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Department of Sociology
Shift perspectives… lead the change
The Department of Sociology is home to exciting social science undergraduate and graduate programs with common commitments to social justice in collaboration with communities. Our programs encourage imagination, creativity, and the development of applied research methods. Students, faculty, and alumni engage local, national, and international challenges, and work toward social change through our research and scholar activism.
Degree Programs
Sociology, B.A.
Sociology students at Cal Poly Humboldt find an active and supportive departmental culture that surrounds coursework in sociological theory, methods and current social issues. Department faculty members have a strong commitment to social justice that shapes course offerings and content.
Cannabis Studies, B.A.
With a focus on social and environmental responsibility, the bachelor’s degree program explores the historical, geographical, cultural, economic, and political contexts of cannabis legalization.
Criminology & Justice Studies, B.A.
Criminology & Justice Studies students find an active and supportive departmental culture that surrounds coursework in social theory, methods, inequalities of crime and justice, law, policy, and action.
Public Sociology, M.A.
The master’s program in public sociology focuses on social justice and environmental sustainability, while fostering a network of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members who are committed to social change.
Biweekly Information Sessions
Learn about our BA programs in Cannabis Studies, Criminology and Justice Studies, and Sociology at Cal Poly Humboldt. This is also a great way to meet faculty and ask questions about our programs, including our new blended BA/MA program in Public Sociology.
Sessions Dates:
March 11: 4:30-5:00pm (Pacific Time)
March 25: 4:30-5:00pm (Pacific Time)
April 8: 4:30-5:00pm (Pacific Time)
April 22: 4:30-5:00pm (Pacific Time)
May 6: 4:30-5:00pm (Pacific Time)
Meeting ID: 861 6837 4495
Password: 503794
Leading Social Change
Our department works to address social justice at the local, regional, and global level. Our goal is to foster a desire and respect for social change amongst our students and our local community, and our programs encourage imagination, creativity, and the development of applied methodological skills.
Real-World Experience
Studying at Humboldt means gaining real-world experience that you wouldn’t get as an undergraduate at many other universities. Hands-on learning experiences are built into your core major coursework and you have the opportunity to work with faculty on their research and projects, or develop your own.
College to Career Transition Support
Students complete a professional development course that helps link skills and interests with career pathways or graduate study. Coupled with comprehensive faculty advising, our students tell us that they leave here with the knowledge and capacity to launch into their chosen career trajectory.
Careers
Here are a few possible career options:
- Attorney
- Community Organizer/Activist
- Conflict Mediator
- Criminalist
- Crisis Response Team Worker
- Domestic Violence Service Provider
- Drug Counselor
- Law Enforcement
- Legal Advocate
- Public Defender
Sociology Alumni
Criminology & Justice Studies Alumni
Achievements
Find out what our students, faculty, and staff are being recognized for.
Israel de Souza
Sociology
Israel de Souza has recently published a co-authored book, Moral and Intellectual Virtues in Practices: Through the Eyes of Scientists and Musicians, and a co-authored piece for the Chronicle of Higher Education, "Institutions Must Do More to Accommodate Those with Long Covid." She also wrote a policy brief for the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, based on previously funded research, entitled "Learning from Rio's Failed Pacification Initiative."
Michelle Newhart
Sociology
Michelle Newhart and her coauthor, Nicholas Athey published an article, “Cultivating Choice: Determinants of Home Cannabis Growing Among Legal Users in the United States,” that examines factors influencing the decision to grow cannabis at home by cannabis-consuming residents in legal states. Drawing on a survey of recent cannabis users in cannabis-legal states, they explore four potential explanations for home cultivation: legal access, needs-based motivations, resource-based factors, and identity-based reasons. Their analysis reveals that home growers differ significantly from non-growers across multiple dimensions.
Caleb Chen
Sociology
Graduate student Caleb Chen was awarded an $25,000 Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) NEXTGEN Fellowship to support his groundbreaking research on changes in cannabis genetics for his MA in Public Sociology.