<p>Has anyone come across a list of the top Sociology programs at the undergraduate level? It's currently my field of interest and while I have a rough list of schools I am interested in for a variety of criteria, I have recently added "Excellent Sociology offerings" to my reasoning. Schools I am already applying to: Reed, Lewis and Clark, Swarthmore, Yale, Brown, (UCSC, UCB, UCD for in-states)</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Definitely check out the following universities:</p>
<p>University of Chicago
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
University of Wisconsin-Madison</p>
<p>If I were to list the top 5 Sociology programs in the country, at the undergraduate or graduate levels, those 4 would make the list.</p>
<p>Other solid research universities include:
Columbia University
Cornell University
Duke University
Harvard University
Northwestern University
Princeton University
University of California-Berkeley
University of Washington
Yale University</p>
<p>Some excellent LACs:
Amherst College
Beloit College
Bennington College
Dartmouth College
Oberlin College
Ripon College
Swartmore College</p>
<p>I hear that Pitzer is big in behavioral and social sciences.</p>
<p>Oh, I should give some criteria. Prefer undergraduate focus and under 5000 (So mostly LACs, give or take). I am from California and looking to leave. Will not go anywhere warmer than here, but may not fare well in extreme chill. Prefer suburban, have visited rural and urban and did not feel at home. (So no Grinnell or Columbia).</p>
<p>I am a 4.0 student, all 5s on recent APs (USH, Chem, AB), 34 ACT, 770 IIC, 750 USH. Work summer at CSUS as teaching assistant in Academic Talent Search program, in CIVITAS (civics academy) at school where we take courses such as Philsophy, PoliSci, PubPolicy, Speech, etc., have taken 4 college courses (Philosophy, Statistics, Media and Society, Macro Economics- will take Micro in fall). I recently attended Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp, an experience that altered my consciousness. Intellectual environment is a plus, I'm not very social and don't forsee becoming a party animal. Have diverse interests, i.e. started an online local poetry forum (I am an avid poet) but am also member of the NorCal American Regions Math League team. Does that help lead me toward some additional schools, and do any of the schools on my list seem misplaced? I've visited Reed and Lewis and Clark, loved Reed, loved Portland, but didn't want to make up my mind that I wasn't going to look anywhere else. The best offerings I've seen, having read course catalogs, were at Yale.</p>
<p>I would recommend you not limit yourself to small universities and do not assume that simply because a university is large or public, that it does not have an undergraduate focus. Schools like Michigan and UNC are actually quite undergraduate-focused, relative to other research universities. </p>
<p>The reason I advise you to look into larger schools before dismissing them is because you seem interested in a sociology department that has generous course offerings. You will probably not find that kind of variety at smaller universities. For example, Michigan's Sociology department has 60 professors (of which 40 are full time tenured professors). At any point in time, students have 35 or so undergraduate classes to chose from. </p>
<p>In contrast, Reed's Sociology department has 5 professors, of which just 2 are full time tenured professors. At any point in time, students will only have a handful of classes to chose from.</p>
<p>Given your credentials, I would not bother applying to Wisconsin, although its Sociology department is arguably the best in the World. But Michigan would be a good safe match for you. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.lsa.umich.edu/soc/%5B/url%5D">http://www.lsa.umich.edu/soc/</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.lsa.umich.edu/soc/undergraduate/%5B/url%5D">http://www.lsa.umich.edu/soc/undergraduate/</a></p>
<p>I am pretty sure UNC and Wisconsin will give you similar opportunities. </p>
<p>And if you still think big isn't right for you, at least consider Chicago, Duke and Northwestern.</p>
<p>The reason I say that big isn't for me is that I have visited and stayed at several of the California UCs. However, I have not visited any state universities or private, large schools out of state. I do not have the means to do so. I loved the LAC environment, and in comparison, felt inundated and overwhelmed at Berkeley, a school I have visited several times. I also have no interest in Greek Life or athletics. Additionally, I have lived in Sacramento my entire life. </p>
<p>Your information is really helpful. I've considered Chicago and one of my best friends is visiting there right now. It is actually the only place East of CA I have visited, as my extended family resides there. </p>
