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
2026 Laker Kickoff
August 28, 2026 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
We'll be kicking the fall semester off with the annual Laker Kickoff on Friday, August 28 from 6 to 11 p.m. Our newest students will join fellow Lakers and their living communities in Lubbers...
Beach Clean-up
August 29, 2026 8:00 AM
Join fellow Grand Valley students and volunteer to clean up the beach in beautiful Grand Haven, Michigan. Meet in Kirkhof Pere Marquette Room 2204 at 8:00 a.m. for check-in and we will take the...
Campus Life Night
August 30, 2026 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
**What is Campus Life Night?** The best spot on campus to... get involved and learning something new about GVSU! **Why should you go to Campus Life Night?** MAKE CONNECTIONS Meet your new community...
FREE Cookout & Carnival
August 31, 2026 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Come hang out on the LIbrary Lawn for FREE food, inflatables, yard games, and cool people! No catch, just come hang out!Competencies:Fun and EnjoymentConnection and Belonging