Sociologists study virtually every aspect of human society: the family, gender, race and ethnic relations, aging, education, work, population, and many others. The goal is to understand the workings of human society and to explain social behavior. As a sociologist, although you'll study what are commonly regarded as social problems—crime, drug addiction, and poverty, for example—you'll also examine fundamental social processes present in any society: social change, conflict and inequality.
Studying sociology as an undergraduate major will prepare you for entry-level work or graduate school in various fields. New graduates have found opportunities in the fields of social policy, law, criminal justice, social science research, human resources, organizational and non-profit management, education, environmental policy and research, advocacy, and social work, to name a few.
If you're interested in continuing your education at the graduate level, our students have successfully enrolled in law school, business school, social work and public policy graduate programs, and they've also continued on to pursue doctoral degrees in the field. The sociology degree offers a multitude of opportunities and an excellent introduction to American society, social science research & demography, and international issues. Find out which famous people received their degrees in sociology.
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The department sponsors interdisciplinary certificates in Criminology, Law, and Deviance, Population Studies, and Social Work and Social Welfare. Participation in these programs is open to majors and non-majors alike.
We also offer a semester-long internship program - Sociology LEAD - on the Charles River Campus in Newton, that we encourage all students to take part in.
- Undergraduate
- Current Students
- Honors Program