Sociology
Department of Sociology
College of Arts and Sciences
430 Park Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-4140
Phone: 716.645.2417
Fax: 716.645.3934
Web: sociology.buffalo.edu
Robert Granfield
Chair
Sampson Lee Blair
Director of Undergraduate Studies
About the Program
Sociology examines the causes, characteristics, changes, and consequences of human behavior in groups, and provides an understanding of the structure and dynamics of social systems and issues. It emphasizes the study of individuals, social groups, and social systems as they relate to each other and to important societal issues, such as community, education, family, gender, social class, culture, law, health, environment, and war. Students are introduced to the history of social thought and to the applied and theoretical methods used to study these diverse topics. Training in sociology prepares students for a wide variety of professional careers and for active, enlightened participation in local, national, and world affairs.
About Our Degrees
Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.0 overall.
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in SOC 101 and in two other sociology courses.
Degree Requirements
See the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Courses
The typical class size for:
Freshman/introductory courses is: 300-350 (SOC 101)
Sophomore/intermediate courses is: 100-150
Upper level/advanced courses is: 35-150
Suggested Introductory Courses
In the Department of Sociology, what do teaching assistants (TA's) do?
They hold office hours and assist in grading. Advanced doctoral students occasionally teach day classes and more frequently staff courses taught at night and during the summer.
For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Faculty
The faculty of the Department of Sociology are well-published, with many having achieved national and international prominence. To learn about their areas of expertise, visit the faculty link on our departmental Web site.
See a list of our undergraduate faculty.
Practical Experience and Special Academic Opportunities
Majors in sociology may wish to take advantage of the department's areas of focus in Community/Cultural Studies, Family and the Life Course, and Law and Society/Criminology.
Independent Study
Sociology students often work individually with faculty through independent studies, assisting with ongoing research projects or developing projects of their own. Valuable research experience may be acquired in this manner.
Internship Program
The internship program is designed to provide practical career-related experience to the sociology major. Placements are available in a wide variety of settings. Internship opportunities are restricted to majors only with junior or senior class standing.
Honors, Awards, and Scholarships
The honors program in the Department of Sociology requires a minimum GPA of 3.25 in sociology and overall. Students must have junior or senior standing and be a major in sociology. Students choosing to participate in the honors program are required to complete 6 hours of honors credit in the department, normally spanning two semesters. The honors program provides students with a unique opportunity to pursue an individual research project under close faculty supervision. Honors graduates will be designated as graduating with honors (minimum GPA of 3.25), high honors (minimum 3.5), or highest honors (minimum 3.75).
The Lucia Maria Houpt Prize is awarded each year at graduation "to a student of the senior class judged as having shown the greatest excellence and proficiency in the work of the Sociology department during the academic year."
The Nathaniel Cantor Scholarship Fund is an annual scholarship for sociology or anthropology undergraduate students who plan to enter the fields of social work, vocational rehabilitation, or anthropology.
Extracurricular Activities
Alpha Kappa Delta/Zeta Chapter at UB accepts sociology majors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in sociology and overall. Students must have completed at least 12 credit hours in sociology and must be at least a junior. For more information, call 716-645-2417.
The Undergraduate Sociology Association (USA) welcomes all sociology majors as members. Attending the meetings and parties of USA is one of the best ways to get connected to the department. USA sponsors visiting speakers, facilitates participation in the annual student conference, offers career counseling, and otherwise serves as a gathering-point for student interests and activities. Each year USA organizes the departmental graduation ceremony. For more information, call (716) 645-2417.
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Programs and Courses
Majors that Complement Sociology
Minors that Complement Sociology
Career Information and Further Study
A background in sociology is valuable preparation for careers in almost any modern organizational setting. Graduates apply their knowledge and skills across a wide variety of occupations and professions including recreation, law enforcement, and human services. They are also prepared for graduate and professional school programs in areas such as law, public policy, business, social work, or psychology.
Skills gained in this program include:
Research: Research methods, research theory, statistics, evaluating evidence, and examining electronic data sources
Critical Thinking: Ability to think conceptually, and understanding components of complex problems
Communication: Writing, teaching, speaking to groups, presenting research findings, and reading critically
Human Relations: Understanding human relationships and diversity, identifying cultural/social considerations, crisis intervention, and counseling
Additional Transferable Skills: Managing, promoting, selling, analyzing, interpreting, editing, advising, organizing, problem solving, conflict resolution, and detail orientation
Career Choices
- Advertising
- Banker
- Career counselor
- Caseworker
- City manager
- Community organizer
- Consultant
- Criminologist
- Demography education
- Editor
- Environmental researcher
- Financial services
- Government services
- Human resources
- Lawyer
- Market researcher
- Mediator
- Peace Corps volunteer
- Policy analyst
- Professor
- Public health educator
- Research analyst or scientist
- Social worker
- Statistician
- Survey researcher
- Training and development
- Urban development
Recent graduates in Sociology have found employment in the following fields:
- Business
- Education
- Law enforcement
- Social services
Work settings include:
- Colleges/universities
- Corporations/businesses
- K-12 schools
- Law firms
- Non-profit/community service organizations
- Publishing firms
- US and state governments
Career Hints
Employers are looking for experience and development of skills from that experience. Internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer activities in areas related to a student's career goals offer excellent methods of gaining experience and developing skills.
Students should:
- Participate in leadership roles in extracurricular activities
- Take electives relating to their career goals
- Participate in a directed research project through the department
- Volunteer at places of career interest
Salary Information
Salaries vary considerably from one occupation, position, and work setting to another. In today’s information age, however, sociology graduates possess marketable skills which are in high demand by employers.
Links to Further Information About This Program
- Undergraduate Catalog
- Undergraduate Admissions
- Graduate Admissions
- Department of Sociology
- College of Arts and Sciences
Last Modified: Tuesday, 7-Nov-2006 10:26:16 EST