Department of Sociology
An Engaging Academic Environment
Sociology literally means the study of society, or of social things. It is a scientific approach to understanding human groups and human interaction. From families to neighborhoods to nation-states, human life is spent in the company of others. The theories and methods of sociology provide a means to analyze the social nature of human existence. Training in sociology is useful preparation for careers in business, law, government, ministry, medicine, and many more.
Why Baylor Sociology
Dating back to 1919, Baylor’s sociology program offers a legacy of distinguished service, high caliber scholarship, exemplary teaching, and unique opportunities to its students. At Baylor, you will take classes taught by top scholars and have opportunities for independent research.
Undergraduate Programs
An attractive aspect of our program is its flexibility. You customize your sociological studies in keeping with your interests and ambitions.
Graduate Programs
The Department of Sociology at Baylor University has a productive faculty committed to the mentorship and collaborative research with students.
Research Areas
Research is an important aspect of graduate study at Baylor and, by the end of their second year, Sociology doctoral students will begin engaging in an in-depth research project. Our graduate students have been published in Social Forces, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion and Social Science Quarterly. Their work also has been selected by notable new outlets such as The Huffington Post, USA Today and The Washington Post. There has never been a better time to study sociology at Baylor.
Careers in
Sociology
The knowledge and analytical skills of sociology make our graduates broadly marketable. More than half of our alumni build a career upon their undergraduate degree. About a third eventually pursues some type of graduate education, such as sociology, social work, seminary, business administration, law, or medical. Private laboratories, foundations, and research centers offer opportunities for those who study sociology and health.
Ty H.
Associate Client Engagement Manager
Ty is the Associate Client Engagement Manager for a major tech company.
Jordyn A.
Clinical Research Assistant
Jordyn attended graduate school and now works in a hospital.
Matt B.
Graduate Student; Outreach Coordinator
Matt is pursing an M.S. in Forensics Psychology and is working as an Outreach Coordinator at his university.
Sociology
In the News
Baylor profs’ books named among 2022’s best by Christianity Today & Englewood Review
Jan. 13, 2023
The end of each year brings with it a series of lists that bibliophiles eagerly await — a rundown of the year’s best books. Baylor professors are often honored on these “best of” lists, on a wide variety of topics. For 2022, two books authored by Baylor faculty members earned recognition from Christianity Today and …
As Gen X and Boomers Age, They Confront Living Alone
Dec. 12, 2022
Jay Miles has lived his 52 years without marriage or children, which has suited his creative ambitions as a videographer in Connecticut and, he said, his mix of “independence and stubbornness.” But he worries about who will take care of him as he gets older.
Donna Selman, a 55-year-old college professor in Illinois, is mostly grateful to be single, she said, because her mother and aunts never had the financial and emotional autonomy that she enjoys.
Mary Felder, 65, raised her children, now grown, in her row house in Philadelphia. Her home has plenty of space for one person, but upkeep is expensive on the century-old house.
Smartphones Promise Satisfaction and Meaning, Deliver Only More Searching, Study Shows
Sep. 26, 2022
WACO, Texas (Sept. 26, 2022) –Smartphone users will be disappointed if they expect their devices and social media to fill their need for purpose and meaning. In fact, it will probably do the opposite, researchers at Baylor and Campbell Universities found in a recently published study.
Swiping for Answers
Sep. 15, 2022
Professors from Campbell, Baylor say those who rely on smartphones for meaning, satisfaction in life are mostly findings disappointment.
