yet the mythology that surrounds many drugs has largely prevented an informed and sober analysis of how (or whether) they ought to be regulated, how they are viewed with respect to different social institutions and socio-demographics, and what societal norms should surround their use.

This course explores the different categories of licit and illicit substances, reviews basic psychopharmacology, and delves into theories about use and abuse.

Drugs and Society (Soc 368) counts toward earning the NEW Health and Society Minor.

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Experiential Learning

Take your education out of the classroom and into the world! Experiential learning opportunities and the capstone course help you apply your academic learning to effect change in communities and workplaces or get involved in hands-on research.

• Internships
• Research Opportunities
• Service Learning
• Study Abroad