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Sociology

Understand how society shapes people's lives while gaining the research skills and real-world experience to create meaningful change.

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Program Overview

What can you do with a Sociology degree?

Sociology explores how people interact with one another and how communities, institutions, and social systems shape our daily lives. By looking beneath the surface of today's biggest social issues, you'll develop a deeper understanding of why society works the way it does and how it can change.

At Wooster, you'll investigate topics like inequality, criminal justice, immigration, environmental issues, race and ethnicity, gender, and globalization while learning how to collect, analyze, and apply research to real-world challenges. Through coursework, community partnerships, and Independent Study, you'll develop the analytical and problem-solving skills that prepare you for a wide range of careers.

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Study Today's Biggest Issues

Explore topics including poverty, criminal justice, immigration, environmental issues, race, gender, and globalization.

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Research That Makes a Difference

Apply research methods and data analysis to real questions facing communities and organizations.

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Learn Beyond the Classroom

Gain hands-on experience through internships, consulting projects, faculty research, and community partnerships.

The Wooster Advantage

Why Study Sociology at Wooster?

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Apply sociology to real-world challenges through research projects with community organizations and local agencies.
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Build strong research skills through courses in theory, methods, and statistics that prepare you for Senior Independent Study and your future career.
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Work closely with faculty mentors whose research spans topics including environmental activism, juvenile justice, race and ethnicity, family policy, and social inequality.
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Take advantage of experiential learning through APEX, AMRE, the Sophomore Research Program, and internships.
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Continue your education through Wooster's 3+2 partnership with Case Western Reserve University, allowing qualified students to earn both a bachelor's degree and a Master of Social Work in five years.
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Featured Courses

Examine the forces shaping today's society.

  • Criminology & Deviance
  • Critical Mixed Race Studies
  • Environmental Sociology
  • Poverty, Welfare, & Advocacy
  • Program Evaluation
  • Social Movements
  • Sociology of Immigration

Academic Opportunities

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Turn research into action.

Throughout the Sociology curriculum, you'll investigate real social issues while developing practical research skills.

Students analyze data for community organizations, complete internships through APEX and AMRE, participate in faculty research, and spend their senior year conducting original Independent Study research with one-on-one faculty mentorship.

Recent Independent Study topics have explored vaccine hesitancy, food access in rural America, mixed-race beauty politics, and representations of Black women in popular culture.

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Ready to Explore Sociology?

Whether you're interested in public policy, law, education, social work, public health, or creating stronger communities, Sociology at Wooster prepares you to understand society and help shape its future.

Career Opportunities

Sociology graduates combine research, communication, and analytical skills to build careers across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

 

 

Key Areas 

Graduates pursue careers in:

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Public policy

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Social work

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Public health

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Education

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Law

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Criminal justice

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Business

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Nonprofit leadership

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Research

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Consulting

Where Our Alumni Go

Sociology graduates have built careers with organizations including:

  • Abt Global
  • AmeriCorps
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • BBC Research & Consulting
  • FC Cincinnati
  • Federal Transit Administration
  • Fidelity Investments
  • National Institutes of Health
  • NORC at the University of Chicago
  • Peace Corps
  • Urban Institute
  • Washington State Health Care Authority
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Scholarships & Student Opportunities

Students may be recognized through:

  • Charles E. Hurst Prize in Sociology and Anthropology
  • Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society

Students also benefit from internships, faculty research opportunities, APEX Fellowships, AMRE consulting experiences, and Sophomore Research opportunities.

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Meet Your Professors

Sociology faculty are active researchers and dedicated mentors who help students connect theory with practice. Through close collaboration in the classroom and on Independent Study, you'll investigate meaningful social questions while developing the research skills employers and graduate schools value.
Olivia Navarro-Farr

Olivia Navarro-Farr

Professor of Archaeology, Sociology, and Anthropology; Program Chair for Archaeology
Setsuko Matsuzawa

Setsuko Matsuzawa

Professor of Sociology and Anthropology; East Asian Studies (On leave Fall 2026)
Ricardo Higelin Ponce de León

Ricardo Higelin Ponce de León

Assistant Professor of Archaeology and Anthropology
Christa Craven

Christa Craven

Professor of Anthropology and Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies; Program Chair of Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
Zareen Thomas

Zareen Thomas

Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology; Latin American Studies; Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
Michael Miyawaki

Michael Miyawaki

Associate Professor and Department Chair of Sociology and Anthropology
Anne Nurse

Anne Nurse

Professor of Sociology and Anthropology
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Connect With the Department

Interested in Sociology? We'd love to help you learn more about research opportunities, internships, faculty mentorship, and the many careers a Sociology degree can support.  
Contact the Department