The University of Houston is a state university with a student body of over 40,000. Ranked as the fourth largest city in the nation, Houston provides a natural laboratory for social research. Thirteen full-time sociology faculty engage in a variety of research projects concerning policy-relevant topics such as employment, entrepreneurship, environmental health and safety, public education, healthcare, and poverty. Faculty members have received support for their research from various sources including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Labor, the National Poverty Center, and the National Science Foundation, as well as local foundations and agencies.

Approximately 30 students are actively enrolled in the Sociology graduate program. The low faculty-student ratio facilitates personal attention to student needs. Because many students are employed and attend the University part-time, seminars are offered in the evenings during the regular school year. All graduate students must complete a capstone internship paper or a thesis under the mentorship of a faculty member.

Our undergraduate program offers our approximately 200 majors and 160 minors a foundation in sociological theory and both qualitative and quantitative methods.

With both graduate and undergraduate members, the UH Sociology Students’ Association is an active student-run campus organization. The UHSSA organizes regular events including film screenings, community fund-raising, panel discussions, and much more.