Sociology (B.A.)
Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to think critically and imaginatively about social issues and to promote social betterment.
As students work towards their degree, they will find that sociology is much more than an academic discipline. In fact, sociology offers students an exciting new way of seeing the social world they live in. Students can expect sociology to enrich their personal life, as well as prepare their way for a deeply satisfying professional life.
Goals of the major include the acquisition of knowledge about human diversity, social inequality, and the pursuit of social justice.
The major and its programs prepare students for various professional roles in Human Services and Criminal Justice, and provide the educational background necessary for students to pursue graduate studies in criminology/criminal justice, law, social work, counseling, policy development, research, and other related disciplines.
What do students learn to do?
- Students will learn about the social worlds we live in and the powerful social forces that shape our lives. At the personal level, Sociology helps us better understand ourselves and the choices we make. It helps us understand forces such as gender roles, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, family issues, social media that influence everyday life. At the societal level, Sociology helps us understand complicated social issues such as poverty, homelessness, discrimination, social movements and crime.
- Sociology offers an array of courses on human diversity as well as electives that meet students’ specialized interests, including topics on race, ethnicity, gender and social class. Our program also offers cross-cultural studies, including courses on non-Western societies.
- Every student takes a course in quantitative analysis and one in research methods. From these courses students learn how to design research projects, analyze and interpret data. These critical skills are needed in today’s job market.
- Our students have good success getting jobs after graduation. However, many of our students choose to pursue advanced study in graduate and professional schools, and to enter a wide variety of people-oriented jobs.
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Every Sociology student has the option to engage in independent research with a professor of their choice on topics of special interest to them from their own life experience and curiosity, such as socialization of youth, gender studies, and sociology of environment. Students can also complete one or more experiential learning projects, such as taking internships in areas such as human resources and social services, or engaging in service learning project in the community.
- We also encourage our students to expand their preparation for careers by minoring or double-majoring in Social Work or Criminal Justice in our department, or in related programs like the Crisis Intervention Certificate offered jointly by Social Work and Psychology.
Career Opportunities
Our alumni earn positions in:
- Human services and community organizing
- Research and data management
- Human resource management
- State and local government
- Private sector
- Direct care
- Student life
Hands-on Learning
Research Opportunities
Students across each major in the department have had the opportunity to serve as research assistants on a variety of faculty-led research projects related to different facets of the fields of sociology, social work and criminal justice.
Additionally, students can engage in faculty-supervised independent studies for academic credit that examine and analyze contemporary issues in sociology, social work and criminal justice.
Innovative Faculty
Sociology courses are taught by faculty with excellent academic credentials, and years of teaching experience and advanced research projects.
Learn more about ESU and Sociology.
Contact Us
Contact Information
- Campus Address
- Stroud Hall 101 E
- Phone:
- (570) 422-3453
- Title of Department Leader
- Co-Department Chair
- Name
- Dr. Marianne Cutler
- E:
- mcutler@esu.edu
- Phone:
- (570) 422-3810
