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Department of Sociology College of Arts and Sciences

Why Study Sociology?

Sociology is the scientific study of human behavior and the complexities of human social relationships. If you want to understand social behavior in the real world, sociology is where you find the answers. Regardless of your chosen career path, having a critical understanding of the social world can put you at the forefront of your career field.

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It is a top-notch program. I'd recommend this program to anybody who wants to improve the rigor of the work they do.

– Tracy Sims (2020 MA in Sociology graduate); Senior Director, U.S. Lead of Chronic Disease Environment Shaping at Eli Lilly and Company

Featured Alumni

  • Timothy M. Hale

    Timothy M. Hale

    Timothy M. Hale (PhD 2011) is a Teaching Assistant Professor at University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne.

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  • Zachary McCann

    Zachary McCann

    Zachary McCann (PhD 2021) is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Health in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

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  • Leigh Willis

    Leigh Willis

    Leigh Willis (PhD 2004) is a Behavioral Scientist at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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  • Jay A. Irwin

    Jay A. Irwin

    Jay Irwin (PhD 2009) is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

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Latest News

  • Seven students receive 2024 Dean’s Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate and Graduate Students
    Throughout the Spring 2024 semester, departments across the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s College of Arts and Sciences submitted nominations for the Dean’s Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Students and Outstanding Graduate Students. The awards are given to exceptional undergraduate and graduate students in CAS who have made significant contributions to the UAB community.
  • New study highlights pandemic effects on mental health of parents juggling unemployment and having children in remote school
    A new study from UAB provides clarity on how the pandemic mattered for the mental health of parents with school-age children.
  • Medical sociology program gives students an expansive approach to health care
    In the world of medicine, treating the body and treating the person can be two distinctly different things. The medical sociology program in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Sociology is a way to bridge that gap.
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