<p>Because I liked the vibe of a smaller school, I'm trying to figure out which schools, if any, have generous offerings in the Sociology department without sacrificing my other criteria. I also loved the discussion-conference style of the classes at Reed. I am wary, though, of the limited faculty in the department.</p>
<p>pton, Duke, Columbia, Chicago, and Northwestern all have good social science/sociology programs and have between 6000-7000 students, so I guess they are a little too big</p>
<p>Dartmouth, Chicago, and Amherst all seem small enough for you I think</p>
<p>Thethoughtprocess, Columbia is not small. Columbia has over 20,000 (7,100 undergrads, 14, 600 graduate) students crammed in a 40 (not kidding) acre campus. That's pretty bad.</p>
<p>ReadingIsSexy, I am sorry to say that no LAC will have a Sociology department with more than 5 or 6 full time tenured professors, which means that you will not have a wealth of choices where classes are concerned. </p>
<p>I would look into:
Brown University
Dartmouth College
Cornell University
Duke University
Harvard University
Northwestern University
Princeton University
Stanford University
Tufts University
University of Chicago
Yale University</p>
<p>Oops, I only counted Columbia College, which has 4000 students. I forgot about the other colleges within the University</p>
<p>I plan on applying to Yale (where the course offerings intrigue me most) and Brown (with little hope of reciprocation, though). Dartmouth seems to offer minors in the Economy and Social Inequalities, which are intriguing. I had not considered applying there. I am currently most interested in the Sociology of Culture. </p>
<p>Alexandre, you are right. I am not likely to find an LAC with the wealth of offerings I would like. Even at the smaller level, if the professors (Even if there are only 3) are excellent, then it may not be a problem. However, if I did not like one of them and I had to, say, work with them on a senior thesis, that could be troublesome. </p>
<p>Cornell, however, is out. I have no doubt I would be frozen solid in the Ithaca weather. I have friends who have visited Amherst and it does not seem like it would be somewhere I would like, but who knows.</p>
<p>Sociology is not one of the bigger fields, so this data is somewhat thin. But, here's the list Sociology PhDs per 1000 undergrads over the most recent ten year period. You might see some schools to consider:</p>
<p>Number of PhDs per 1000 graduates </p>
<p>Academic field: Sociology </p>
<p>PhDs and Doctoral Degrees: ten years (1994 to 2003) from NSF database<br>
Number of Undergraduates: ten years (1989 to 1998) from IPEDS database<br>
Formula: Total PhDs divided by Total Grads, multiplied by 1000 </p>
<p>Note: Does not include colleges with less than 1000 graduates over the ten year period<br>
Note: Includes all NSF doctoral degrees inc. PhD, Divinity, etc., but not M.D. or Law. </p>
<p>1 Swarthmore College 7
2 Haverford College 6
3 Bryn Mawr College 5
4 Oberlin College 4
5 Whitman College 4
6 Hampshire College 3
7 Earlham College 3
8 Carleton College 3
9 University of Chicago 3
10 Wesleyan University 3
11 Pomona College 3
12 Brown University 3
13 Bennington College 3
14 Grinnell College 3
15 Goucher College 3
16 Clark University 3
17 Franklin and Marshall College 3
18 Harvard University 3
19 Reed College 3
20 Brandeis University 3
21 Antioch University, All Campuses 3
22 Macalester College 3
23 Tougaloo College 3
24 Centenary College of Louisiana 2
25 Northland College 2
26 Wellesley College 2
27 Bard College 2
28 Millsaps College 2
29 University of California-Santa Cruz 2
30 Rice University 2
31 University of Sioux Falls 2
32 Beloit College 2
33 Augsburg College 2
34 Stanford University 2
35 Smith College 2
36 Goshen College 2
37 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania 2
38 Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) 2
39 Manhattanville College 2
40 Yale University 2
41 Barnard College 2
42 University of California-San Francisco 2
43 Huntington College 2
44 Hamline University 2
45 Bowdoin College 2
46 Columbia University in the City of New York 2
47 Denison University 2
48 William Penn College 2
49 Presbyterian College 2
50 University of California-Berkeley 2
51 Rhodes College 2
52 Princeton University 2
53 DePauw University 2
54 Bethel College (North Newton, KS) 2
55 Eckerd College 2
56 Kalamazoo College 2
57 Southwestern University 2
58 Maryville College 2
59 Austin College 2</p>
<p>A question: what do you hope to do with your degree in sociology? Are you looking at social work, law school, going into business, going on to get your doctorate and teach college, criminology...or.....?</p>
<p>Knowing the answer to that question, even if you're not sure, could play a role in deciding which school is right for you. If you're interested in a specific subset of sociology, criminology for instance, than yes, a large university with a specialized program makes sense. If you're interested in a broader aspect, and plan to go to graduate school, a program that allows you maximum contact with faculty might be a better choice. Doctoral numbers may not be as important if you are not interested in going on for a doctorate degree.</p>
