The Department of Sociology offers programs leading to a Bachelor of Arts in sociology or a Bachelor of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution. Both connect how the experiences and behavior of individuals are shaped by social forces. Students gain understanding of the social world they live in and learn to deal with people and organizations in their everyday lives.

Sociology is a valuable preparation for careers in a wide variety of fields including social research criminology demography social psychology conflict and dispute resolution public administration gerontology education rehabilitation social work and market research. It provides a useful background for law business medicine community planning and policies. Sociology prepares students for most graduate programs in the liberal arts and social sciences. Through its strong emphasis in the core areas of theory and social research the curriculum particularly prepares students for success in studying sociology beyond the B.A.

The major in Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution is designed to provide a sound pre-professional training ground for undergraduate students who intend to pursue professional conflict intervention positions or to continue in a higher education setting. The major is designed to provide specialized pre-professional training with its emphasis on analytical and practical skills. While remaining anchored in a liberal arts tradition and strongly rooted in the social sciences, the program is designed to easily allow students to study in other fields outside the major in order to enrich these skills and traditions.