What is Sociology Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts. In fact, few fields have such broad scope and relevance for research, theory, and application of knowledge.1 Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives on the world, generating new ideas and critiquing the old. Because sociology addresses the most challenging issues of our time, it is a rapidly expanding field whose potential is increasingly tapped by those who craft policies and create programs. Sociologists understand social inequality, patterns of behavior, forces for social change and resistance, and how social systems work.
Sociology is an exciting discipline with expanding opportunities for a wide range of career paths.