Department of Sociology

  • A group of Sociology faculty wearing regalia at Commencement

    Welcome to Sociology!

    Our dynamic faculty are engaged in research, teaching, and service activities that reflect the diverse communities of Los Angeles.  We work closely with our students to foster skills of sociological insight and analysis, advance their careers, and further the public good.

  • Dr. Hope Hassberg Welcome

    Dr. Hope Hassberg Joins Sociology

    The Department welcomes Associate Professor Dr. Analena Hope Hassberg! Dr. Hope Hassberg is a scholar-activist, educator, and mother committed to organizing low-income communities of color around food justice and environmental justice. She earned a Ph.D. from USC and was previously Associate Professor at Cal Poly Pomona.

  • Headshot of Dr. Vanessa Stout

    Welcome Dr. Vanessa Stout!

    Dr. Vanessa Stout's interests include Race and Ethnicity, the African Diaspora, Urban Sociology, and Popular Culture. Recent work examines Nigerian immigrants' experiences of housing and leisure space in Los Angeles and Dublin. She earned a Ph.D. from Trinity College Dublin and joins us from the Richard Bland College of William and Mary.

Program Overview

How can we understand the world around us, and our place within it? What responsibilities do we have as members of society? How might we make it a better place?

Understanding Society

Sociologists study a wide range of social phenomena, including culture and emotions, prejudice and discrimination, poverty and inequality, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and the organization of the family, religion, education, healthcare, and criminal justice systems. We examine the origins and consequences of war, empire, capitalism, urbanization, climate change, and human displacement, as well as how individuals and groups express agency and pursue collective action.

Preparing for Change

At Cal State LA Sociology, you will gain a rich appreciation of the complexity and diversity of social contexts shaping and shaped by individuals, institutions, and societies across the globe. You'll cultivate research and writing skills, engage with communities of Los Angeles, and promote solutions for pressing social problems. Our curriculum will help prepare you for graduate and professional school, as well as a variety of careers in research, public policy, education, social work, counseling, urban planning, and more.

 

How to Find Us

Office: King Hall C3093
Phone: (323) 343-2200

Department Chair:
Dr. Roseann Giarrusso
[email protected]

Department Coordinator:
Rosie Rodriguez
[email protected]

Undergraduate Advising:
Dr. Luoman Bao
[email protected]

Social Media:
Facebook | Instagram

Student with name tag smiling at other students

Academic Programs

Learn more about our outstanding programs!

We offer an undergraduate degree with options in General Sociology, Inequalities & Diversity, Law & Society, and Social Gerontology. 

The department houses three minors in Sociology, Law & Society, and Social Gerontology.

Our fantastic graduate program allows students to earn an M.A. in Sociology.

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