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

M. Hockey D1 vs PNW

January 10, 2026 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM

Grand Valley State's D1 Club Hockey team hosts Purdue Northwest at 7:30pm.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Open Speaker Meeting

January 11, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

AA Open Speaker Meetings are open to all! These meetings are a great way to learn about what AA is, what it does, and what it does not do, too. During these meetings, a member of AA will share their...

Wellness Wednesday - What is Stalking?

January 14, 2026 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Join the Center for Health and Well-being and the Violence Prevention Task Force as we kick off Stalking Awareness month. This Wednesday we will define stalking and participants will �Define It...

Between Rooms: After Glow

January 14, 2026 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

After the official reception ends, the After Glow begins! GVSU students can come to the PAC Lobby from 7 - 8 PM for a hot cocoa bar and desserts. Check out the art in Between Rooms, meet some...

Friends of Art: Collage Weaving Workshop

January 15, 2026 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Explore a creative blend of collage and weaving using only paper and found materials with Rachelle Wunderink, one of the artists featured in the exhibition Between Rooms. Participants will...

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Page last modified January 17, 2022