<p>And, it sounds like you have already realized this but when looking at schools don't just look at the size of the faculty, look at the number of tenured faculty that teach undergraduate sociology classes, as well as opportunities in areas of sociology that interest you.</p>
<p>I'd also suggest that you should consider opprtunities for related interdisciplinary study. Earlham College, for example, has an excellent sociology department with some very interesting interdisciplinary programs related to sociology (i.e., Peace and Global studies with an emphasis on conflict resolution, Human Development and Social Relations with an emphasis on understanding human interactions, management of non-profit organizations) greatly broaden options. They also have some amazing internship opportunities for those interested in "on the ground" sociological training.</p>
<p>I'd have to second Carolyn's note on Earlham. Relative to the difficulty of getting in, I think it has to rank among the best programs in the country for undergrads. The faculty IS small - in fact, so small, it is a combined soc/anthro department. However, that only tells part of the story. Their offerings are extended through the Human Development and Social Relations major, Peace and Global Studies, Legal Studies, and the business program. More than that, they are embedded and make key use of Earlham's amazing and somewhat unique foreign studies programs.</p>
<p>I imagine there are better schools for academic sociology (Swarthmore immediately comes to mind.) But if you want the early opportunity to explore the practical applications of sociological training, I doubt you are going to find many places - regardless of their "rank" or "selectivity" - that can match what Earlham has to offer.</p>
<p>Carolyn, that is a great question. I honestly haven't a clue what I want to go into, it only recently clicked that the classes that have always fascinated me most have involved Sociology. I took a class that was essentially the Sociology of Public Policy (under another moniker), and it has been my favorite class in high school. I then took "Media and Society" at Sacramento State, but found the material to be a complete letdown. Like, hour one of the class I took in high school. A bit amusing in retrospect, but the class was dreary to get through when I realized how un-stimulating it was (What I thought was the Sociology of Popular Culture from its description was, in fact, a basic history of media- something I actually had from AP US History). Getting to my point, I have come to the recent conclusion that all of the "Why's" that I ask in class are because I love understanding what goes on to make us tick, change, grow, flow, etc. </p>
<p>I am really not sure where I want my studies to take me (I was always one of those people who, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, said "Oh, well, I want to go to college," and this at age 3 or so, mostly because I figured then I wouldn't be bored). I sort of hope that whatever subject I study can be used as a springboard to allow me to delve into whatever field that intrigues me.</p>
<p>I like the idea of interdisciplinary study, and foreign study, and of minoring in a related discipline. I'm not very good at planning ahead, but for now I'm trying to make sure I am realistic about my options. I'm not extraordinary, I prefer to spend time with my family and do yoga rather than take on more activities. Hopefully, some thread of my desire to learn with reveal itself in whatever essays I concoct, however last-minute. I'm hoping that I'll have a well-rounded array of schools that I could fancy myself at, and be satisfied even if I was only accepted at one.</p>
<p>It sounds to me that rather than concentrating on Sociology you should look for a LAC or small uni that is strong across all social sciences and history. In that setting you can try a variety of courses and more easily double-major. </p>
<p>There are plenty of schools that qualify and you already have a handful on your list. In addition, check out Haverford, U of Chicago, Northwestern and Macalester. I'd also advise re-considering your rural bias. . .Oberlin, Carleton would be great choices, and they are in sophisticated environments close to major cities. Ditto Amherst and Vassar, but the towns are a ways from Boston and NYC, respectively. </p>
<p>Kenyon and Grinnell would be great choices too, but they are rural and not too close to major metro areas.</p>
<p>It sounds to me that rather than concentrating on Sociology you should look for a LAC or small uni that is strong across all social sciences and history.>></p>
<p>I agree with Reid. Rather than look for a specific program in sociology, look for strong social science programs, and an academic culture that welcomes questioning and inquiry. The University of Chicago sounds like it might be a good fit. Reed would be as well.</p>
