Sociology

Timothy G. Delaney, Chair
313 Mahar Hall
315-312-4190
www.oswego.edu/sociology

Distinguished Service Professor: Norman Weiner

Professor: Mary Stuck

Associate Professor: Melsome Nelson-Richards

Assistant Professors: Timothy G. Delaney, Young Kim

Sociology is the study of human behavior in groups: how those groups behave and how individuals are influenced by the groups they belong to. Sociology seeks to understand the patterns in behavior that seem random and the variations in behavior that appear regular. Sociology looks at the way our interaction with other people affects our ways of thinking, feeling, and acting. Sociology explores how groups, including society itself, remain smooth-running even in periods of great social change and how they make major changes in the face of strong, long-lasting traditions.

Sociologists study groups ranging from two people to all of society, including the major social institutions of family, education, religion, government, and economy. They examine the effects of such structures as age, sex, race ethnicity, income, and education on people’s attitudes and behaviors.

The study of sociology allows students to develop their intellectual, communication, and research skills. Graduates with a Sociology major will find this background valuable for entry-level positions in such fields as counseling, criminal justice, recreation, gerontology, government, journalism, advertising, management, and research. In addition, a degree in sociology is excellent preparation for graduate work, not only in sociology itself but also in related areas such as law, criminology, social work, public administration, and business.

American Studies–B.A. 
Public Justice–B.A. 

The Department of Sociology cosponsors these programs.