Sociology
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
2108 Parren J. Mitchell Art/Sociology Building
Phone: 301-405-6389
http://socy.umd.edu
From job interviews to first dates to diplomatic meetings, social interactions shape people's lives. At the Department of Sociology at the University of Maryland, we study the micro and macro, from family organization to globalization, to better understand how society functions. We conduct one-on-one interviews and analyze massive data sets locally and around the world. We bring greater clarity to sociological processes as well as recommendations for policymakers to improve human welfare. Our proximity to Washington, D.C. gives our students rich opportunities to research and intern at government agencies and institutions including the World Bank. The National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health, among others, fund our research to help veterans returning from war, families struggling in the recession and hurricane victims rebuilding their lives.
Chair: J. Lucas (Prof & Chair)
Directors: P. Cohen (Prof & Grad Director), N. DeLoatch (Undergraduate Director & Lecturer)
Professors: P. Cohen, S. Desai, D. Fisher, J. Kahn, R. Korzeniewicz (Prof & BSOS Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs), J. Lucas (Prof & Chair), S. Madhavan, M. Moaddel, S. Presser, M. Rendall (Prof & Dir MPRC), R. Ray, L. Sayer, R. Vanneman
Associate Professors: L. Doan, D. Dow, M. Kestnbaum, M. Kleykamp (Assoc Chair), K. Marsh, J. Park, W. Santoro
Assistant Professors: A. Branigan, M. Caudillo, J. Chuang, C. Mueller
Lecturers: J. Ashlock, B. Connor, C. Malackany, A. McLaughlin, J. Parsells-Johnson, R. Pernick
Associate Research Scientist: W. Hadden
Research Professors: C. Bachrach, M. Das Gupta
Assistant Research Professors: S. Sharma, J. Snider
Senior Faculty Specialist: L. Andrist (Director of the MPS Program in Public Safety Leadership and Administration)
Professors Emeriti: R. Clignet, P. Collins, E. Dager, W. Falk, K. Finsterbusch, J. Hage, K. Kammeyer, L. Landry, J. Lengermann, B. Meeker, M. Milkie, A. Neustadtl, J. Pease, G. Ritzer, D. Segal, M. Segal
Postdoctoral Fellows: J. Bailey (Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow), D. Johnson
Regular advising is strongly recommended for all majors. Advising is particularly important for those majors who are considering graduate school. Majors are reminded of the importance of taking the required foundation courses (SOCY100, SOCY201, SOCY202, SOCY203, SOCY230 & SOCY441) as soon as possible because these are prerequisite courses for the four 400-level Substantive courses. Degree audits are required of all majors at 60 and 90 credits. Further information on course work, internships, the department honors program, careers, and other topics may be obtained from the Sociology Undergraduate Advisor, 2108 Parren J. Mitchell Art/Sociology Building, 301-405-6389.
Internships
Although internships are not a requirement for the major, students may wish to consider the internship program offered by the department or through the Experiential Learning unit of the University Career Center @ BSOS. Majors may receive up to six credits in SOCY386 when an internship/volunteer position is combined with an academic project. A prerequisite of 12 credit hours in sociology coursework is required.
Honors Program
The Sociology Honors Program seeks to encourage and recognize superior scholarship by providing an opportunity for interested, capable, and energetic undergraduate students to engage in study in an area of the student's interest under the close supervision of a faculty mentor. The honors program is based upon tutorial study and independent research.
Students who have an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3, a cumulative average of 3.5 in sociology courses, and who have taken at least nine credits in sociology may apply. Transfer students with equivalent academic records at other accredited institutions are also eligible. Admission to the program will be based upon academic performance and the judgment of the Undergraduate Committee whether the applicant has sufficient maturity and interest to complete successfully the requirements for graduation with Honors. Further information on the honors program is available from the Sociology Undergraduate Office.
Student Societies and Professional Organizations
The Sociology Collective, open to all Sociology majors, is organized by a group of interested undergraduates to fill student needs within the sociology community. The collective provides information about topics of interest, including department activities, career planning, and relevant changes within the university, and strives to enhance the sense of community within the department. Representatives of the collective participate in many faculty committees within the department and thereby provide the undergraduate perspective on policy issues.
The Alpha Kappa Delta is the National Honor Society for Sociology majors. Membership is based on sociology GPA (3.3 minimum) and overall GPA (3.3 minimum). Students may apply after they have completed 18 hours of sociology coursework. Application for membership may be made in the Sociology Undergraduate Office and are accepted in both fall and spring semesters.
Scholarships and Financial Assistance
The Tara Lynn Resnick Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding female Sociology undergraduate student. This scholarship carries an award of $500 that may be used toward educational expenses for the following fall semester. Applications are accepted during the spring semester. Female students who have earned 60 credits and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 are eligible to apply.
The Parker-Fuller Scholarship is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate Sociology major in their senior year of study on the basis of need. It provides an annual award of $1,000. Applications for this scholarship are accepted during the spring semester.
The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) administers all types of federal, state and institutional financial assistance programs and, in cooperation with other university offices, participates in the awarding of scholarships to deserving students. For information, visit: http://financialaid.umd.edu.