Sociology

Sociology encompasses studies of the self and the intersection of personal biography with social forces, of social institutions like the family and workplaces, of collective behavior and social movements, and of world systems such as globalization. Sociology examines theoretical arguments with empirical data.

The Department of Sociology at UMass is among the highest ranked in the country by U.S. News and World Report, and is renowned for its applied curriculum, groundbreaking research, and outstanding advising.

Undergraduate Sociology program options include a Bachelor’s degree, a minor, and multiple certificates. The Labor Studies Program offers undergraduate courses as well.

Welcome to the Sociology Community

The field of sociology studies virtually every aspect of human society: the family, gender, race and ethnic relations, aging, education, work, population, and many others. Its principal goal as a discipline is to understand the workings of human society and to explain social behavior. Although sociologists do study what are commonly regarded as social problems — crime, drug addiction, and poverty, for example — they also examine fundamental social processes present in any society: social change, conflict and inequality.

Studying sociology as an undergraduate major is an excellent way to prepare for entry-level work or graduate school in various fields. New graduates have found opportunities in the fields of social policy, law, criminal justice, social science research, human resources, organizational and non-profit management, education, environmental policy and research, advocacy, and social work to name a few.  Students interested in continuing their education at the graduate level have successfully enrolled in law school, business school, social work and public policy graduate programs, as well as continuing on to pursue a PhD in Sociology.   The Sociology degree offers a multitude of opportunities and offers an excellent introduction to American society, social science research and demography, and international issues.

5 Effective Tips to Calm Your Stress During Finals

The Pathways Center wants you to have a successful finals week and we recognize that the couple of weeks leading up to it can be very stressful. Here are 5 effective tips to help you to unwind and calm your …

By Koni Denham
Koni Denham Director of Student Success - SBS
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Why take SOC BEHAV 250: College to Careers?

Earn Credit & De-Stress Your Career Planning!

Learn: How To Get Internships And Jobs
Build: Your Network
Create: a Polished Resume, Cover letter & LinkedIn Profile
Get: Expert Advice in a Student-Friendly Setting

Register for this highly useful and popular …

By Carol Sharick
Carol Sharick Director of Career and Professional Development for Undergraduates, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Winter Break Skill Building Program, with SBS Careers

Winter break is around the corner and is a long 6+ weeks.  Are you wondering how to use that time?

Your SBS Career team invites you to join us virtually for a structured, self-guided professional skill building program, so you …

By Carol Sharick
Carol Sharick Director of Career and Professional Development for Undergraduates, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Featured Alumni

Caitlyn Arnold’17, Sociology

Alumni
  • Beverly, MA
  • Admissions Manager The School for Field Studies

Michelle Aghiarian’13 Anthropology & Sociology

Alumni
  • UX Designer Veracode
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Suresha Ramjit’20 – Sociology, Political Science minor Certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice System Certificate in Social Research Analysis

Alumni
  • Boston, MA
  • Practice Assistant - Global Practice Support Kirkland & Ellis
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Isabel Alves de Lima’20 – Sociology

Alumni
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Recruiting Coordinator OpenAI
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Matt Cavanaugh’21 – Sociology

Alumni
  • Tampa, FL
  • Commercial Risk Advisor BKS Partners
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Dianna Bronchuk’16, Communication & Sociology

Alumni
  • Assistant Director of Educational Initiatives Northeastern University Alumni Relations Office
Meet Dianna >
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Featured Resources

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Skill-Building With Linkedin Learning Classes

See below for skill-building classes – visit LinkedIn Learning for more.

