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Blaze a Brighter Future
Blaze a Brighter Future
Department of Sociology College of Arts and Sciences

Why Study Sociology?

Sociology is the scientific study of human behavior and the complexities of human social relationships. If you want to understand social behavior in the real world, sociology is where you find the answers. Regardless of your chosen career path, having a critical understanding of the social world can put you at the forefront of your career field.

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It is a top-notch program. I'd recommend this program to anybody who wants to improve the rigor of the work they do.

– Tracy Sims (2020 MA in Sociology graduate); Senior Director, U.S. Lead of Chronic Disease Environment Shaping at Eli Lilly and Company

Featured Alumni

  • Barbara Hansen

    Barbara Hansen

    Barbara Hansen (PhD 2017) is Scientist 1 at the Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center in the Division of Preventive Medicine at UAB.

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  • LaToya J. O’Neal

    LaToya J. O’Neal

    LaToya J. O’Neal (PhD 2014) is an Assistant Professor and Health and Wellness Extension Specialist in the Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences at the University of Florida.

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  • Brie Scrivner

    Brie Scrivner

    Brie Scrivner (PhD 2021) (pronouns: they/them) is a Disability Analyst in the Office of Equity and Human Rights at the City of Portland, Oregon.

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  • Caroline Robinson

    Caroline O. Pardo

    Caroline O. Pardo (PhD 2007) serves as President, Continuing Professional Development, at Clinical Education Alliance, as well as holds industry recognitions such as the Fellow Award, Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions, and is a Certified Healthcare CPD Professional.

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Latest News

  • Inside the Inaugural ‘Mike’ Wilson Lecture
    Inside the Inaugural ‘Mike’ Wilson Lecture
    As the second annual ‘Mike’ Wilson Lecture approaches on October 23, 2026, CAS News looks back at the inaugural event in the series. Hosted each fall by the Department of Sociology, the lecture is made possible through a generous gift from its namesake.
  • 3 chosen as UAB VIPs for third-quarter 2026
    3 chosen as UAB VIPs for third-quarter 2026
    Rachel Edwards, Charles Morris and Wendy Peek are the third-quarter 2026 honorees of the UAB Shared Values in Action Program. Nominations for fourth-quarter 2026 honorees are open through Oct.
  • Building a Community Online with Dr. Patricia Drentea
    Building a Community Online with Dr. Patricia Drentea
    For more than 20 years, Patrica Drentea, Ph.D., has built a community around the University of Alabama at Birmingham students in her virtual classroom. Through teaching courses in UAB’s online MA in Sociology program, she’s adapted new ways to make her class a community without a classroom—and has helped her students apply sociological skills in their careers.
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