Department of Sociology

Ledroit Park

The Department of Sociology of the College of Arts and Sciences serves the university and students from the DC area, the United States, and throughout the world as a center for the advanced study of social institutions, global affairs, and social justice. Its programs offer in-depth training in sociological theory and emphasize research methodology at the BA and MA levels, through a BA/MA program (allowing students to complete a BA and MA in 5 years), and two graduate certificates: one in Public Sociology and another in Social Research.

AU Program Ranked in Top 20听

The American 青瓜视频 Sociology Master's Program was ranked , scoring especially high for "Best Practicum Experience."听

Sociologist Jobs Growing by 5% in 2020s

US Department of听Labor projects steady growth in the 2020s with DC听salaries of $88K听above the national median.听

Faculty Experts鈥 Corner: Ernesto Casta帽eda

Sociology professor Ernesto Casta帽eda discusses racial and ethnic health disparities in coronavirus cases and deaths, particularly among Latinos. He examines the structural inequalities behind the numbers, including the disproportionate rate of Latinos working in essential positions and with preexisting medical conditions.

搁别补诲听

Beyond the Curriculum

Our programs prepare students for a variety of careers in social advocacy, research, teaching, human services, and policy-making institutions in both the public and private sectors in Washington and beyond.

American 青瓜视频's location provides unparalleled access to government, research institutions, data and archival sources, advocacy organizations, and leaders involved in social change. Because AU attracts many international students, the capacity to think through issues beyond national borders is often present with every year's new cohort; at the same time, faculty and students alike frame global politics, economics, and social and cultural issues at a local level, and often use global and local frames to understand social phenomena.

Beyond the experience of being in DC, sociology majors and minors-a majority in fact-take a semester to participate in the program. Many students find that a SOCY major is easily completed as a double major. The Department now offers a choice among three courses (SOCY 100, 110, and 150) as gateways to the sociology major and minor programs. Our relationships with Critical Race, Gender & Culture Studies, the Center for Israel Studies, and our Center on Health, Risk, and Society make our department a vibrant one within the AU community.

Center on Health, Risk, and Society

The Center on Health, Risk and Society (CHRS), based in the Department of Sociology at American 青瓜视频, is an interdisciplinary community of scholars conducting research on the social dimensions of health and health-related risks, especially on their roots in social inequality, and on structural interventions aimed at addressing them.

Mission Statement

"Our common purpose is education and research for social justice in an increasingly global social system. We expect to create sociological knowledge and apply professional research skills to inform effective policies and programs for social change. We intend to empower ourselves, faculty and students, with the knowledge, skills, and commitment necessary to participate in building equitable, humane, and sustainable social institutions. We consider one source of our strength to be the multicultural diversity of our department, and we seek every opportunity to expand that strength."

News

  • Nadia Murad, "My Story: The Power of Personal Stories and the Role of Activism"
    February 6, 4:00, MGC 305
    Recipient of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, AU sociology alumna and Sine Institute fellow Nadia Murad discusses activism and accountability.

  • Statement in Solidarity with Anti-Racist Efforts from sociology faculty.
  • Ernesto Casta帽eda spoke with about how President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 desire to crack down on birthright citizenship won鈥檛 necessarily deter immigration.听

  • Sarah Iverson鈥檚 contributions to an AU sustainability research project were featured in .

  • Ernesto Castan虄eda (Sociology, Center for Latin American and Latino Studies) spoke with about the Latino vote for Trump despite the former president鈥檚 anti-immigrant rhetoric.

  • Tracy Weitz (Sociology, Center for Health, Risk and Society) spoke with Al Jazeera about abortion access in the post-Roe era.

  • Kim Blankenship received supplemental funding of $872 (new total: $2,616) from George Washington 青瓜视频 for the project 鈥淟atino Scholars in HIV/AIDS Research Education (SHARE).鈥

  • Kim Blankenship received a supplemental grant of $23,920 (total awarded amount $176,760) from Yale 青瓜视频 for the project "The effects of rental assistance on type 2 diabetes self-management and control."

  • Ernesto Casta帽eda spoke with about his research into immigration as an electoral issue and voters鈥 evolving views on the subject. He also authored an in The Conversation about the impacts of immigrants on the US economy.听
  • Tracy Weitz spoke with about a ballot measure in Colorado that would provide abortion protections.

