Sociology

The Department of Sociology offers the B.A. and B.S. degree with a major in sociology. Sociology is the study of the origins, organizations, institutions and structure of human society and the causal effects of human behavior in collective social action. Baccalaureate graduates in sociology find employment in a wide range of careers in such fields as community development, criminal justice, health services, policy development, public relations, and social services. The department offers the choice of two emphases in the major: (1) General Sociology or (2) Criminology.

The department also offers a minor in sociology, which should be of interest to students majoring in other programs such as psychology, anthropology, family and consumer sciences, history, or philosophy.

A departmental honors program is available for outstanding students. Either the B.A. or B.S. degree can be used to gain licensure to teach social sciences at the junior and senior high school levels.

Several of the department’s courses can be used by non-majors toward fulfilling the “society and culture” requirement in the university’s general education program. Several of its courses are also recommended or required for majors in other programs, especially those in the College of Business and in the College of Health and Human Sciences. The department also participates in international study programs, in the University Honors Program, and in the interdisciplinary minors in black studies, environmental studies, gerontology, international studies, Latino/Latin American studies, Southeast Asian studies, and women’s and gender studies.

Sociology Faculty

Michael E. Ezell, Ph.D., Duke University, associate professor, chair
Abu B. Bah, Ph.D., New School for Social Research, professor
Keri B. Burchfield, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, professor
Cassandra S. Crawford, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco, associate professor
Christopher Einolf, Ph.D., University of Virginia, associate professor
Kerry O. Ferris, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, associate professor
Laura Heideman, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, associate professor
Jeffrey Kidder, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, professor
Fred E. Markowitz, Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany, professor
Kristopher K. Robison, Ph.D., The Ohio State University, associate professor
Diane M. Rodgers, Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia, professor
Shane Sharp, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, associate professor
Carol Walther, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, associate professor
Simón E. Weffer, Ph.D., Stanford University, associate professor