<p>This is my first post... here goes nothing! I find the structure of society and human interactions very interesting, so Sociology seems like a good major for me. I love the cool college town setting and five college consortium Amherst provides. Plus the instate prices can't be beat. My only concern is whether or not I could get into a good graduate program in Sociology from Amherst. Although I'm not completely sure, I think I want to get my phd. How is the Sociology program at UMass? Would I be able to get into a decent Sociology graduate program from Amherst? </p>
<p>Any info from people who have experience with the program would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>My older son’s GF is taking a sociology class at UMass this semester (she’s at Hampshire but as part of the five college consortium, can take classes at any of the five) and she said it’s excellent. Sample size of one I know… But impressive particular re: Vandy.</p>
<p>oh wow! I’m surprised but so happy that their program has been well-received! Does anyone know how students from UMass usually fare as far as applying to grad school goes?</p>
<p>I don’t know if this post is too late or anything, but I am currently a senior double major in History and Sociology so can speak a little about the program. It’s ranked pretty highly, but there is a fairly significant chance that a lot of the courses you will take will be taught by graduate students and adjunct faculty. The department is VERY research-oriented and the grad students do a lot of the work. I know a lot of people have had the opposite experience, though, and have had all professors teach their classes. It depends on luck of the draw and careful class selection, but be aware that a lot of classes are not taught by faculty members in that department. Also be warned that UMass’ Sociology department has a HUGE emphasis on social inequality, and most classes and professors research that. Unsurprisingly, the department is also overwhelmingly very liberal, so I would make sure you are comfortable with both of those facts.</p>
<p>That being said, the other sociology students are usually amazing, and the grad students and adjuncts are too, so classes are (except for Statistics and Methods) almost always very fun. Not to mention, if you get to take classes with them, the professors are really fun! There’s also a relatively close community, as you end up taking smaller classes with a lot of other Sociology majors, and you notice and meet a lot of new people by seeing them in multiple classes. The sociology major also is a very easy major to complete course-wise, and so it’s very conducive to being a double-major (most Sociology majors I talked to were Psych and Soc double majors).</p>
<p>As for graduate schools, I know a fairly large number of Sociology majors do go onto grad school in some form or another (it’s almost impossible to go to grad school at UMass if you got your B.A. from there, though), so I wouldn’t worry. I can speak from personal experience that some of them can get into great grad schools for Sociology (I, for example, was accepted to Brown’s PhD Sociology program on full funding ). You WILL have to work hard though to stand out, as the department has a bit of a reputation of being an “easy” one.</p>
<p>Hope that helps! I made this account just to encourage a fellow budding sociologist. :)</p>
It’s ranked pretty highly, but there is a fairly significant chance that a lot of the courses you will take will be taught by graduate students and adjunct faculty. The department is VERY research-oriented and the grad students do a lot of the work. I know a lot of people have had the opposite experience, though, and have had all professors teach their classes. It depends on luck of the draw and careful class selection, but be aware that a lot of classes are not taught by faculty members in that department. Also be warned that UMass’ Sociology department has a HUGE emphasis on social inequality, and most classes and professors research that. Unsurprisingly, the department is also overwhelmingly very liberal, so I would make sure you are comfortable with both of those facts.</p>