Build a Successful Career in Project Management

Taught by Oliver Yarbrough
Do you want to get into project management? Maybe you’re already in project management, but you want to grow. Either…
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Media Relations Foundations

Taught by Jessica Chen
View Jessica’s LinkedIn Newsletter If you want your business to succeed, you need as much brand recognition as you can…
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Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Essential Training (2021)

Taught by Corey Koberg
Google Analytics 4 provides the means to track, analyze, and report on the visitors to your site and app—who they…
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Nonprofit Management Foundations

Taught by Leslie Crutchfield
Thinking about leading a nonprofit organization? Internationally renowned author Leslie Crutchfield provides a primer on nonprofit management and leadership. She…
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Social Media Marketing Strategy: TikTok and Instagram Reels

Taught by Ashley Kennedy
If you’re in marketing, the only thing worse than not having a social media marketing strategy is having a bad…
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Emerging Leader Foundations

Taught by Dan Schawbel
View Dan’s LinkedIn Newsletter Taking on a leadership role in the diverse, ever-changing modern workplace can feel both exhilarating and…
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From Excel to SQL

Taught by Madecraft
Data is powerful, and the ability to access it quickly and accurately is important. In this course, instructor James Parkin…
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Cert Prep: PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®

Taught by Kelley O'Connell
The agile approach to project management can help companies respond faster and more effectively to change. As a result, having…
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Learning to Write Marketing Copy

Taught by Ian Lurie
Copy is the heart and soul of almost every marketing endeavor. Get a great foundation for all your campaigns with…
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Learning Design Thinking: Lead Change in Your Organization

Taught by Turi McKinley
Design thinking is a user-centered way of solving problems. It involves extensive collaboration, using strategies such as mapping customer journeys,…
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Content Marketing: Online Reviews in Social Media

Taught by Melodie Tao
For business owners, online reviews are a powerful asset in your marketing toolkit that can make or break a sale,…
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Customer Service Foundations (2020)

Taught by Jeff Toister
View Jeff’s LinkedIn Newsletter Do your customers feel valued? When they do, they keep coming back. When they don’t, your…
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Purpose-Driven Sales

Taught by Lisa Earle McLeod
Do you have a purpose, or do you just sell stuff? Best-selling author and sales leadership consultant Lisa Earle McLeod…
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SEO Foundations (2018)

Taught by David Booth
Modern consumers navigate the world through search. From laptops, smartphones, virtual assistants, tablets, and more, they search the wild and…
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Brand Design Foundations

Taught by Sean Adams
Everyone knows the importance of great branding, but how do you build a brand from scratch? In this course, Sean…
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User Experience (UX) for Non-Designers

Taught by Tom Green
User experience (UX) design is more than just pushing pixels and adding interactivity. It’s a people-centric practice that involves many…
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Digital Marketing Trends

Taught by Martin Waxman
Stay up to date on the latest trends in digital marketing. In this biweekly series, marketing and social media expert…
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Business Analysis Foundations: Business Process Modeling

Taught by Haydn Thomas
When you’re trying to grapple with user demands and market changes, it can be difficult to mentally zoom out and…
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Customer Service: Managing Customer Expectations

Taught by Jeff Toister
Today’s customers expect a lot. Customer service expert Jeff Toister helps frontline employees identify where they can manage the expectations…
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Google Ads Essential Training (2020)

Taught by Brad Batesole
Learn the foundations of pay-per-click (PPC) advertising with Google Ads (formerly known as AdWords) the industry-leading PPC platform. First, explore…
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Relevant Courses

SBS College to Careers – SOCBEHAV 250

SOCBEHAV 250: College to Careers This class is all about YOU. • One credit, highly-participatory course • Learn about yourself…
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Research Opportunities

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Explore Outcomes

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans.  The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation.  Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students.  The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2022 was 70%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans.  The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation.  Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students.  The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2022 was 70%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

  • First Destination
  • Top Employers
  • Starting Salary
  • Job Titles
  • Employment Locations
  • Top Universities
  • Degree Types
  • Fields of Study

First Destination

SBS graduates pursue a range of plans after graduation, including employment, continuing education, and volunteering/service, among others.  This graph depicts what recent SBS graduates tell us they are doing within six months after graduation.