The Department of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University concentrates on two broad research areas at both the graduate and undergraduate levels: global social change and social inequality.
Research in global social change focuses on cross-national, comparative research, and long-term, world-scale social change. Students in the Program on Global Social Change study the various theoretical perspectives in these areas, collect and analyze data, and develop expertise in one or more substantive fields.
Research in social inequality focuses on the causes and consequences of social inequality, the social processes that sustain it, and how social policies can reduce it. Students in the Program on Social Inequality are trained to sociologically analyze social inequality among individuals and groups.
Faculty and student research is devoted to addressing important theoretical issues with rigorous empirical study. Results from these studies help advance general knowledge of society and contribute to the solution of social problems.