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WELCOME TO THE

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

Welcome to the Department of Sociology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. For more than twenty years, our department has engaged with research and teaching centered on issues of SOCIAL JUSTICE. We conduct research and teach in the interest areas of:

  • CRIMINOLOGY
  • CRITICAL RACE AND ETHNIC STUDIES
  • ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND GLOBALIZATION
  • POLITICAL ECONOMY AND GLOBALIZATION
Learn More About Sociology
Students visit along Ped Walkway during the first day of Fall classes

Students in Sociology develop an understanding of both everyday social behavior and the structural factors that contribute to social injustices. In the seminar room and in the field, students also acquire the intellectual tools to identify and critically analyze social phenomena and trends, along with the methodological tools to conduct rigorous research.

In and out of the classroom we understand that how we conduct ourselves affects the learning and well-being of others. We are individual scholars as well as a scholarly community, and therefore – against polarizing currents – we invest in both our own and others’ capacities and insights.

Undergraduate Students

Graduate Students

What is Sociology?

The American Sociological Association defines Sociology as “the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior.”

Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies and how people interact within these contexts. 

“Since all human behavior is social, the subject matter of Sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime to religious traditions; from the divisions of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture.” 

Our Faculty & Staff

More About Our Programs

Sociology in the News

  • Headshot photo
    Sociology Research on Policing Earns AwardDecember 2, 2024
    The American Society of Criminology (ACS) has honored the research of a University of Tennessee, Knoxville, doctoral candidate studying the link between policing practices and gentrification in his hometown.
  • Tool and die apprentice Ty Cobb works at the TELOS Global plant in Caryville, Tennessee, which manufactures parts for electric vehicles. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is partnering with TELOS and other employers in advanced manufacturing and green construction industries on East Tennessee Works, a green jobs initiative.
    UT Wins Funding for Green Jobs InitiativeNovember 15, 2024
    The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has received a $750,000 grant for East Tennessee Works (ETW), a regional green jobs initiative focused on Knoxville’s inner-city and rural Southern Appalachia communities.
  • Group photo from the college's 2024 awards ceremony
    2024 Alumni and Philanthropy Awards Honor the Volunteer SpiritNovember 11, 2024
    UT College of Arts and Sciences faculty, staff, and campus and community colleagues gathered Thursday, October 17 to celebrate the 2024 Alumni and Philanthropy Awards, honoring the exceptional achievements and contributions of Volunteers for Life whose dedication and generosity help shape the future of the college and its students.

Sociology

College of Arts and Sciences

1115 Volunteer Blvd (Suite 901)
McClung Tower
Knoxville TN 37996

Phone: 865-974-6021

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
865-974-1000

The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System and partner in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway.

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