<p>I didn't want to sound like I had an unfair rural bias, but I have visited a couple of rural LACs and hated the feeling. That feeling has potential to change, and I'm not ruling it out, but I really felt the suburban environment at Reed and Lewis and Clark. Macalester and Carleton were definitely on my list before I realized the sub-zero weather. As I said, I've lived here all my life, and while I would prefer a chillier climate, I'm not sure I could take such a drastic change. </p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions, reidm and carolyn, about looking at social science programs. That should give me the best idea about looking into the subject matter and theory of interest to me. One of my best friends just told me about her visit to Chicago, and she says she thinks I would like the campus (I have family in suburban Chicago and I did not love the environment). I am interested in possibly double majoring or utilizing interdisciplinary programs. </p>
<p>Up until now, Reed has been my top choice, but it is also one of the only schools I have visited.</p>
<p>I agree with ReidM's suggestion to look at the college as a whole and, particularly, in the social sciences across the board.</p>
<p>A really good school will offer courses across various departments that attack the same issues. For example, one of Swarthmore's most popular young professors is a History professor specializing in African history. However, his courses often take a strong "sociology" bent as it is impossible to study African history without putting it in the context of Western colonization. So, you are smack dab in the middle of comparative sociology issues.</p>
<p>There are similar potential cross-discipline issues between the Sociology department, the Poli Sci department, the Econ department, the Education department, the Psych department, and many of the area-studies programs.</p>
<p>Here's the list of all colleges and universities that have produced 20 or more PhDs in all of the Social Sciences combined per 1000 graduates over the most recent 10-year period.</p>
<p>Again, this list would tend to emphasize students pursuing academic or research or think-tank careers in Poli Sci, Econ, History, Sociology, Anthropology, Pscyh, etc. However, it's one measure of "strength" in the social science fields -- or at least identifying schools with a lot of focus in that direction. </p>
<p>The over numbers are large enough to be reasonably meaningful. Just from glancing at this list, I don't see a school that wouldn't be a good choice for someone interested in social sciences. It strikes me as a useful list because it includes all different kinds of schools AND schools with a wide range of admissions difficulty. Cross reference this list with your other priorities (location, size, etc.) and your admissions odds to get a pretty nice starting point on a college application list.</p>
<hr>
<p>Number of PhDs per 1000 graduates </p>
<p>Academic field: All Social Sciences </p>
<p>PhDs and Doctoral Degrees: ten years (1994 to 2003) from NSF database<br>
Number of Undergraduates: ten years (1989 to 1998) from IPEDS database<br>
Formula: Total PhDs divided by Total Grads, multiplied by 1000 </p>
<p>Note: Does not include colleges with less than 1000 graduates over the ten year period<br>
Note: Includes all NSF doctoral degrees inc. PhD, Divinity, etc., but not M.D. or Law. </p>
<p>1 Swarthmore College 71
2 Bryn Mawr College 60
3 Pomona College 54
4 Reed College 50
5 Wesleyan University 48
6 Grinnell College 48
7 Yale University 48
8 University of Chicago 47
9 Oberlin College 47
10 Carleton College 46
11 Haverford College 45
12 Harvard University 43
13 Williams College 43
14 Wellesley College 37
15 Princeton University 37
16 Brown University 36
17 Vassar College 36
18 Amherst College 35
19 Macalester College 35
20 Barnard College 34
21 Brandeis University 33
22 Smith College 32
23 Hampshire College 32
24 Stanford University 32
25 Beloit College 30
26 Earlham College 28
27 St John's College (both campus) 28
28 Kalamazoo College 27
29 Clark University 26
30 Scripps College 26
31 Columbia University in the City of New York 26
32 Mount Holyoke College 26
33 Trinity University 25
34 Bard College 25
35 Duke University 25
36 Drew University 25
37 Bowdoin College 24
38 Kenyon College 24
39 Pitzer College 24
40 Rice University 23
41 Davidson College 23
42 Dartmouth College 23
43 Franklin and Marshall College 23
44 Whitman College 23
45 Hamilton College 23
46 Sarah Lawrence College 23
47 Tufts University 22
48 Bates College 22
49 Rhodes College 22
50 Spelman College 22
51 Antioch University, All Campuses 22
52 Occidental College 22
53 Knox College 21
54 Georgetown University 21
55 College of Wooster 21
56 Bennington College 21
57 University of Pennsylvania 21
58 Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) 20
59 University of California-Berkeley 20
60 Cornell University, All Campuses 20
61 Trinity College (Hartford, CT) 20
62 College of William and Mary 20
63 Agnes Scott College 20
64 Southwestern University 20</p>
<p>Why is it that whenever I see the PHD production discussion, I think "one-trick pony"?</p>