Sociology is the scientific study of human interaction and social organization. The sociologist is primarily interested in discovering the social patterns affecting and resulting from human group behavior. Sociologists focus on the influences of the social as well as the physical and biological environment on individual behavior and personality formation, on group interaction and on social organization and institutions. Within this general framework, sociological interests are extremely varied. The subject matter of sociology includes crime and its causation, family problems and interaction patterns, variations in the aging process, the impact of social class on life chances, the influence of mass media on human behavior, the social construction of gender and the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The sociology major is selected by those students primarily interested in pursuing careers in the following areas:

• college/university teaching and research
• research in a public or private organization or business
• employment in community agencies or in local, state or federal government

The department encourages our majors to explore a minor in a related field of interest, including, but not limited to: African American Studies, Environmental Hazards and Emergency Management, Government and Political Affairs. Latino(a) Studies Pre-Law, Psychology, Social Justice (Social Work), Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.