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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 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.
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.
From diverse backgrounds, each faculty member selected brings expertise to further the program’s core mission: generating impactful research on access to civil justice and translating this research into practice.
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'A theme of the Harrison College Scholar Program is that our students are independent but not isolated.'
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On Thursday, March 16, join the Cornell community to make a difference for students on Cornell Giving Day.
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White guests favor Airbnb properties with white hosts, but are more inclined to rent from Black or Asian hosts if they see featured reviews from previous white guests, Cornell research finds.
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Cristobal Young, a sociologist at Cornell, and Ithai Lurie, an economist at the U.S. Treasury, look at how incentives and embeddedness shape millionaire tax flight, highlighting the small effect tax reform has had on millionare migration thus far, and raising questions about how work-from-home polic...
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One of the legacies that Warren Mitofsky left was the formation of a fellowship in his name. This year’s Mitofsky Fellow is Nathália Santos, a PhD student in Cornell University’s Department of Sociology.
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A New Year welcomes a new Director of Graduate Studies for the department of Sociology. As of the first of the year, Professor Vida Maralani will be taking the role over from Professor Erin York Cornwell, who’s proven remarkable dedication to the position over the last few years.
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