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Sociology

Available as a major or minor

Sociology encourages you to ask critical questions about social issues and prepares you to become an agent of change. Recent graduates of our program are working in a range of positions in business, education, government, social services and law.         

Curriculum & Courses

Sample Course Offerings

SOCI 277: Politics in Art 
SOCI 277: Sociology Goes to Bollywood
SOCI 277: Exploring Ghana 
PHST 208: Introduction to Public Health

Anna Markey '26 taking notes in sociology class

Student Experiences

Student taps into passion for field research on May Term trip

Alexandra DeLaricheliere '14 found her passion for sociology while on a May Term trip to the Pacific island nation of Palau, where she was part of a team of students studying nutrition and health. When she returned from Palau, she worked with Dr. Chad Morris to expand on their field research on childhood nutrition. She and Dr. Morris co-authored a book on the subject. 

Alex was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and graduated with honors with a major in sociology and a concentration in anthropology. She's now in the applied anthropology graduate program at the University of South Florida. 

Professor and student sit at a desk looking at a book.

Learning through service in Belize



Student with children in Belize

Roanoke students are immersed in community and culture through service-learning experiences.
Students climbing up to ruins

Roanoke students are immersed in community and culture through service-learning experiences.
Students digging holes for tires

Roanoke students are immersed in community and culture through service-learning experiences.
Students working on a construction project

Roanoke students are immersed in community and culture through service-learning experiences.
Student painting a mural on the side of a building

Roanoke students are immersed in community and culture through service-learning experiences.
Student with children in Belize

Roanoke students are immersed in community and culture through service-learning experiences.
Students at a waterfall

Roanoke students are immersed in community and culture through service-learning experiences.
Student with two children in Belize

Roanoke students are immersed in community and culture through service-learning experiences.

Study Abroad

  • Student’s love of sign language drives research in Ireland stacked image

    Student’s love of sign language drives research in Ireland

    Three years ago, Chelsea Schafer '18 learned a new language - American Sign Language. She grew to love sign language and the deaf culture, and an experience at her church further sparked her interest in this unique population.

    "When a deaf couple joined our church, I realized I wanted to research how churches could minister to the deaf, a group that is normally forgotten about," said Schafer, a sociology major. In the spring semester of 2017, she studied in Ireland, where she researched how deafness and religious experiences interact. She also learned Irish Sign Language. Schafer hopes her research will equip churches to better minister to the deaf and hard of hearing populations.

Globalization and Health in Palau

Students traveled to Palau for an intensive learning course to learn about Pacific Island culture, see firsthand the influence of globalization on Palauan livelihoods and participate in ongoing community research that seeks to improve nutrition and food security.

Students snorkeling
Students kayaking
Students kayaking
Student peering into a triangluar building
Students by the beach
Students on a hike directed by a guide
Students on a boat
Student sitting under a small waterfall
Student climbing a palm tree while others watch
Students in an outdoor pool
Students dressed in traditional cultural clothing
Student snorkeling
Student ziplining
Students getting food
Students snorkeling with sea life

Careers & Outcomes

A passion for service

College student smiles and sits beside a young childSarah Thompson has long wanted to serve others; that's part of what attracted her to sociology. While at Roanoke, she realized she could combine service and study by taking on an internship at Roanoke Refugee and Immigration Services. She then spent one summer working with children in Belize and another summer working with children in Ireland. Thompson graduated in 2011 with a major in sociology and a concentration in gender and women's studies. After graduation, she taught elementary school for two years in China. Thompson is now in Brussels in the University of Kent's graduate program in International Development.

Roanoke grads have gone on to prestigious graduate programs at schools like Washington and Lee, University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Faculty

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Photo of Nicole Terrill

Nicole Terrill

Visiting Instructor

Location:
Trout Hall

Professor Kristi Hoffman | Sociology

Professor speaking to studentAs a part of her Criminology and Intimate, Marital and Family Relationships courses, Kristi Hoffman, professor of sociology, offered a service learning component. Students spent ten hours each semester volunteering at the Bethany Hall Recovery Home for Women in Roanoke, a residential treatment facility that helps women recover from substance abuse.

Hoffman believes the Bethany Hall project dispels many stereotypes about drug offenders. "By being involved with the project, studen