Sociology

About the Department

Jennifer Randles, Department Chair
Social Science Building, Room 211A
559.278.2234
socialsciences.fresnostate.edu/sociology/

Sociology is the scientific study of human social life. Sociologists seek to describe and explain patterns of human activity. Some sociologists study small groups, while others study organizations, institutions, or entire societies. The findings from sociological research often challenge common sense explanations. The practice of becoming a sociology student will challenge your thinking and increase your skills. Sociology majors receive strong grounding in classical and contemporary social theory, quantitative and qualitative, methods of conducting social research, and techniques of analyzing social data. Encouraging student research is one of the hallmarks of sociology at Fresno State. Please consider joining us for the surprising study of social life!

The Sociology Department currently offers a B.A., minor degree, and two certificates: 1) the Humanics Certificate in Administration and Leadership for Community Benefit Organizations (CBOs); and 2) the Certificate in Applied Sociological Research.

Interesting Classes You Might Take

Critical Thinking About Society
Sociology of Popular Culture
Medical Sociology
Sociology of Religion

The program also offers advanced courses on various topics, including race, gender, social movements, popular culture, deviance, policy, medicine, education, the environment, food, social psychology, families, childhood, and interpersonal relationships, among others.

What You Can Learn

Causes of the growth and decline of social organizations
Interdisciplinary social science methods for approaching local and national social problems
Group relations historically, cross-culturally, and in contemporary American society
Theory and practice in basic skills of critical thinking and sociological analysis

Humanics is a certificate program offering students specialized training in administration and leadership for community benefit organizations (CBOs). The Humanics Program works with CBOs in the region to prepare leaders for service to humanity.

Applied Sociological Research. Those students interested in earning a Certificate in Applied Sociological Research complete 12 units of special study to gain skills in behavioral statistics (SOC 125), quantitative and qualitative research methods (SOC 175 and SOC 176), and using computer data analysis software (SOC 174), and may present their research at an undergraduate research conference. The opportunity to gain practical research experience by working closely with faculty adds a special dimension to the Sociology Department and assists our students as they enter professional lives after graduation or seek graduate study in a field of their choice (including sociology, social work, counseling, criminology, public administration, public health, and business).

Faculty

All faculty hold graduate degrees in the social sciences and share a commitment to excellence in teaching. Their areas of special interest are diverse, including social change, deviance, housing, race, social stratification, social psychology, social theory, and research methods. Most faculty are actively involved in research. Recent faculty research has included studies of residential segregation, food justice movements, willingness to pay additional taxes, stereotypes and ethnic prejudice, basic income and needs policies, and the social organization of sport.

Career Opportunities

What You Can Do

Students trained in sociology at California State University, Fresno have entered a wide variety of occupations. A few have become professional sociologists. While most professional sociologists teach at colleges and universities, an increasing number hold research, administration, or policy positions in a variety of settings. Many students have used the sociology degree as preparation for law or other professions such as social work, counseling, public health, library science, criminology, and public administration. Students who begin work immediately after completing a bachelor’s degree in sociology usually enter careers in human services, administration/management in public or private agencies, or research in a variety of organizations.

Programs

Certificates

Bachelor

Sociology, B.A.

Minor