Prospective Students

Welcome to GVSU Sociology!

The Reverend Martin Luther King was a sociology major. So was former First Lady, philanthropist, and lawyer, Michelle Obama. Sociology welcomes critical thinkers of all varieties and we are proud to say that our student body is one of the most diverse on campus. If you want to change the world, and you don’t think it is cliché to say so, sociology may very well be the major for you. By developing a “sociological imagination” you will be better able to actively engage the world around you and to do something constructive and useful in it. Sociology students learn about the dynamics of race, class, and gender and about the powerful institutions that we live in and work in everyday. Our graduates have found success in government and non-profit agencies, in large and small private business, and as university professors and researchers. Students choose the sociology major because they are genuinely interested in the concepts and ideas that we teach and because sociology helps them to understand their lives. The world is constantly changing. Why not learn to affect that change? 

Other notable Sociology Majors include:

  • Political Activist, Minister, and Politician, Reverend Jesse Jackson
  • Politician, Activist, and Educator, Shirly Chisolm
  • Politician Maxine Waters
  • Politician Cory Booker
  • Actress Nina Dobrev
  • Actress Gabrielle Union
  • Actor Kal Penn
  • Author Mitch Albom
  • Actor Dan Ackroyd
  • Former Head of NAACP Roy Wilkins
  • Workers' Rights Activist Francis Perkins
  • The Sex Doctor, aka Dr. Ruth Westheimer,
  • Father of Community Organizing, Saul Alinsky
  • Athlete Alonzo Morning
  • Actress Yara Shahidi (in school now for Sociology)
  • NFL Coach Mike Tomlin

Events

GVSU Night: Rockies vs. Tigers game

May 7, 2025 6:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Join your fellow Lakers in Denver for an evening of baseball, community, and Laker pride as we cheer on the Detroit Tigers against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field! We’ll be sharing...

60th Anniversary of Education at GVSU

May 7, 2025 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

The College of Education and Community Innovation and the Education Alumni Network are celebrating 60 years of education programs at Grand Valley State University. This May we will be inviting alumni,...

Leading the Way with President Mantella in Traverse City

May 12, 2025 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Join us in Northern Michigan!  President Philomena V. Mantella invites alumni, parents, and friends of Grand Valley State University to a special reception in Traverse City. Enjoy complimentary...

GVSU Cornhole Tournament 2025

May 22, 2025 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Join us for the 5th Annual GVSU Cornhole Tournament! Registration is free! Just pick a teammate and a team name. All GVSU faculty, staff, and students are eligible to participate. The...

Beach Clean up

August 23, 2025 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Join fellow Grand Valley students and volunteer to clean up the beach in beautiful Grand Haven, Michigan. Meet in Kirkhof Lobby at 8:00 am for check in and we will take the bus together. RSVP...

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Page last modified January 17, 2022