Sociology is the scientific study of society and social relations. Using cutting-edge quantitative and qualitiatve research methods, sociologists seek to systematically understand social interaction, social organization, social institutions, and social change.  Major questions sociologists address include:

• How are groups, organizations, and societies structured, and how do individuals interact within these contexts?
• What are the causes and consequences of social inequality?
• How do social categorizations such as gender, class, race, ethnicity, and sexuality shape life chances for individuals?
• How do important institutions such as education, the family, religion, and the economy shape society?
• What forces lead to social change in a society?  How do social movements originate, and what makes them succeed or fail?

The sociology major is uniquely suited to provide students with the critical thinking and practical research skills necessary to answer questions and discover solutions in an increasingly complex world.  Sociology is a useful field of study for anyone whose work focuses on human social behavior, whether that work is in sales, politics, law, management, criminal justice, medicine, education, advertising, finance, journalism, research, or social welfare.