Emory University

What you'll study

The curriculum balances required core courses with electives and opportunities for focused study. Typical elements include:

• Core theory: classical and contemporary social theory covering key thinkers and paradigms that inform sociological analysis.
• Research methods: sequence in quantitative methods and statistics, plus qualitative approaches such as ethnography, interviews and content analysis.
• Social inequality: courses addressing race and ethnicity, class, gender and intersectionality and their effects on life chances and institutions.
• Institutions and organisations: study of family, education, religion, work and the state, and how these structures shape social behaviour.
• Applied sociology and policy: topics on social policy, community-based research, and evaluation methods for non-profit and public-sector settings.
• Specialist electives: options often include urban sociology, health and society, criminology, globalization, migration, and cultural sociology.
• Experiential learning: internships, community-engaged research, practicum placements and opportunities to work with faculty research projects.
• Senior requirement: capstone seminar or thesis project that synthesises theory and methods and produces an independent empirical or theoretical study.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a secondary school diploma or recognised equivalent with a strong overall academic record. Emory considers the whole application, so a well-crafted personal statement explaining your interest in sociology, academic interests and relevant experience is important. Schools normally request academic references from teachers or counsellors. Where applicable, standardised test scores may be submitted in support of an application according to the university's current admissions policies. Successful candidates typically demonstrate critical reading and writing skills, curiosity about social issues and some evidence of quantitative or research aptitude.

Career prospects

Graduates with a sociology degree from Emory pursue a wide range of careers. Common pathways include social research and data analysis, public policy and advocacy, non-profit programme management, community development, human resources, education and social work. Many alumni also go on to graduate study in sociology, public health, social policy, law or business. The programme's emphasis on research methods and communication prepares students for roles that require evidence-based problem solving and working with diverse communities.

Why study at Emory University

Studying sociology at Emory offers close faculty supervision, small seminar-style classes and access to interdisciplinary resources across public health, political science and anthropology. Emory's location in Atlanta provides rich opportunities for fieldwork, internships and partnerships with community organisations and public institutions. Students can engage with active research centres and benefit from a campus culture that supports undergraduate research, study abroad and professional development.