Sociology

is the rigorous study of the individual through the lens of society and of the society itself. Like M.C. Escher’s Hand with Reflecting Sphere drawing shown at the left, sociologists, as public intellectuals, mirror the society back to itself from a diverse and wide angle. Students of sociology see the structures that shape people’s behavior come out of a fog and into sharp relief. They learn to accurately anticipate others' actions by looking closely at context. They learn the texture of societies in the past and how to anticipate societies of the future. Sociology students are situated to penetrate what can be an overbearing weight of symbols that beset others and enter the wise and liberated world of knowing.    

All of our sociology professors earned doctorate degrees at top universities.  They help the student cultivate their own powerful tools of explanation and understanding. At the end of the program, the student has conquered the hurdles of theory, research, family, industrialization, and change. He or she has mastered English and is poised to become fluent in another language.  Many of our students go onto law schools, management, criminal justice, public relations and labor relations.  Sociology is a favored subject for admission to a number of graduate programs including leadership studies, environmental studies, education, social psychology and business.  Whether the student enters the labor market or continues their education, sociology is an effective launch pad.

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