General Overview

The Department of Sociology has over 900 undergraduates in its program - one of the largest in the country. The department is noted as a leader in the study of social interaction processes and as a center for research on public policy and social change. The department is well known for its diversity of perspective, support for emerging areas of study, and innovative approaches to the discipline. Faculty and students study topics ranging from the effectiveness of housing policies, to the social consequences of AIDS, to the effect of computers on society. They explore economic factors in urbanization, the structure and dynamics of the Chicano family, and the history and politics in Third World countries. The sociology major grounds students in the theory and methods of the field, while allowing them to explore their unique interests. Students choose sociology as a major for a variety of reasons, including:

• Use as the core of a general liberal arts education with an interest in contemporary society or how society works.
  
• Preparation for a career in such fields as law, management, journalism, social work, urban and environmental planning, public services, teaching, corrections, counseling and other service professions.
  
• Preparation for graduate study for a career as a professional sociologist. Most sociologists are employed in academic institutions as teachers and researchers. Sociologists have also found careers doing applied research in social service, public planning, education, mental health, and business