How do social movements arise and what helps them to succeed? Study classical and modern theories and evaluate real-world activism through case studies, including civil rights, women’s liberation, and anti-war activism.
What You’ll Study in the Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology
Explore human behavior and history—enduring patterns of social relations—with a sociology major at Reed College. Work with our dedicated professors to gain proficiency in modern social research methods and discover how social roles and norms shape institutions and lead to stratification, upheavals, and more. Gain hands-on experience with a range of contemporary social research methods, such as public policy evaluation and statistical analysis of public opinion data through the bachelor’s degree in sociology from Reed.
Roadmap to the BA in Sociology at Reed
Through Reed’s sociology major, develop the knowledge and research skills to understand, analyze, and critique past and present social patterns. Write a senior thesis in which you complete an independent project and defend your findings.
Year One
Lay the Foundation
Start your time at Reed with Humanities 110, our first-year course in which you explore literature, politics, arts, and philosophical ideas throughout human history, and consider their impacts on our modern-day society.
This important class also serves as your foundational writing course and builds critical thinking skills. It also introduces you to historical-comparative materials and the divergent modes of analysis you need for your sociology major.
Year Two
Take Sociology Courses
Introduction to Sociology is your first major course. Delve into core aspects of the field and paradigmatic issues of sociological theory and research.
Learn directly from our faculty members—there are no graduate assistants—in all of your sociology classes. Explore material with your classmates and professors through a conference-style teaching method, which fosters a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere. This approach cultivates a shared responsibility for the learning process and helps you think more critically about what you’re learning.
Year Three
Find Research Opportunities
Continue to take sociology courses such as Science and Social Difference or Race, Violence, and Power, along with Research Methods and the Junior Research Colloquium to prepare for the junior qualifying examination.
Look for research opportunities during your summer break that support your academic work. Join a faculty member in their area of specialization or participate in projects at outside organizations. Find funding through Reed College fellowships and faculty grants.
Year Four
Complete Your Senior Thesis
In your final year at Reed, prepare to write your senior thesis to demonstrate your mastery of sociological concepts and methods. Guided by a faculty mentor, develop and test a hypothesis through an experiment you design and implement. Your completed senior thesis showcases original scholarly work that interacts with and builds upon current research.
Why Study Sociology at Reed College?
Explore Subfields of Sociology
Sociology is a vast and diverse field, and Reed’s sociology department provides both breadth and depth. Our esteemed faculty members are experts in various specialized areas:
- Economic and organizational sociology and comparative institutional analysis
- Gender, race, and ethnic studies
- Network theories of social structure
- Political sociology and group capacity for collective action
- Science, knowledge, and technology
- Sociology of culture
Practice Social Research Methodology
Social research plays a vital role in enabling well-informed decision making in our society. That’s why we emphasize hands-on experience with various contemporary methodologies in your courses, research projects, and the senior thesis. These methodologies include the following:
- Ethnographic and interview-based methods
- Media and content analytic approaches
- Network and relational methodologies
- Public policy evaluation
- Statistical analysis of public opinion data, including census and other demographic and geographic data
Our Courses
Sociology 280 - Social Movements
Sociology 352 - Sociology of Money
The influence of money extends into almost every area of our lives—not just through purchases at our local market but also into intangible realms, such as cultural norms, our view of nature and resources, and death. Explore how this economic valuation operates within our society—for better or for worse.
Sociology 326 - Science and Social Difference
In a world where questions about the biology of race and gender intersect with socially constructed classifications, this course guides you to think carefully about how these topics are studied, discussed, and disseminated.
Careers for BA in Sociology Graduates
Reed sociology alumni attend doctorate programs in sociology, master’s programs in fields like public health and social work, and professional degree programs in law and medicine. Their knowledge and skills lead to a variety of careers:
- Assistant professor, The New School
- Behavior specialist, EUGENE SD 4J
- Director of communications, Superpedestrian
- Founder and owner, Experience Agave
- Manager of business continuity and crisis management, OnPoint Community Credit Union
- Project manager, UCSF Center for Next-Gen Precision Diagnostics
- Research consultant, Values and Systems Science Lab
- Senior associate, The Pew Charitable Trusts
Achievements of Sociology BA Alumni
Our sociology students graduate with real-world research experience that leads to recognition and educational opportunities from prestigious institutions:
- Elea Denegre ’18, Truman Scholarship
- Emma Williams-Baron ’15, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
- Clayton Szczech ’00, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
- Erica Kohl-Arenas ’91, Thomas J. Watson Foundation
Our Sociology Department Faculty
Closely collaborate with professors as a sociology major at Reed. Our faculty excel in teaching and research, and in creating a close-knit community. Discover our professors’ diverse areas of interest and look forward to assisting them through research opportunities.
