A hub for for understanding criminology, demography, social inequality, extremism, and polarization.
Explore the Department of Sociology at Ohio State
Where Ohio State Excels
Population Studies/Demography
What is Demography?
Demography, the study of population change, helps us answer some of the most important questions about the future of our communities, our nation, and our world.
At Ohio State, the Department of Sociology’s Population Studies program is ranked among the top 10 in the United States, leading the way in research on birth, death, migration, family life, and population health, helping us understand the past and prepare for the future.
Criminology
What is Criminology?
The Department of Sociology is home to one of the nation’s premier criminology programs, widely recognized for its scholarly rigor and societal impact.
Our distinguished faculty and students are tackling the most pressing challenges of our time—from reducing violence and strengthening communities to improving reentry, reforming criminal justice systems, and shaping policies that promote equity and safety.
Criminology at Ohio State goes far beyond the study of crime: it’s about people, systems, and solutions.
Extremism and Polarization
Understanding Polarization and Extremism.
Ohio State is building a research hub that investigates the social causes and consequences of extremism and polarization.
Besides this being one of the foremost important areas of inquiry in the social sciences due to recent developments within the United States and across the globe, this subfield is of particular interest for a number of reasons, many of which could improve our department’s standing amongst our peers.
Social Inequality and Mobility
What is Social Inequality and Mobility?
Ohio State’s Department of Sociology is nationally recognized as a leader in the study of social inequality and mobility — ranked among the top 10 sociology departments in the United States for its research on social stratification.
Our faculty are at the forefront of uncovering how social, economic, and educational systems shape opportunity, and how those opportunities can be expanded to create a more equitable society.
At its core, this work is about understanding who advances, who lags behind, and why.
