Sociology (SOC)

526 David M. French Hall
(810) 762-3340

Chair: Heather Laube
Principal Secretary: Lynne McTiernan

Associate Professors Heather Laube, Kathryn Schellenberg, Charles B. Thomas, Jr.; Assistant Professors: Jacob Lederman, Sasha Drummond-Lewis

Professors Emeriti: Thomas L. Coffey, Larry W. Koch

Sociology is the study of how social life is organized. More specifically, sociology examines the structures and functions of human groups, communities, and societies. Sociologists attempt to identify the forces that hold groups together as well as those which act to weaken them and explain how social norms and roles operate to control and shape human behavior. Sociological areas of expertise and research are highly varied but include: families, sex & gender, minorities, race & ethnic relations, religion, inequality, cities, collective behavior, knowledge, aging, health & medicine, law & the criminal justice system, deviance & crime, population, social ecology, work & occupations, and formal organizations.

Program Mission and Assessment

The Sociology program is committed to providing students with 1) an understanding of the processes and structures of the social world, particularly inequalities, 2) an appreciation of the student’s location in those structures and processes, and 3) an opportunity to cultivate analytical reasoning and general research skills required for the consumption and production of original research. The Department participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Information on assessment plans, including goals, methods and outcomes is available at http://www.umflint.edu/assessment.

Programs in Sociology

Three concentration programs are offered, all leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree: the General Program in Sociology , the Joint Program in Social Sciences with an emphasis on sociology (see “Social Sciences ”), and the Honors Program in Sociology . A Minor in Sociology is also available.