Sociology is the study of society, of the social frameworks within which we live our lives. It is a study of social life at every level, from two-person relationships to the rise and fall of nations and civilizations. Sociology nurtures question formation and critical thinking through its mixed-methods approach, encompassing quantitative analysis, ethnography, interviews, historical and comparative studies, computer-based analysis, and theoretical explorations. Through their methodologically diverse coursework, students learn how to apply sociological theories and methods to real-world issues.
Sociologists are often concerned with intellectual questions relating to the distribution of resources in society and to social organization. The graduate program in sociology aims to contribute to society by providing students the training and tools to take up these questions. The program aims to produce creative and intellectually independent researchers who read broadly across fields, who generate work that is theoretically, empirically, and analytically rigorous, who exhibit collegiality as scholars, and who excel as teachers and communicators.