Understand and Address Inequalities

Sociology Department

Look beyond taken-for-granted views of reality, to a deeper, more illuminating and challenging understanding of social life. Sociology offers a distinctive and inquisitive way of seeing and understanding the social world in which we live and that shapes our lives.

Through its particular analytical perspective, social theories and research methods, sociology is a discipline that expands our awareness and analysis of human social relationships, cultures, and institutions that profoundly shape both our lives and human history.

As part of the prestigious Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the Sociology Department faculty focuses on understanding, critiquing and addressing structural and social inequalities. With expertise in qualitative and quantitative methods, our award-winning faculty provides excellent training in research methods, theory and a wide variety of sociological issues. Our faculty research—and our courses—include a range of areas such as globalization, immigration, transnational studies, health, aging, life course, family, education, work, power, capital and culture.

In Their Own Words

Hear from our sociology students and faculty what makes Maxwell so special.

With breadth and depth in subspecialties across the discipline—in a highly engaged interdisciplinary school of public affairs—the Sociology Department supports and empowers new scholars to develop knowledge, hone research skills and focus on what matters to them most.

Undergraduate Studies

An undergraduate major or minor in sociology provides students with both a broad introduction to the field and an opportunity to explore the specialty areas of the department. Students will take a variety of substantive courses that examine topics such as inequality, race and ethnicity, gender, health, education, immigration, family, aging and the life course, criminology and criminal justice, and social policy.

Graduate Studies

Graduate students will receive core training in sociological issues, theory and methods. Ph.D. students will develop substantive specialization in areas of faculty expertise and prepare for all aspects of their career in research, teaching publishing, grants and mentoring. The department does not admit students to a terminal M.A. program, but students in the Ph.D. program earn an M.A. degree along the way.

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Home - IR - LSP- PSC - From Toa Alta to Madrid, Maxwell Student Carries on Wanetik’s Spirit of Service

The annual Matthew Ross Wanetik Memorial Scholarship recognizes Maxwell undergraduate Angelie “Angie” Serrano Baéz for academic excellence and a deep commitment to service.

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Rick Welsh to Lead Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society

The Maxwell sociologist recently began his term leading the international organization focused on the study of food, agriculture and health.

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Maxwell Sociologist Named Visiting Scholar at Russell Sage Foundation

Gabriela Kirk-Werner will spend the spring of 2027 in residence at the foundation’s New York City headquarters to co-author a book on how the criminal justice system shapes the lives of people under court supervision.

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Jennifer Karas Montez Named Editor-in-Chief of Leading Sociology Journal

The Maxwell sociologist has been appointed to lead a flagship American Sociological Association publication.

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From $500 and a Dream to CFO: Alumna Dan Zhang Is Opening Doors for the Next Generation

The ClickUp executive has revived the Maxwell Student Emergency Support Fund to pay it forward—and because she knows firsthand what’s at stake.

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Gretchen Purser Honored With 2026 Public Sociology Award

The award is given by the Eastern Sociological Society to recognize sociologists whose innovative research is paired with meaningful public engagement.

Shannon Monnat Selected to Lead Rural Sociological Society

The Maxwell sociologist was also awarded the organization’s Frederick H. Buttel Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award for her recent co-authored book.

Sociologist’s Article Recognized by the Association for the Sociology of Religion

The award recognizes the most outstanding journal article published in the previous volume of Sociology of Religion.

Haowei Wang Named Maxwell School Scholar in US-China/Asia Relations

The position was created with a gift by Syracuse University alumni Yang Ni and Xiaoqing Li to strengthen connections between Maxwell faculty and scholars in China and Asia.

A Message from Sociology Faculty and Staff

Read the Message

Portrait of Ph.D. student (sociology) Claire Pendergrast

I am Maxwell.

Doctoral student of sociology Claire Pendergrast recently testified at a state Senate hearing about her research on the impact of COVID on older adults living at home, and the importance of “building local infrastructure” to equip older adults to avoid often unwanted institutional care. “The reason I’m studying these organizations is to understand if they’re effective and how we can do better to help older adults be healthy and independent,” she says.

Claire Pendergrast

Doctoral student, sociology; graduate fellow, Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health; intern, Office of New York State Senator Rachel May