The Undergraduate Program

Undergraduate Chair: Dr. Chenoa Flippen
Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies: Dr. Marcus T. Wright
(For any questions about the program, please contact Dr. Wright:)

The Penn Sociology Undergraduate Program seeks to provide students with an understanding of social structure and how individuals' experiences are related to that structure. We help students identify and explain patterns of social life and human behavior by emphasizing how large-scale social phenomena (such as class, race and gender inequality) affect the everyday experiences of individuals, and vice versa. While doing so, our program also introduces students to the conceptual and methodological tools of social science research, including ethnography, social statistics, and demographic methods.

Our major prepares students for a broad array of careers in fields such as law, medicine and health care, consulting, marketing, digital technology, human resources, education, scholarly and applied social research, data analysis, management in the public and private sectors, administration, social work, demography and government.

*2023 UPDATE*

Sociology at Penn has just been officially recognized as a STEM PROGRAM! This now gives our Sociology Program a whole new meaning, bringing emphasis to how our program engages students in the instruction of research methodology including design, observation and data analysis; as well as various quantitative methods such as statistical analysis. These are crucial technical skills that employers are seeking in the job market regardless of the positions you are applying for.

This also gives new meaning for our International students. Since our program is now a STEM Designated Degree, International students who major in Sociology at Penn will be able to apply for an additional 24 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information on this, please visit the following link: https://global.upenn.edu/isss/opt-stem

 

Students collaborating on project

Penn Sociology offers our top-ranked major, three minors, comprehensive advising, extensive interdisciplinary collaboration, and significant research and independent study opportunities.

For further program information, visit the links in the right-hand menu, or contact the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies Dr. Marcus T. Wright.