  • Kim Blankenship received a $24,818 grant from the George Washington 青瓜视频 (GWU) for the project 鈥淒C CFAR Pathway Program: Developing an Inclusive Generation of HIV Researchers through Diversity and Community.鈥 Blankenship also received supplemental funding of $13,481 from the George Washington 青瓜视频 for the project 鈥淒istrict of Columbia Center for AIDS Research (DC CFAR).鈥 She was also awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant for nearly $3.5 million for research on the impacts of structural racism in health.听

  • Ernesto Castaneda鈥檚 research about contributions of immigrants to the U.S. economy was featured in an article in the . covered a panel discussion on US immigration policy at AU featuring Ernesto Castaneda, director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies, Lauren Carruth, associate professor in the School of International Service, Amy Dacey, executive director of the Sine Institute of Policy and Politics, and Amb. Anthony Wayne, Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer and Distinguished Diplomat in Residence at SIS.

  • Ernesto Casta帽eda spoke with听听about the ways politicians frame issues related to immigration.听

  • Michelle Newton-Francis with J. Chaikof published听"."听Journal of Diversity in Higher Education (2024).
  • Nicole Angotti received a $175,015 grant from the NIH for the project 鈥淚ntergenerational Intervention: Employing Youth to Promote Aging Healthy with HIV in Rural South Africa.鈥
  • Ernesto Casta帽eda spoke with about drug trafficking in South America.
  • Michelle Newton-Francis (Sociology) and former graduate student Jessica Chaikof published an article titled 鈥溾 in the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education.
  • Tracy Weitz received a $6,018 grant from the Society of Family Planning for the project 鈥淲hat are the prices of abortions later in pregnancy.鈥 Weitz also appeared on podcast to discuss the reproductive justice movement in the United States.
  • Tracy Weitz received a $49,726 grant from the Society of Family Planning for the project 鈥淓xtending Gestation Beyond the Mythical Point of Viability.鈥
  • Ernesto Casta帽eda spoke with,, France24, and about a variety of topics related to US immigration policy and activity on the southern border.
  • Tracy Weitz (Sociology) was nominated and appointed to the听. Weitz spoke with听听about current statewide attacks on abortion rights and accessibility.
  • Kim Blankenship received a $12,885 grant from the George Washington 青瓜视频 for the project 鈥淒istrict of Columbia Center for AIDS Research (DC CFAR).鈥
  • Kim Blankenship听received supplemental funding in the amount of $39,930 (in addition to previous grant funding of $112,910) from Yale 青瓜视频 for the project 鈥淭he effects of rental assistance on type 2 diabetes self-management and control.鈥
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow Steven Dashiell听published
  • Prof. Ernesto Casta帽eda听published
  • Tracy Weitz听received a $500,000 award from the Hewlett Foundation for "Ensuring the timely share and use of information about changes in the US听abortion landscape.鈥
  • Ernesto Castaneda-Tinoco听spoke with听听about the end of Title 42.
  • Kim Blankenship听received a grant from the George Washington 青瓜视频 for 鈥淟atino Scholars in HIV/AIDS Research Education (SHARE).鈥
  • Nicole Angotti听received a $176,677 grant ($367,138 over two years) from NIH听for听鈥淚ntergeneration Intervention: Employing Youth to Promote Aging Healthy with HIV in Rural South Africa.鈥
  • Tracy Weitz听spoke with听听about Planned Parenthood鈥檚 focus on self-preservation and its impact on the pro-choice movement.
  • Ernesto Casta帽eda and Daniel Jenks apply sociological terms to current protests in
  • Cynthia Miller-Idriss discusses the presence of far-right groups at protests over the death of George Floyd in .
  • Molly Dondero received a grant of $29,750, from the Russell Sage Foundation, for her project entitled: "Immigrant Integration and Institutional Attachments in an Era of Enforcement."
  • Alumna Shannon Post coordinates the Brooklyn Botanic Garden鈥檚 Project Green Reach for youngsters鈥攁nd offers favorite houseplant听tips.
  • Cynthia Miller-Idriss how far-right extremists might exploit the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns to recruit youth.
  • Michael Bader about families pooling resources during the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Mike Murphy won the 2020 College of Arts and Sciences Dean鈥檚 Award for Outstanding Staff.
  • Cynthia Miller-Idriss wrote an op-ed in Politico titled ""
  • Cynthia Miller-Idriss became a fellow at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right.
  • interviewed Cynthia Miller-Idriss for a Q-and-A about the relationship between far-right youth culture and fashion.听
  • Michelle Newton-Francis won the Provost's Award for Outstanding Faculty Mentorship in Undergraduate Research or Creative Work.
Nadia Murad

To Survive and Thrive

Nadia Murad has found purpose in pain, advocating for an end to sexual abuse as a weapon of war

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Person in blue veil reading a red book.

International

Afghan Scholars-in-Exile Providing Online Education for Girls Living under Taliban

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