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Department of Sociology College of Arts and Sciences

Why Study Sociology?

Sociology is the scientific study of human behavior and the complexities of human social relationships. If you want to understand social behavior in the real world, sociology is where you find the answers. Regardless of your chosen career path, having a critical understanding of the social world can put you at the forefront of your career field.

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It is a top-notch program. I'd recommend this program to anybody who wants to improve the rigor of the work they do.

– Tracy Sims (2020 MA in Sociology graduate); Senior Director, U.S. Lead of Chronic Disease Environment Shaping at Eli Lilly and Company

Featured Alumni

  • Tomiwa Ayetigbo

    Tomiwa (Wisdom) Ayetigbo

    Tomiwa (Wisdom) Ayetigbo's (MA 2024) research interests are health care access and costs, vulnerable populations, health disparities, immigrant health, and global health.

  • Stephanie Kirkland

    Stephanie Kirkland

    Stephanie Kirkland (PhD 2022) is an Instructional Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University.

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  • LaToya J. O’Neal

    LaToya J. O’Neal

    LaToya J. O’Neal (PhD 2014) is an Assistant Professor and Health and Wellness Extension Specialist in the Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences at the University of Florida.

    Read more
  • Beverly R. Williams

    Beverly R. Williams

    Beverly R. Williams (PhD 2002) is an Associate Professor in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine.

    Read more
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Latest News

  • Does pregnancy protect a mom against Alzheimer’s? A new study sheds light on conflicting findings.
    Many studies have linked childbearing to a lower risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia later in life. But in a new study, UAB sociologists found that early-life factors, including a woman’s socioeconomic status in adolescence, accounted for the apparent pregnancy-cognitive connection.
  • CAS Graduate Research Day spotlights research and the changing landscape of graduate education
    On November 20, 2024, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) hosted its first-ever Graduate Research Day at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alumni House.
  • UAB’s online sociology master’s program trains students to put theory into practice
    A focus on applying sociology to practical work projects, cutting-edge data analysis and supportive faculty make this one of the nation’s top online graduate programs in the field. In this article, faculty explain what sets it apart and two UAB employees/alumni share how they are using its lessons in their work.  
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