ECU Department of Sociology

Looking to chart a new, vibrant, lucrative career path!? ECU Sociology is here for YOU! Applications are still open for Fall admission to the ECU Sociology Master’s Program.
Build marketable research skills while studying issues like health, inequality, and social change.
Learn more and apply: gradschool.ecu.edu/find-your-program/

What a beautiful evening to celebrate our wonderful spring 2026 graduates! We’re so proud of all of you! We hope you caught that sunset later as well!! The sky was showing off on your behalf 🩷

When Iyanna Hill was a high school senior (pictured here) she dreamed of getting a Master’s degree— and TODAY!? She’s DONE IT! Iyanna is graduating with an MA in Sociology and a Behavioral Specialist certificate. She plans to work in the field and eventually get a PhD. Her favorite moments of graduate school was getting inducted into Sociology’s Alpha Kappa Delta honor society and becoming a Teaching Assistant. She said, “I enjoyed everything from start to finish, even the sleepless nights because it was worth it in the end.” CONGRATULATIONS IYANNA!! We’re so proud of you.

We’re so proud of Dr. Maril! His newest book was spotlighted by the American Sociological Association. Check out their description of his important work here:

Hungry Oklahoma - University of Oklahoma Press In Oklahoma, one out of every six residents is poor. One in five children lives in poverty and faces food insecurity. In Hungry Oklahoma, native son and soci...

Your favorite ECU Sociologists are all on board our ship, which we've stocked with a hull full of knowledge and skills, and we're ready to navigate undergraduate and graduate students to success.

Our degree offerings do look a little different. You may have heard that, as part of ECU’s effort to streamline degree options and make pathways clearer for students, the Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology is being phased out. Current BA students will be able to finish their degrees-- no problem! Going forward, Sociology will be offered through the Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Sociology—the degree most of our majors already complete. This change allows the department to focus resources on a single, modern sociology major with strong career alignment. Students build sociological understanding of inequality, institutions, communities, health, and social change while developing practical skills in research design, data analysis, and professional communication. The B.S. in Applied Sociology prepares graduates for careers in public service, nonprofits, education, health and human services, and other applied settings.

And, of course, our Master's degree is still going strong-- and taking applicants for next year! In case you didn't know, we offer paid assistantships to most of our graduate students. Apply for fall today!

All in all, we remain a vibrant department, an asset to ECU Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences and to ECU. We're going places, but we're not leaving ECU!

Go Sociology!

Raise your hand if you cited her this semester! 🙋‍♀️🙋🙋‍♂️

A legal scholar and 'Backtalker' defends critical race theory -- a term she helped coin Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw helped name two contested ideas in U.S. politics — intersectionality and critical race theory. Her memoir chronicles the personal and legal framework for her thinking.

We've heard a lot of concern from a lot of you after you read news about changes to some academic programs at ECU. To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of our demise are greatly exaggerated. Let us explain.

As part of ECU’s effort to streamline degree options and make pathways clearer for students, the Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology is being phased out. Going forward, Sociology will be offered through the Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology—the degree that most of our majors already complete. This change allows the department to focus resources on a single, modern sociology major with strong career alignment. Students build sociological understanding of inequality, institutions, communities, health, and social change while developing practical skills in research design, data analysis, and professional communication. The B.S. in Applied Sociology prepares graduates for careers in public service, nonprofits, education, health and human services, and other applied settings.

So while we'll be leaner, we'll be stronger and as relevant as ever.

Thanks for supporting Sociology at ECU. Help us get the word out! Go Sociology! ECU Thomas Harriot College of Arts & Sciences