Department website: http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/artscience/sociology
Ask yourself, What is this all about?
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.
The science of Sociology enables you to see the world in a new light.
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, two outstanding graduating seniors (one from Sociology and one from Organizational Leadership), a junior, and a 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 are awarded to B.A. and B.S. degree candidates in sociology or organizational leadership with an overall grade point average of 3.5 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.
Sociology Major Scholarship
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
McAffrey Family Scholarship
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.
James Craig
Chair, Teaching Professor and LtCol, U.S. Army (retired)
M.P.A., Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Arts & Sciences
Rachel Craft
Associate Teaching Professor
Ph.D., University of Kansas. Lawrence, KS
Coordinator, Gerontological Studies
Larry Irons
Associate Teaching Professor
Ph.D., Washington University. St. Louis, MO
Coordinator, Urban Studies
Jennifer Nolan
Associate Teaching Professor
ABD, University of Oxford. Oxford, UK
Coordinator, Gender Studies
Robert Cote
Assistant Teaching Professor
Ph.D., Capella University. Minneapolis, MN
Coordinator, Organizational Leadership
Brian Adler
Adjunct Assistant Professor
M.P.P.A., University of Missouri-St. Louis
Sociology Faculty
Bryonie Carter
Adjunct Assistant Professor
ABD, St. Louis University
Gender Studies Faculty
Shima Rostami
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Ed.D., Lindenwood University. St. Charles, MO
Sociology Faculty
Monica Swindle
Adjunct Assistant Professor
M.A., University of Missouri-St. Louis
Gender Studies Faculty
Katrhyn Weber
Adjunct Assistant Professor
M.A., Washington University. St. Louis, MO
Sociology and Gender Studies Faculty
Robert Keel
Teaching Professor Emeritus
M.A., Washington University
Margo-Lea Hurwitz
Associate Professor Emerita
Ph.D., University of California-Los Angles
Chikako Usui
Associate Professor Emerita
Ph.D., Stanford University
Ifeanyichukwu (Ifeanyi) Ukpabi
Affiliate Faculty
Ph.D., Georgia State University. Altanta, GA
