Sociology is the discipline at the heart of understanding the human condition. The sociology major provides excellent preparation for graduate school and professional training.?It builds the necessary skills for careers in public policy, law, human and organizational relations, education, social service, criminal justice, and a variety of entrepreneurial activities.

The sociology program at Salem State aims to instill in students a deeper understanding of groups that are different from their own. This includes: cultures in societies in other parts of the world; racial, ethnic and other minorities; and groups considered at the peripheral of mainstream society, which include groups deemed deviant. Such a sociological perspective is crucial for working in today's multiethnic and multinational business environment, but understanding the varied experiences of diverse groups and populations is further important in that it enables students to better understand how inequality is structured, and how inequality is created and reinforced. This, in turn, allows the sociology student to come to better understand how our society is organized and why disparities might arise.?

The sociology program seeks to better understand the human condition by studying social relations, social organizations, and social behavior, and the outcomes and consequences of such.? This involves making sense of, recognizing, and becoming conscious of the bases for, and consequences of, various forms of inequality and social problems. One of the key goals is to acquire the tools to intervene more productively to solve these social problems.