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 majors and minors 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.

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Declare a Major or Minor

Honors, Awards and Funding

Programs

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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