Sociology
Department website: http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/artscience/sociology
Ask yourself, What is this all about?
Sociology will enable you to see the world in a new light.
In a country like the United States where individualism is celebrated, it is very easy to forget that the way humans behave and feel is often socially produced. Whether they be friendships, families, church groups, socioeconomic classes, complex organizations, or nations, much of our lives are socially constructed. This is the basic premise of sociology.
Sociology is the scientific study of human social relationships, social interactions, and institutions. Our field focuses on understanding institutions, processes, and groups through frames that include function, stratification, networks, conflict, cohesion, and social change. Sociology’s subject matter is diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social stability to radical change in whole societies. It provides both quantitative and qualitative tools for understanding how and why our society functions, the impact of social intuitions on individual lives, and the challenges of social interaction between individuals and society.
Student Experience
Sociology students receive training in a variety of social research methods, including questionnaire survey research, social statistical analysis, qualitative methods, interviewing, and ethnographic fieldwork. They also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in urban community-based research.
Sociology students work with faculty who conduct research internationally, nationally, in the St. Louis area, and on the internet. They research topics such as urbanization, gentrification, globalization, business and society, new media, the role of technology in society, memorialization, and the role of veterans in societies. We encourage our Sociology students to take advantage of opportunities to study with faculty in the Gerontology and Gender Studies Programs to explore the impact of aging and gender on both individual identity and the structure of the wider society. We also encourage our student to study leadership as a key component of social change, through our Organizational Leadership program.
The Sociology program is a leader of the University of Missouri system in innovative online education. Several courses offer the flexibility of attending an in-class lecture or accessing the lecture and course material online, according to the individual’s schedule.
Department Awards and Honors
The Ray Collins Alumni Award is given annually by the Sociology Alumni Association to the top graduating senior as selected by the faculty.
The Sociology Alumni Awards are awarded by faculty annually on the basis of merit. In addition, one outstanding senior, junior, and freshman are recognized annually based on merit. The Outstanding Sociology Minor Award is presented to the graduating student with the most outstanding minor GPA record.
Department Honors in Sociology are awarded to B.A. and B.S. degree candidates in sociology with an overall grade point average of 3.4 or better.
Degree with Distinction in Sociology
A degree with distinction in research, scholarship or creativity in the arts is an honor that recognizes a student for outstanding accomplishments in research and/or other creative endeavors. Students majoring in Sociology who meet the criteria may apply for candidacy for a Degree with Distinction during their final year before graduation. The criteria and guidelines for applying for a Sociology Degree with Distinction can be found on our website.
Career Outlook
The Sociology Program teaches the transferable job skills that enable students to rationally analyze social issues and arrive at effective solutions. These skills are valuable for careers in health and social services; human resources; community planning; non-profit leadership; consumer marketing research and consulting; and jobs involving social research in corporate, non-profit, and government settings. Sociology also provides a solid foundation for graduate school in any of the social sciences, and for professional training in fields such as law, medicine, public policy, analysis, and social work.
Sociology Department Scholarships
The Sociology Program offers scholarships to majors in Sociology. Click the link below for more information.
The Gender Studies Program offers scholarships to students who have enrolled in the GS minor or certificate. Click the links below for more information.
Sharon Marglous Memorial Scholarship
Nanora Sweet Research Award in Gender Studies
Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship
Alan Ross Achievement Scholarship
In addition, the Gerontology Program offers scholarships to students who are enrolled in the Gerontology minor. Click the link below for more information.
Albert and Virginia Calsyn Scholarship in Gerontology
Go to the Financial Aid page to Apply for a Scholarship and see more information on how to apply.
Degrees
Organizational Leadership BA
Emphasis Areas
- Community Studies Emphasis
- Computing and Information Security Emphasis
- Corporate Communication Emphasis
- Criminal Justice Emphasis
- Executive Leadership Emphasis
- Health Communication Emphasis
- Individualized Emphasis
- Operational Excellence Emphasis
- Social Justice Emphasis
Certificates
Gender Studies Graduate Certificate
Gender Studies Undergraduate Certificate
Gerontological Studies Undergraduate Certificate
Minors
Affiliated Interdisciplinary Programs
James Craig
Chair, Teaching Professor, and LtCol, U.S. Army (retired)
M.P.A., Harvard University
CAS Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Studies
Elaina Johns-Wolfe
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Cincinnati
Rachel Craft
Associate Teaching Professor
Ph.D. University of Kansas
Larry Irons
Associate Teaching Professor
Ph.D., Washington University
Jennifer Nolan
Associate Teaching Professor
ABD, Oxford University, UK
Coordinator, Gender Studies Program
Robert Cote
Assistant Teaching Professor
Ph.D., Capella University
Coordinator, Organizational Leadership Program
Nancy Shields
Associate Professor Emerita
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Chikako Usui
Associate Professor Emerita
Ph.D., Stanford University
Robert Keel
Teaching Professor Emeritus
M.A., Washington University