Become Involved in Societal Issues

The Sociology Department is the second largest of the 17 academic programs within the College of Arts and Sciences. It has a distinguished and talented faculty, consisting of 14 full-time professors with Ph.D. degrees and 11 adjunct faculty instructors from a diverse background of professional and academic experiences. Each faculty member is actively involved in research including:

Juvenile Justice
Domestic Violence
Fear of Crime
Female Offenders
Masculinity Issues
Medical Sociology
Policing
Restorative Justice
Diversity
Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer
Youth

The research and community involvement of the faculty is brought directly into the classroom. Students have the opportunity to gain rich out-of-classroom experiences that bring Sociology alive. The Department offers internship courses that provide engaging work experiences in the student’s field of interest. Our students have worked in federal, state, and local agencies, district courts, law offices, and social service agencies.

Making a difference

The Department has three active research centers.  Students have opportunities to be involved in the work of these centers through research assistantships and work-study.

The Center for Crime and Justice Policy Research provides methodological skills and substantive expertise in the conduct of basic and applied research to assist government agencies, community groups, academic institutions, and private sector organizations in the development, implementation and evaluation of various criminal justice and related social issues.

The Center for Restorative Justice is a community-engaged academic center committed to the promotion of restorative justice practices, principles, and values in New England. CRJ offers public events, workshops and talks on the theory, practice and implementation of restorative principles and practices by practitioners, scholars and community members. CRJ provides materials on restorative practices, programs and principles to communities, agencies and individuals developing restorative approaches and local partnerships in restorative responses to crime and wrongdoing. CRJ offers a series of training events, coaching and consultation to aid the development, implementation and evaluation of restorative approaches within the criminal justice system, schools, social services and communities.

The Center for Women’s Health and Human Rights works to further the health and human rights of women and girls everywhere by exploring and extending the linkages between women’s health and women’s human rights. The Center is the first academic institute in the United States to focus on women’s health and human rights in the humanities and social sciences. It is dedicated to research, teaching, networking and advocacy. 

Career opportunities

Sociology graduates work in all major sectors of the American economy, including federal, state, and local government: corrections, probation, education, nonprofit and social service and private for-profit businesses.  Many graduates continue their education in graduate school in a variety of disciplines, including Sociology and Criminal Justice. Students with an interest in the broad field of criminal justice beyond the baccalaureate level may also consider applying to the Sociology Department’s Master of Science Program in Criminal Justice (MSCJ).

The Sociology Department offers:

• Undergraduate Major in Sociology with concentrations in Criminology and Law; Health and Human Services; and General Sociology. 
• Undergraduate Minor in Sociology
• Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice