Combining Basic Social Science and Real-World Change
Sociology is a field that studies basic human and social processes in the context of the complex realities of a rapidly changing world. Sociologists investigate many important and fascinating questions. Especially with the notable increase in diversity in our society and the fast-moving realities of a globalizing world, the breadth of knowledge and perspective provided by majoring in sociology has been looked upon favorably by employers in many fields. Sociologists are trained to study many aspects of social life: issues of peace and war; labor force and corporate downsizing; gender, work and the family; crime and delinquency; education reform; inequality and medical sociology. The department encourages interaction between students and faculty by offering many opportunities for individualized study and research. Graduates of our program are working in many interesting jobs in research, in fields such as management and industry, health care, human resources, social work and education. Sociology is also excellent preparation for graduate school in multiple fields. In addition to pursuing doctoral study in sociology, many of our recent graduates are now in graduate school in fields like medicine, law and social work.
Combining Strength in Research and Learning
The Department of Sociology is nationally and internationally known for its leadership and strong programs of research and graduate education in the sociology of health and medicine and the sociology of age and the life course. Our undergraduate program also offers concentrations in Crime, Law and Justice, Gender, Work and Family, Health, Medicine, and Aging, and Social Inequality. Many sociology majors have the opportunity to participate in research projects and other field-based learning experiences, both through activities built into regular course experiences, and by working on ongoing faculty research projects. The Department has a long history of combining leadership in research with a friendly, student-centered culture, for both graduate and undergraduate students.
Sociology graduate students enjoy their time with UC Berkley Sociologist Michael Burawoy
Sociology graduate students enjoy their time with UC Berkley sociologist Michael Burawoy. Professor Burawoy, known for his contributions to Marxist sociology, sociological theory, public sociology, and ethnographic research methods, presented his most recent work entitled, What Shall We Do With The Canon: The Significance of W.E.B Du Bois at...
Casey Albitz quoted in The New York Times
Sociology Ph.D. student Casey Albitz was recognized in The New York times for her work the with housing court, which is also the basis for her dissertation. Casey's Works-in-Progress, the chance to learn more about her dissertation, is scheduled in February within the Department of Sociology.
Sue Hinze, Brian Gran, and doctoral candidate Anne Bryden collaborate on DoD grant
In collaboration with Kim Anderson (Department of Physical Medicine and MetroHealth), the Department of Sociology’s Anne Bryden, Brian Gran and Sue Hinze recently learned that the Department of Defense Spinal Cord Injury Research Program is funding their project entitled, “Perspectives on Recovery and Interventions to Restore Function Across the First Year of Spinal Cord Injury.” The $803,000 award supports research that compares needs of Veterans who have experienced spinal cord injury, as well as needs of those Veterans’ caregivers, with civilians and their caretakers, during the first year of injury as they attempt to reintegrate into the community.
Jessica Kelley and Jielu Lin win ASA SALC Outstanding Publication Award
Cassi Pittman Claytor writes about retail racism in a recent Op-ED in The Guardian
In the article, “Shopping while black’: yes, bias against black customers is real,” Pittman Claytor shares important insight on why black consumers continue to encounter racism when they are merely trying to spend their money. It is an extension of her work on the everyday forms of discrimination that black consumers encounter in the marketplace and calls out retail stores for institutional practices that perpetuate the practice.
Heather Hurwitz named Freedman Fellow for 2019-2020
Heather Hurwitz has been named a Freedman Fellow for 2019-2020 for her project entitled “Digitizing the Occupy Movement Archive to Create Research and Teaching Resources.” Heather will develop a public searchable database for the most comprehensive archive of documents surrounding the Occupy Wall Street movement. Read the full article...
Highlights
Spring 2019 Newsletter
Graduate Studies
- For additional information please contact graduate co-directors Professor Jessica A. Kelley or Professor Gary Deimling.
Undergraduate Studies
- For additional information, please contact undergraduate co-director Professor Dale Dannefer or Professor Karie Feldman.