Summary

The Department of Sociology at the College of Arts and Sciences is a center for the advanced study of social institutions, global affairs, and social justice, serving the university and students from the Washington, DC, area, the US, and around the world in the Academic Accelerator - Bachelor of Arts - Sociology. Through a BA/MA program that enables students to complete a BA and an MA in five years, as well as two graduate certificates in public sociology and social research, its programs provide in-depth training in sociological theory with an emphasis on research methodology at the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Arts (MA) levels. Program graduates are prepared for a wide range of professions in public and private policy-making organizations in Washington and beyond, including social activism, research, teaching, human services, and education. The location of American University offers unmatched access to leaders in social change, advocacy groups, academic institutions, government agencies, and data and archival sources. In addition, both faculty and students frame global politics, economics, and social and cultural issues at a local level and frequently use both global and local frames to understand social phenomena. This is because American University draws a sizable number of international students, who usually bring with them the ability to think through issues beyond national borders.