Overview

Sociology is the scientific study of society and its institutions, organizations, and groups. Sociology promotes critical thinking by revealing the social structures and processes that shape human life. In Spring 2024, the sociology minor, with its 150 minors, moved from the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice to the Department of Gender and Race Studies. The introductory sociology course is one of the most popular on campus, with over 1,000 students enrolling each semester.

Minor

To earn a minor in sociology, students must take 18 hours of undergraduate sociology courses: SOC 101 (Introduction to Sociology), SOC 302 (Sociological Theory), and 12 hours of electives, 6 of which must be at the 300- or 400-level. Courses in the minor focus on key sociological principles including the connection between the individual and society; the extent, causes, and consequences of social inequality; and the social construction of human life. Courses in the minor provide the skills that prepare students for diverse careers in research, government, business, social services, and law.

Faculty

As the flagship institution of the state of Alabama, The University of Alabama has a coterie of nationally and internationally recognized faculty whose scholarship and teaching interests in Women’s Studies reflect the level of intellectual productivity and engagement that makes UA one of the foremost research institutions in the nation. The work in Women’s Studies at the Department of Gender and Race Studies provides an important intellectual resource for research at The University of Alabama.