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PrincetonUniversity |
Department of SociologySociology is to society what political science is to politics and economics is to the economy. Sociologists try to understand societiesboth contemporary and historicalby observing how they operate. We differ from other social scientists in that we tend to examine an issue, or element of society, from several different angles at once. For example, in studying single parenthood, religious commitment, or business "downsizing," we may look at social, economic, political, and cultural aspects. As a result, sociology alumni often remark that the major gave them a broad understanding of the contemporary world, preparing them well for further education and future careers. Our faculty expertise is extensive. We cover six general areas: · Under the broad umbrella of inequality, we study single parenthood, discrimination, changing gender roles, class background and inequality, changes in childhood, racial and ethnic relations, and African-American elite. · Under comparative studies, we study changes in post-Communist Russia, the modernization of East Asia, development in Latin America, class structure in developed countries, and public policy in the United States and Europe. · Under business and the economy, we examine emerging management practices, the rise of the money economy, culture and the communications industry, business and the environment, the evolution of the health care system, and the management of arts organizations. · Under religion and culture, we explore religious movements, voluntarism, religion and resources, and religious commitment. · Under demography, we study life course and family patterns, reproductive health, environmentalism, consequences of population growth in developing countries, and diversity in higher education. · The most recent area of departmental strength is in migration and development. Here, faculty develop interests in urbanization, contemporary United States immigration, citizenship, ethnicity, immigrant incorporation, and ethnic entrepreneurship. Some of our majors choose to concentrate in one or two of these areas. Many prefer to diversify, studying a number of these issues during their time at Princeton. Junior and senior independent work permits unusual flexibility in choice of topics. Advisers are drawn from the junior and senior faculty. Princeton's sociology graduates find they are well equipped to enter an array of different fields. Charitable and political organizations acknowledge their background in social problems and the plight of the disadvantaged. Law schools value their extensive understanding of social issues, as well as the tools of logic and reasoning they bring with them. Business schools build on their understanding of human and organizational behavior as well as their quantitative skills. Graduate departments in many disciplines respect the breadth of their undergraduate training as a foundation for graduate study. Each year some of our majors pursue Ph.D. programs in sociology or go to law school.
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