Undergraduate

Embedded in Washington DC’s rich social environment, undergraduate students in the Sociology Department develop skills in sociological observation and quantitative analysis, apply theory to practical problems, conduct research and engage in service projects with the community. We offer majors and minors in Sociology and in Criminal Justice, a minor in Law & Society, as well as a major and minor in Human Services and Social Justice. We also offer combined undergraduate/graduate degree options.

Undergraduate students can enrich their studies with service-learning and community-engaged scholarship, honors options, writing-intensive courses and research opportunities.

Undergraduate Student Advising for Sociology & Criminal Justice

Undergraduate student advising for students seeking support with major or minor declarations, transfer of credit, study abroad and other related issues is changing this academic year. Students needing advising support or a signature should contact the undergraduate advising team using the email ugsocgwu [dot] edu.

Students wishing to meet an advisor to review the major declaration, discuss transfer or study abroad credits, or address any other major- or minor-related issue can take advantage of advisor office hours:

Professor Daina Eglitis

Undergraduate Program Director in Sociology and Criminal Justice
dainasgwu [dot] edu (dainas[at]gwu[dot]edu)

Office hours

Wednesdays on Zoom, 4:30–6:30 p.m. Make a virtual appointment
Thursdays in-person, Drop-in hours: 2:15–4:15 p.m., Phillips 409-A (no appointment needed)
Other times by appointment

Professor Fran Buntman

fbuntmangwu [dot] edu

Office hours

Monday: 11–12
Tuesday: 4–5
Wednesday: 1.30–2.30
Thursday: 4–5
Friday: 2–3 for the most part, but students MUST make appointments

Professor Desmond Goss

desmond [dot] gossgwu [dot] edu

Office hours

Monday: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. via Zoom
Friday: by request. Appointment required.

Apply to GW

Declare a Major or Minor

Honors, Awards and Funding

Programs

A ring of students talking in a classroom

A close-up of a student sitting at a desk in class

A group of students talk while sitting at desks with a professor behind them

A student sitting at a desk speaks to three others in a classroom

A group of students listening to their GTA in class

Senior Research

Elizabeth Lane stands in front of a research poster — Elizabeth Lane, BA '18, presented her capstone research at GW Research Days and won the Sustainability Award for Undergraduate Students.

The senior research seminar provides students with an opportunity to explore a topic of interest in depth and prepare a scholarly research paper. Students majoring in each of the three BA programs in the Sociology Department (Sociology, Criminal Justice and Human Services and Social Justice) have the opportunity to complete a senior project involving research, program evaluation, or an applied experience. Each major has its own required courses to complete the project.

Senior projects integrate research and real-world applications, with some requiring an internship component conducted at a local organization. For Sociology and Criminal Justice majors, the senior research seminar includes a research proposal, literature review and final thesis.

"My GW degree opened the door to graduate school as well as the professional world ... I felt so inspired to see more outside of the U.S. and do more for the international community than I ever thought I could."

Sara Ortega Roliz
BA ’03