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
Winterfest
December 4, 2025 All Day
Celebrate the season with Winterfest, a two-day series of winter-themed programs and activities! Enjoy festive fun, entertainment, and community all across campus. Highlights include a night of laughter...
Winterfest
December 5, 2025 All Day
Celebrate the season with Winterfest, a two-day series of winter-themed programs and activities! Enjoy festive fun, entertainment, and community all across campus. Highlights include a night of laughter...
Open Door Discussion: Let's Have a Ball!
December 5, 2025 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
This student-led and INT 100/201 approved Open Door Discussion will explore the history, culture, and social impact of the Black queer ballroom scene.
Belly Dance Fall 2025 Showcase
December 5, 2025 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Celebrate our Belly Dance Club members as they perform a variety of traditional and non-traditional dances. Admission is free, and catering will be provided! December 5th, 2025 Loosemore Auditorium 7:00...
Women On the Wall
December 5, 2025 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Back by popular demand! Learn about climbing and hang out in a fun and inviting space surrounded by women and anyone who identifies as female or non-binary. In addition to some rad climbing,...