Sociology

Sociology at Bard aims to provide an understanding of the structure and processes of society—from everyday interactions among friends to social transformations of global magnitude. Sociology students learn to systematically examine of a wide array of social phenomena, including social inequality, politics and the state, race, economic systems, gender, technological change, culture, religion, environmental risks, cities, family structures, and criminal justice. Unlike other social sciences, sociology situates the economic, cultural, and political aspects of human communities within the complex whole of social life. While contemporary complex societies are a central concern, historical and comparative questions are also essential to a sociological perspective. With its range of topics, theories, and methodologies, sociology teaches people to examine the social world in a way that is both rigorous and flexible.