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.
The department also has close ties with the many other research centers on campus. Interdisciplinary research touches on subjects such as inequality, economics, social sciences, nonlinear systems, politics and social dynamics.
Department Resources
Alumni Spotlight: Catherine Zhang ’22
Learning about sociology was fascinating, said Catherine Zhang ‘22, about her experience delving into subjects like inequality and how institutions shape social phenomena.
During her time at Cornell, she appreciated learning under the brilliant faculty members in the department and finding support in her advisor Professor Bischoff.
Learn more about Catherine's journey and her future endeavor joining pioneering technologist program Schmidt Futures.
Explore more profiles of recent sociology majors below:
Spotlight on Recent Sociology Graduates
Sociology News
"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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Student spotlight: Haowen Zheng
Haowen Zheng, a doctoral candidate in sociology from Zibo, China, now studies why people move long distances within a country and how those moves shape their lives.
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Catholic charter school matter ‘raises profound questions about equal access’
The Supreme Court's decision in the matter of Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond will represent a critical test of the separation between church and state in public education, says Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology.
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Giving to the Department of Sociology
Unrestricted gifts, no matter what the amount, help support every facet of the Cornell Sociology Department. Gifts may also be designated to support a specific area of the the department's activities.
You can make a gift online at Cornell's Alumni, Parents & Friends page here.