The American sociologist C. Wright Mills described the perspective of sociology as the “sociological imagination.†This point of view enables us to see the ways in which individual lives are shaped by larger social forces. Mills argues that we cannot fully understand ourselves without understanding the society in which we live.
At Clark, the sociology faculty are committed to developing such an analytical capacity in students. We are committed to developing your capacity to understand the relations between local situations and larger structures. Through the examination of social processes, such as social stratification, social movements and social change, and through an investigation of diverse social institutions, such as law, family, medicine and religion, students acquire the conceptual and analytical tools to enhance both their understanding of their own lives and the world in which they live.
One of the questions most frequently asked by students is “What can I do with a degree in sociology?†Because of the emphasis placed on critical thinking, analytical and communicative skills, and methodological training, students majoring in sociology are well equipped to enter a variety of occupations as well as professional and graduate schools. Sociology majors have gone to law school, medical school, social work programs, and business school. Others have become marketing analysts, city planners, government policy analysts, university administrators, and political consultants.
For more information, please visit the Sociology Departments website.