Your desire to understand the world—and make it better—just found a home!
Welcome to the Department of Sociology at The Ohio State University!
Our undergraduate degree programs in Sociology and Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies will provide you with the scientific tools and social perspective to investigate, understand and address complex social problems.
Sociology is the scientific study of humans in groups. It seeks to understand all aspects of human social behavior, including the behavior of individuals and the social dynamics of:
- Small groups
- Large organizations
- Communities
- Institutions
- Societies
Sociologists work in government, the non-profit sector, at universities, for Fortune 500 companies and anywhere else people come together to accomplish goals.
The Department of Sociology at Ohio State has strong programs in several areas: stratification and inequality, criminology, health, demography and immigration.
The department hosts several world-known scholars and is ranked #18. It is a top ten U.S. program in the study of inequality and societal stratification.
In addition to learning from top faculty in the field, sociology students can join the Sociology or Criminology clubs, study abroad in Rwanda, participate in an internship to work at a local non-profit or company, become involved in a wide range of research opportunities or complete a senior thesis.
Our students not only learn what they need to know to excel in their future careers, but build lifelong friendships and professional networks during their time at Ohio State.
The department has an excellent advising staff to help you navigate the major and minor requirements.
They can also help you declare the major, identify an internship, link up with a research project or talk to a faculty member about a senior thesis.
Recent graduates work in a wide range of areas.
A four-year study of sociology majors, done by the American Sociological Association, shows that nearly all former majors held paid jobs when interviewed 18 months after graduation.
Recent graduates reported finding jobs as:
- Caseworkers
- Non-profit administrators
- Managers
- Paralegals
- Crime scene technicians
- Human rights advocates
- Computer consultants
- Market researchers
- Teachers
- Survey research assistants
The American Sociological Association also offers resources and information on what you can do with a sociology major.
Senior Thesis
Students may pursue a senior thesis which involves completing their own research project under the supervision of a faculty member.
Typically, students identify a research topic and advisor before the end of their junior year and then complete the thesis work their senior year (earning 6 thesis hours 4999).