Department of Sociology

Welcome

The Department of Sociology at Wake Forest University is a thriving community of teacher-scholars and students devoted to the scientific study of society. Sociology has a rich history and provides a unique and powerful perspective for understanding the social basis of all human activity. The basic idea behind this perspective is that the larger social context in which we live influences our social institutions, the social groups of which we are apart, our educational and occupational opportunities as well as our most private and personal experiences. Studying sociology is not only a critical part of a liberal arts education but prepares students for careers in law, medicine, education, public health, social work, business, criminal justice, not-for-profit organizations, and many other fields.
We have 12 full-time faculty members who conduct research and teach courses on a range of compelling topics, including the sociology of culture, family, law, religion, education, work, race and ethnicity, gender, business, criminal justice, politics, immigration, sport, emotion, and health. Our courses offer students the opportunity to examine the often complex causes and consequences of socioeconomic status, gender, race, and sexual orientation inequality. Students can earn certification for concentrations in crime and criminal justice, business and society, and the social determinants of health and well-being.