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

Pride by the Pond

June 3, 2026 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Please Join the Division of People, Equity, and Culture, the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association, and the Rainbow Resource Center for Pride by the Pond on Wednesday, June 3rd, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00...

Tabling at Grand Rapids Pride

June 20, 2026 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Stop by GVSU's booth at Grand Rapids Pride, we are table 138, right by the Rainbow Ramp and the food court! Saturday (6/20): 12-8pmSponsored by the Division of People, Equity, and Culture and...

Tabling at Holland Pride!

June 27, 2026 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Stop by GVSU's booth at Holland Pride this summer! Our booth number will be confirmed soon.  Holland Pride Website Sponsored by the Division of People, Equity, and Culture and our Rainbow...

Tabling at Hudsonville Area Pride

July 11, 2026 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Stop by GVSU's booth at Hudsonville Area Pride! Specific booth number will be shared soon.  Sponsored by the Division of People, Equity, and Culture and our Rainbow Resource Center!

Non-Profit Volunteer & Internship Fair

September 10, 2026 1:00 PM

Looking to Make a Difference or Gain Real-World Experience? Explore dozens of meaningful volunteer and internship opportunities at the Non-Profit Volunteer and Internship Fair at KIRKHOF CENTER NORTH...

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Page last modified January 17, 2022