Research

Research and scholarly inquiry is a highly valued activity in the Department of Sociology.  Sociology faculty members are active researchers whose scholarship addresses myriad issues with scientific and practical importance. Sociology faculty are making important contributions to knowledge in many areas of the discipline, with current projects focusing on key aspects of immigration and naturalization, globalization, social movements, religion, aging, race and gender inequality, education, health and medicine, and criminology and law.  Recent research by Department of Sociology faculty is published in leading professional journals, appears in books published by prestigious presses and is funded by important governmental or private grant-making organizations. 

The sociology faculty view research as not only an important tool of discovery, but as an essential method of pedagogy.  Sociology undergraduate students receive ample opportunity to engage in scholarship both inside and outside of the classroom.  One important opportunity is the senior capstone research course.  Students also may have the opportunity to develop an Honors thesis project with the close guidance of a faculty advisor.  In addition the vibrant research environment in the Department of Sociology presents many students with the opportunity to become involved in ongoing faculty research projects.  Often these faculty-student research collaborations produce published research articles or conference presentations.