Pulpit politics? Cornell expert questions IRS filing
Prof. Landon Schnabel comments on the new IRS filing regarding political endorsements by religious institutions.
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The department is known for the cutting-edge research of its faculty and for its exceptionally strong graduate and undergraduate training programs.
The department’s focus on basic science is complemented by a deep commitment to informing public and educational policy, particularly on issues related to gender and racial inequality, income inequality, poverty, drug use, economic development, school funding, organizational practices and race and ethnicity.
Sociology News
Child mortality rate has jumped since 2019
Professor Alaka Basu says the absolute rise in the mortality rates of 1-19 year olds in the U.S. during the peak COVID period is striking.
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"Sexualities Across Borders: Trends in Queer Migration Studies"
Juhwan Seo (Cornell Soc Ph.D. ’25) published a new state-of-the-field review article in the inaugural issue of Sex & Sexualities.
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Why is Everybody Hating on Richie Rich?
The beloved character used his fortune for good, unlike certain zillionaires. Professor Bischoff comments on income segregation in today's world.
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"We used to disagree. Now we don't talk to each other."
"Since the COVID pandemic began five years ago, the U.S. has gone from being merely polarized to split into two separate and incompatible realities."
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Pope Leo XIV bridges Catholicism's geographic divide
The historic selection of Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago-born U.S. citizen and naturalized Peruvian, reflects Catholicism's evolving global identity.
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'My research advisor let me develop my own projects'
Gaveal Fan is a Robert S. Harrison College Scholar and also majored in sociology & information science.
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'My classes reshaped the way I think about justice, morality and what it means to be a part of humanity'
Alyssa Mendez is a sociology major.
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What is Sociology?
Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts.
Because all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime to religious cults; from the divisions of race, gender, and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture; and from the sociology of work to the sociology of sports.
Because sociology addresses the most challenging issues of our time, it is a rapidly expanding field whose potential is increasingly tapped by those who craft policies and create programs.
If you think you might be interested in Sociology, start by taking a class. Or, learn more about the major.
The Graduate Program
Cornell’s Graduate Field of Sociology provides top-notch training toward the PhD in Sociology, and has long been known for its emphasis on both theoretical innovation and methodological rigor. The Field, which is much larger than the Department, has close to thirty faculty members.
Jeopardy!
Check out the Department's Jeopardy! display case on the 3rd floor of Uris Hall and the corresponding Jeopardy! page, home to solutions, history, and a place where you can share your trivia ideas with us.
