Thank you for visiting the website of the Department of Sociology at the University of Maryland! Sociology is the study of people's everyday behavior in small group and societal contexts. For example, sociologists study topics that range from the interactional and social forces that disrupt and maintain inequality; why people are delaying or foregoing marriage and having fewer children; the demographic and social consequences of aging populations; how immigration influences identity, family relationships, and health; and the causes and consequences of social and political conflict, violence, and change.
The Department of Sociology has a long history characterized by prominence in our field and on our campus. Please take a moment to look through the experiences and expertise of our faculty: Sociology faculty. Our diverse research and teaching interests reflect the dynamic nature of the discipline of sociology and the various specialty areas in which our faculty and students focus. You can read about our department’s specialty areas here: Department of Sociology research areas.
Just as the field of sociology has never been more relevant, there has never been a more promising time to study sociology. Students who major in sociology or pursue graduate degrees in the field gain the tools they need to be successful in their future careers. They leave our department with cultural literacy, the ability to know how to use research to do their jobs better, and the skills to have positive impacts on our world’s problems. Diversity and inclusion are central to everything we do, and students leave our programs prepared to succeed in a global, interconnected workforce. Our undergraduate majors and graduate students find employment and pursue graduate study in a number of fields, from international development to market research, social justice to local government, and many more. Students with degrees from the Department of Sociology at the University of Maryland gain understanding of how people act and interact in our world, and these skills translate to numerous opportunities.
Our department is home to faculty and staff who are deeply committed to the success of our students, and our classes prepare students for rewarding and meaningful careers. In doing this, we offer a number of exciting opportunities to our students that include research experiences and direct engagement in local communities.
I invite you to explore our website and see the latest happenings in our department on our homepage: Sociology front page. If you are considering our department or our university, we would be happy to arrange for you to sit in on one or more of our classes or to meet with some of our faculty.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have about the department.
Liana Sayer, Department Chair
