Benefiting Through Personal Growth

Students who major or minor in sociology often express a certain delight in getting to know more about themselves and others by studying the subject matter of the field - people! We study social life on both the micro and macro levels. Micro-sociology may focus, for example, on a family and the quality of interaction among its members. We want to increase our understanding about what has caused this particular family to act as it does. We also want to understand what consequences that action may have on the family's various members.

Continuing our example, at the macro-sociological level we would attempt to understand that particular family as only one of millions of families making up this particular social institution. We also study other social institutions such as religion, education, and criminal justice system, to name only a few. Among our concerns in this area are learning about how these various social institutions interact or conflict with each other. Are these social institutions the same in all cultures? If they differ, how do they differ and why?

By studying society at both the micro- and macro- levels, we hope to arrive at a better understanding of the individual and the place of that individual in the larger society. We want to know about roles people play and how those roles affect their behavior and the behavior of others. If you are interested in the kinds of questions sociologists ask and in topics they study, then perhaps Sociology is the place for you.

Benefiting Through Preparation for a Career

Students seeking a career in business, government, or education, will find the body of knowledge in sociology of practical, everyday use. The level of understanding students develop as a result of majoring or minoring in sociology should put them in good stead with fellow workers, employers, and others relevant to their eventual careers. Students in sociology should be able to better understand themselves in a variety of settings.

At a much broader level (and perhaps just as important) as a sociology major or minor, students should have a growing appreciation for the way in which larger social forces affect them and the lives of everyone in this society. Life is much more than what we simply see in front of us. 

Understanding the world in which we live requires a perspective which is commonly developed among sociologists and called the "sociological perspective." Sociologists must be sensitive to the world within and outside themselves, observing, evaluating, and trying to understand. On a practical level, a degree in sociology can lead to gainful employment. 

Benefiting Through Preparation for Graduate Study

Students who major or minor in sociology at the undergraduate level pursue graduate degrees in sociology as well as other fields. A major or minor in sociology can provide a student with unique and valued insights needed for graduate degrees in history, psychology, journalism, communication, philosophy, business, education, wellness, and several other fields.