The role of family influence, gender and ethnicity among groups. Civil war. Terrorism. Crime and community. The distribution of wealth and poverty in society. The world of work and injustice. How health impacts individuals, families and segments of society.

These are just some of the topics that garner critical attention by OSU’s Department of Sociology.

By studying societies in the broadest terms – and analyzing a society’s subset of groups – we strive to understand trends, reverse negative outcomes and bolster opportunities to promote healthy, safe and productive citizens and communities.

Sociology students learn to analyze and interpret behavior. They solve problems and present viable solutions – solutions with meaningful outcomes that help advance societies in positive, productive directions.

By understanding the collective behavior of groups large and small – what motivates them, what they have in common and what actions they take or fail to take – we can unlock how societies work, how they adopt or reject new ideas, and continue to evolve over time.

Interested in making a difference in our society?

Then consider the Department of Sociology, which is home to the two most popular majors on campus – sociology and criminology.

OSU's Department of Sociology will equip you with the know-how to understand human behavior and how to affect change.