Sociology

The department of sociology “puts the world at your doorstep.”
Studying sociology at Bridgewater College means becoming part of a dynamic learning community, both inside and outside the classroom.   You will learn to critically investigate institutions, group processes and culture by observing the complexities of social life.  This might take you into the local area to study skate boarding, or the experience of local immigrants in the Shenandoah Valley. You could also find yourself working with a local homeless shelter or riding along with a Harrisonburg police officer. Becoming a member of our department connects you to students and faculty who are passionate about studying social life and seeking social change, while teaching you research skills that will ground your understanding of the world around you.

"The department of sociology at Bridgewater challenged me on a daily basis to examine the world around me. I learned to value, as well as to question, the micro and macro communities that make up our social world. In addition, the professors, classes, trips abroad and my fellow students provided an unforgettable network of support, ideas and intellectual and creative challenges.”

March Ryan '09
~ March is enrolled in the master's program at the
Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research.

As a discipline, sociology stands at the crossroads between the sciences and humanities, requiring us to ask questions from many different angles. This approach is born of a conviction that each angle adds a layer to understanding. It is in the accumulation of these layers that we develop a deeper understanding of the human conditions, and ultimately, ourselves.  If you suffer from an excess of intellectual curiosity, a touch of idealism, and an interest in grounding viewpoints in systematic research and analysis, you may want to give sociology a closer look.