Welcome to the Department of Sociology

 

Welcome to the Department of Sociology, one of 12 dynamic departments in the College of Liberal Arts.

Our undergraduates major in sociology or law and society.  Many complete minors in one of the 16 interdisciplinary programs within the College.  Some travel abroad, complete community internships, or participate in honors programs in Sociology, in the College of Liberal Arts, or in the University Honors Program.

Our graduate students are as well versed in research methods and statistics as they are in the major theories that define our field of study.  They organize and sustain an active Graduate Student Organization that serves to advise the department and the College on policy matters. Most pursue careers in universities or research organizations.

Our faculty specialize in diverse fields including social movements, globalization, medical sociology, stratification, politics and economics, sociology of religion, family, sex and gender,  stratification, social psychology, aging and the life course, juvenile delinquency and criminal justice, family violence, social networks, statistics, and theories and perspectives.

Our department hosts the Social Research Institute that facilitates the collection and analysis of all forms of sociological data. http://www.cla.purdue.edu/sociology/sri/

We publish an annual department newsletter and our faculty and students are often featured in the award-winning magazine, THiNK. http://www.cla.purdue.edu/news/magazine/

Visit our web pages frequently for updates on events, our faculty and staff, and our students.

JoAnn Miller
Interim Head (2009-2010) and Professor of Sociology
Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Programs and Engagement, the College of Liberal Arts

The College of Liberal Arts, throughout November, is featuring faculty publications for 2009-2010.  Please stop by Beering to see the impressive contribution from the Sociology faculty. 
Congratulations!
JoAnn Miller, Interim Department Head

New Books

please click on the image of the book to visit the publisher site

Adkins Covert, Tawnya and Wasburn, Philo C. (2009). Media Bias: A Comparative Study of Time, Newsweek, the National Review and the Progressive Coverage of Domestic Social Issues, 1975-2000. (Lanham, MA: Lexington Books).

Useem, Bert; Piehl, Anne Morrison (2008). Prison State: The Challenge of Mass Incarceration. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Miller, JoAnn and Johnson, Donald C. (2009). Problem Solving Courts: New Approaches to Criminal Justice. Rowman & Littlefield.

Reger, Jo; Myers, Daniel J.; Einwohner, Rachel L., eds. (2008). Identity Work in Social Movements. University of Minnesota Press, 2008.

Moghadam, Valentine.  Globalization and Social Movements: Islamism, Feminism, and the Global Justice Movement. (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2009).

Robert Perrucci and Carolyn C. Perrucci. America At Risk: The Crisis of Hope, Trust, and Caring. Rowman & Littlefield 2009.

Jacob Hibel joined our faculty as an instructor, effective August 2009.  His areas of interest include Early-Life Course Stratification Processes, Sociology of Education (school readiness, early academic inequality, school organizational practices), Immigration and Inequality, and Quantitative Research Methods.

Dr. Kevin Stainback joined our faculty as an assistant professor, effective August 2009.  His areas of interest include Social Inequality (race, class, gender) and Work and Organizations.

Sociologist hopes to inspire scholars to study the role of religion in China.  Read the entire article about Professor Fenggang Yang's work encouraging and empowering scholars to study religious trends and their effects on China and the $2 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation to support studies and train researchers.

JoAnn Miller among six faculty members named CIC Fellows.

Kenneth F. Ferraro, Principal Investigator (Sarah Mustillo, Co-investigator).  "Enduring Effects of Early Adversity on Adult Health?"  August, 2009 - July 2011.  Funded by the National Institute on Aging.  Budget:  $525,829; grant # R01AG033541.

Sociologists for Women in Society has issued a Report Card on Gender Scholarship and Equity in Sociology Department (2008). We are happy to report that the Department Of Sociology, Purdue University has been awarded "The Seal of Approval for Gender Scholarship." The goal of this report is to recognize departments that excel in creating a climate that is welcoming to women and gender scholars. 

Julie Newcamp (on right) was awarded the Van Scoyoc Fellowship from the Center for Families for her research on a project for Elizabeth Hoffmann studying Indiana's new law on workplace lactation support programs.

Prof. JoAnn Miller and the Hon. Donald Johnson delivered the Plenary at "A National Forum & Dialogue," The Corporation for Supportive Housing, Washington, DC, on Nov 5, 2009.  CSH is the largest nonprofit organization in the United States that is devoted to ending homelessness in the country.  The National Forum invited one-hundred experts on prisoner reentry and supportive housing to assemble in Washington for this event.