• The Department of Sociology at Washington State University has been consistently ranked among the top programs in the nation. Over the past three decades the department has placed among the top twenty departments in the nation.
• Over 70 percent of Ph.D. graduates secured academic appointments at colleges and universities. Another 29 percent secured comparable research positions with government agencies or private research organizations.  Research is important to sociologists and our undergraduate students have opportunities to work with faculty and graduate students pursuing research.
• In sociology course work, students focus on developing analytic and writing skills, data analysis, and the ability to understand issues from different points of view.

A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs.

For all students at WSU

Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.

To get all the financial help WSU can provide, you'll need to do these two things:

• Complete the University's general scholarship application so you can be eligible for scholarship consideration, including departmental awards.
• Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so WSU can consider you for aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) based on financial need. Get started here.

Click here for more info about about WSU scholarships and financial aid

For sociology students

The department offers several scholarships for undergraduate sociology majors, including the Paul and Bessie Landis, Roberta Cline Frasier Anderson, Susan and Sarah Dolan Memorial, Ruth Magnuson Roberts, and alumni awards. There is also an award given to an exceptional senior who has earned the highest grade point average among all eligible sociology undergraduates.

The College of Arts and Sciences awards more than $50,000 in scholarships each year. For more information, see the CAS scholarships page.

For sociology majors

Sociology majors may also be eligible for general scholarships from the College of Liberal Arts.

• All sociology majors automatically become members of the Sociology Club upon certifying in the major. The Sociology Club is a registered student organization that provides undergraduate students with opportunities in leadership, academic, career, and social activities both on and off campus.
• The department’s chapter of the Alpha Kappa Delta national honor society recognizes students’ academic achievements and provides a valuable national and international network with students and scholars.

What you can do with a degree in sociology

• Business management and human resources

• Marketing and public relations

• Financial and statistical analysis

• Program support and recruiting

• Nonprofit and community-based agencies

• Social work and counseling

• Probation and correctional officer

• Education support for at-risk populations

• Social science research

• Local, state, and federal government

Skills you can market with a degree in sociology

• Ability to conduct ethical and effective research

• Using quantitative and symbolic reasoning to analyze data

• Global and community perspective and civic responsibility

• Critical thinking and problem solving

• Cultural and social awareness and sensitivity

• Skillful written and oral communication