?Sociologists try to bring into focus the familiar and the mysterious behavior of people and make the behavior understandable. In sociology, understanding is sought through systematic observation and analysis.

Though no one has yet arrived at a total understanding of human behavior, sociology offers the adventure of acquiring understanding beyond the point we reach in our usual day-to-day existence. Students learn about people as social beings and gain an understanding of the relationship between society and the individual. Given that such an understanding is essential to successful social interactions, whether in business, leisure or personal relations, sociology is an important facet of a college education.

The curriculum is designed to provide students with an integrated body of knowledge leading to careers in, for example, community service, social work, counseling, marketing research, criminal justice and personnel management. The curriculum offers a strong background for persons who wish to enter such professional schools as law, social work, theology and business, as well as graduate training in sociology and other fields (such as anthropology, psychology, political science, criminal justice, communication and philosophy). The sociology curriculum at UL Lafayette offers a variety of courses in sociology, representing the areas of sociological theory, social research methods, criminology, minorities, social problems, religion, deviance, environmental, medical and urban sociology, social stratification and death and dying.