The best sociological analyses combine a focus on important details with analyses about how the details relate to "the big picture." This is why rigorous training in sociology can be usefully applied to careers in business, government, non-profit and charitable organizations, and education: on the one hand our students can become skilled at research and data analysis, and on the other hand they can become proficient at interpreting and critically analyzing how these details relate to the larger issues confronting the organizations in which they are working.

The department of Sociology offers the following degree programs:

• Sociology, BA

We are committed to providing all students with the knowledge and skills that derive from a sociological perspective. Our curriculum encompasses core areas in the discipline with courses in sociological theory, social inequality, social institutions, social change and sociological methodology. Students may use the sociological perspective in pursuing further studies in the discipline, at work in diverse settings, and as thoughtful and involved members of their communities. Our instructional mission is enhanced by faculty with active research agendas, who explore a variety of social processes and apply to these studies a variety of research techniques. When they bring their expertise to bear on social issues, the faculty also serve the University and the community at large.