A particular focus is the study of causes and consequences of social inequities associated with race, class and gender. The faculty is widely known for its scholarship, teaching and cross-disciplinary connections to programs in black studies, education, journalism, peace studies, rural sociology and women studies. Eight departmental courses qualify as writing-intensive. Service learning has gained swift popularity among sociology majors, who have much to offer social-service agencies, and much to gain from the experience. The department has also been quick to make use of computer-based instruction and test taking, especially useful in teaching research methods in sociology.
Computers replace textbooks, and practice tests are graded instantly.
Sociology is the study of human societies. On a large scale, it may involve entire countries, such as a study of the economic dominance of advanced industrial countries over emerging Third World countries. But on a small scale, sociologists study personal interactions in everyday life, as simple as conversations and as complex as family relationships. At MU, personal interaction is also something deeply ingrained in the institutional and intellectual culture of the campus. Students and faculty members from around the world easily get to know each other on a first-name basis.