The Department of Sociology consists of 10 full-time faculty, 120 undergraduate majors, and over 20 graduate students. Founded in 1922, the department has a long tradition of inspiring students to apply sociology to the world around them.
Sociology is the study of groups, social interaction, and social institutions. To study these, the department has developed a core curriculum centered on sociological methods (how we know) and sociological theory (how we explain). Beyond the theory and methods courses, majors enroll in a two-course practice sequence and senior capstone. These courses are designed to help students explore their calling as sociologists, develop an area of specialization, and explore career options. To help students craft their own area of specialization, students are closely mentored by faculty who share their expertise and advise students on their choice of electives in sociology.
Our faculty members are actively engaged with the Chicago community through research, activism and consulting. They build upon those relationships in their work with students inside and outside of the classroom. Combined with one of the best career readiness programs in the nation, we facilitate our students' transitions from school to work.
The Department of Sociology at DePaul University equips students with the skills to understand, analyze, and improve the social world. Graduates emerge as agents of positive change with the tools to help address complex societal issues in both their professional and personal lives. We prepare students for a range of career options. The extensive training in sociological methods and theory qualifies students with BA degrees to work in both non-profit (including social service agencies) and for-profit (marketing, consumer behavior, data analysis) work settings. Many graduates pursue graduate degrees in social work, law, non-profit management, public health, and doctoral programs in sociology. Our graduates have become leaders in the non-profit sector and academic careers.
Our Sociology degree program supports students in combining rigorous scientific thinking and analysis with a passion for making the world better. Our program speaks to all of the Career Readiness Competencies established by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which include:
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Oral and Written Communication
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Digital Technology
- Leadership
- Ethics
- Intercultural Fluency
As students work toward a degree in Sociology, they'll take advantage of exploring Chicago—an exciting laboratory for research and observation with its ethnic communities, economic development and urban issues, offering many opportunities to access Chicago’s rich and diverse culture through service opportunities, field experience, and internships.
Faculty
Julie E. Artis, PhD
Professor
Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Indiana University
Fernando G. De Maio, PhD
Professor
Vice President, Health Equity Research and Data Use | Center for Health Equity
American Medical Association
University of Essex
Black Hawk Hancock, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Karen H. Lee, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Texas at Austin
Tracey Lewis-Elligan, PhD
Associate Professor
Syracuse University
Martha Martinez-Firestone, PhD
Professor
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Duke University
John Joe Schlichtman, PhD
Professor
New York University
Greg Scott, PhD
Professor
Chair and Director of Graduate Studies
University of California, Santa Barbara
José Soltero, PhD
Professor
University of Arizona
Mark Wodziak, MA
Instructor
DePaul University
Emeritus Faculty
Noel Barker, MA
Term Faculty Emeritus
University of Illinois, Urbana
Michael I.J. Bennett, PhD
Associate Professor Emeritus
University of Chicago
Grace Budrys, PhD
Professor Emeritus
University of Chicago
Noreen Cornfield, PhD
Professor Emeritus
University of Chicago
Roberta Garner, PhD
Professor Emeritus
University of Chicago
John P. Koval, PhD
Associate Professor Emeritus
University of Oregon, Eugene
Richard T. Schaefer, PhD
Vincent de Paul Professor Emeritus
University of Chicago
Charles Suchar, PhD
Vincent de Paul Professor and Dean Emeritus, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Northwestern University