College of Letters and Science
264 Haines Hall
Box 951551
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1551
Sociology
310-825-1313
Department e-mail
Sociology is the study of the organization, dynamics, and consequences of social life. The scope of the discipline is as broad and diverse as social life itself. Sociologists study social interaction and relationships, organizations and institutions, communities and whole societies. The methods of sociological investigation are also varied: sociologists immerse themselves in the daily life of groups, interview group participants, examine recorded interaction, interpret historical documents, engage in quantitative analysis of data, and conduct large surveys. The methods and concepts of sociology yield powerful insights into the social processes shaping lives, problems, and possibilities in contemporary society. The ability to identify and understand these processes—a capacity that C.W. Mills called the “sociological imagination”—is valuable preparation for personal and professional participation in a changing and complex world.
The Department of Sociology faculty includes internationally renowned scholars who address topics ranging in scope from the organization of face-to-face interaction to the consequences of globalization. The department boasts outstanding teachers—six of whom have won Distinguished Teaching Awards—and excellently trained teaching assistants, many of whom have also won awards. The select honors program has a record for training students in the fundamentals of research and generating honors theses of substantial accomplishment.
In addition to contributing to a liberal arts education, the Sociology major prepares individuals for a broad range of career options and graduate and professional studies. The analytic perspectives and skills gained in the major are a foundation for careers in business, data science, education, law, public health, and social welfare. The major also supplies a foundation for students intending to pursue graduate work in sociology and related fields. Employment opportunities available to the graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Sociology also include work in community service organizations and health agencies, government service, and human resources.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Sociology usually leads to a career in research and/or teaching. Although most sociologists are employed by universities, there are increasing career opportunities in government, technology, and nonuniversity research centers.
