Why Study Sociology?
Examine the relationship between individuals and historical, cultural and social forces, such as social class, race and gender.
Students in the sociology major or minor at Pacific University take innovative classes focused on social justice and equity. Faculty and students work in an interdisciplinary department that unites anthropology, social work, international studies, social justice and comparative religion. Sociology majors are trained in qualitative and quantitative research skills along with tools for advanced critical thinking and theoretical application.
Students with a sociology major or minor at Pacific enjoy small classes and many opportunities for one-on-one faculty mentoring. Students often accompany faculty to conferences and share their own work. In the capstone project, sociology students choose their independent research, with a focus on real-life applications in the community. The sociology major contributes to a liberal arts education and prepares students for graduate training in sociology, civic and community engagement.
What Can You Do with a Sociology Major?
With a sociology major or minor, graduates can apply their knowledge across a wide range of professional fields. Many attend some of the country’s top graduate schools to continue studying sociology or another discipline. Graduates also teach and work in government or in careers dedicated to social change and activism.
Our graduates are professors, police officers, researchers, teachers, social workers, community organizers, business managers, international aid workers and other types of professionals.
Ethnographic Fieldwork in Trinidad
Sociology students can participate in an anthropology travel course to Trinidad and Tobago. This travel course serves as a field methods class in social science. Students design their own research projects, set goals for conducting and completing their projects, meet with Trinidadians they contacted themselves, and analyze the data they collected. The course blends scientific methods, critical philosophical inquiry, and literary writing practices to help students become creative and critical thinkers as well as internationally engaged and aware citizens.
The Anthropology-Sociology Club plans activities including:
- Building social and cultural awareness about hunger and homelessness in our local area.
- Bringing speakers and open forums to campus.
- Sponsoring movie nights, travel experiences, and other social events.
- Working with children at local elementary schools to emphasize global awareness and cultural diversity.
The Anthropology-Sociology Club is open to all members of Pacific University. You don’t have to be an anthropology or sociology major to join.