Sociology studies the interaction and relationships among human groups and institutions and how behavior is shaped by these relationships. It examines how society maintains stability and how it changes, investigating both consensus and conflict among social groups. Sociology's subject matter consists of social institutions including family, work, religion, and social processes such as identity development, deviance and socialization. Sociology majors explore foundational ideas about the nature of society, are introduced to key subfields of the discipline, and acquire fundamental research and analysis skills to carry out their own inquiries. The department's faculty members emphasize empirical work in a number of subfields including applied and community sociology, the family, health and medicine, law and society, international and global sociology, gender, the sociology of religion, qualitative and quantitative research methods and cultural anthropology.
In Memory of Professor Emerita Pat See
For over 50 years, Dr. Patricia See provided exemplary service to the university in many capacities. She was selected as one of the “150 Faces” of Chapman University during our 150-anniversary celebrations, reflecting her monumental influence on the educational experience of multiple generations of students. Professor See passed peacefully on October 28, 2023. Throughout her career, Dr. See was a pillar of the Sociology Department. Her teaching earned her a range of outstanding teaching awards on both the school and university levels and recognition from her peers that she was one of the best within a faculty of dedicated and effective instructors. As director of the Honors Program, when it was housed in Wilkinson College, she engaged faculty from across the campus to offer uniquely designed and intriguing. Dr. See worked tirelessly to create a campus culture where female, minority and economically disadvantaged students could thrive. Dr. See was one of our most celebrated and influential faculty, and she will forever be cherished by those lucky enough to have known her. Her commitment to Chapman ran deep, and she leaves a legacy of distinguished contributions that substantially shaped the university.