Sociology

Re-established in 2015, the Washington University Department of Sociology strives to understand the origins and reproduction of social inequality, especially as it relates to issues of pressing public concern. Particular areas of focus include race/ethnicity, gender, the sociology of work and the workplace, immigration, social movements, and economic inequality. Students are given a rigorous understanding of the ways in which social relations and settings shape a range of individual and group experiences and outcomes, with an emphasis on how various forms of inequality are created and propagated through time.

Undergraduates can major or minor in sociology. Because the discipline draws on diverse theoretical and methodological tools, coursework ensures that students develop expertise in classical and contemporary theoretical concepts as well as both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Upper-level seminars provide the opportunity to apply these foundations to a focused study of specific sociological topics. The major also features a capstone experience, allowing students to undertake original work connected with a research project, internship, practicum, or honors thesis.

Graduate students in the Department of Sociology have the opportunity to work with an energetic group of faculty in a supportive, inclusive, and collegial research community. The department's diverse faculty are highly active in research and are influential scholars in several areas of the discipline. They publish broadly in scholarly and public outlets, and are strongly committed to mentorship and research collaboration with students.