Sociology studies societies and cultures within a broadly comparative framework. The discipline illuminates the reciprocal relationship between human beings and their sociocultural environments and gives students a keener appreciation of their own social world, a less ethnocentric view of different ways of life, and a better understanding of the world system in which their society is one of many interdependent entities. The knowledge and perspective of sociology provide a useful approach to the analysis of interaction, inequality, and institutions, and offers insights into many topics of personal relevance and contemporary public debate.
The Department emphasizes applied sociology, theoretical and methodological expertise, service, and experiential learning. Students contribute to their major through internship and experiential learning outside the classroom. Moreover, sociology offers practical skills that lead to employment in a wide variety of professions.