Sociology is a discipline built on scientific analysis of the social world.
Sociologists explore a wide variety of topics, including the organization of human interaction, the influence of groups on behavior, the structure of societies, patterns of social change, and the role of institutions in social life. Students of sociology seek to understand the world around them from a historical, critical perspective, and the tools gained from studying sociology are relevant to both personal and occupational success. In the rapidly changing, global society of today, sociology provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to new social environments. For more information on careers options with a degree in Sociology, please see careers in sociology . Majors in sociology at USM must take a total of thirty-three semester hours in the department.