Department of Sociology

College of Social Sciences
Saunders Hall 247
2424 Maile Way
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7693
Fax: (808) 956-3707
Email: socdept@hawaii.edu
Web: sociology.manoa.hawaii.edu

Faculty

*M. Steger, PhD (Chair)—globalization, social theory, social change, political sociology, economy and society, sociology of religion
*N. Sharma, PhD (Graduate Chair)—race/ethnic/minority relations, theory/migration and immigration
*J. Darrah-Okike, PhD (Undergraduate Chair)—urban sociology, race/ethnicity, housing policy, sociological theory
*S. K. Chai, PhD—social theory, economic development, comparative sociology (Asia)
*K. Irwin, PhD—criminology, deviance and social control, qualitative methodology
*D. T. Johnson, PhD—criminology, comparative sociology (Japan), law and society
*A. H. Kimura, PhD—science and technology studies, agrifood studies, environmental sociology, gender, social movements, comparative sociology (Asia)
*L. Lin, PhD—economic and organizational sociology, professions, education, medical sociology, comparative sociology (China)
*K. Mossakowski, PhD—medical sociology, stress and mental health, life course and aging, social psychology, social epidemiology, race/ethnicity
*E. Paek, PhD—inequality, gender, work, family, social policy
C. Rost-Banik, PhD—education, gender, civic engagement
*A. Rubin, PhD—law, punishment, organizations, and methods
*M. Yang, PhD—political sociology, social movements, class politics, globalization, East Asia
*W. Zhang, PhD—medical sociology, social epidemiology, research methods

Emeritus Faculty

H. Koo, PhD—comparative sociology (Korea), social stratification, development
P. Steinhoff, PhD—Japanese radical left, social movements
E. Wegner, PhD—medical sociology, aging

* Graduate Faculty

The Academic Program

Sociology (SOC) is the study of how society organizes itself and how various groups interact with each other and the consequences of these processes. The Department of Sociology at UH Mānoa examines patterns and dynamics of social relations, while paying special attention to issues of social justice. The department covers many major dimensions of sociology and over time has developed academic expertise and excellence in the following domains: race, ethnicity, gender, and class; health, aging, and medical sociology; Asia, Pacific, and Hawaiʻi in regional and global contexts; crime, law, and social control; and nationalism, globalization, and sustainability.

Sociology uses a range of research techniques for studying social phenomena that can be applied to many areas, whether one is interested in the incidence of crime, client satisfaction, policy evaluations, or demographic trends. The undergraduate program provides students with a foundation for many careers, including business and industry, community and social services, education, government, the justice system, and research. The graduate program provides students with a strong foundation in the theory and methods of sociological research. In addition, faculty and advanced graduate students are involved in several broad areas of sociological interest: the comparative sociology of Asia; the study of crime, law, and deviance; aging and medical sociology; and race and ethnic relations.

Undergraduate Study

Please see “Programs” section below for more information about our undergraduate programs.

Graduate Study

Two programs of graduate study in sociology are offered: a PhD program, intended to provide a professional basis for research and university teaching, and an MA program, designed to offer general training in sociology and research methods that can be applied to address major social problems. The following are brief descriptions and do not list all procedures and requirements; the department provides a complete statement of its graduate degree program on its website at sociology.manoa.hawaii.edu. All requirements specified by the Graduate Division and general university regulations also apply.

Applicants for graduate study in the department must specify whether they wish to enter the MA or PhD program. A Statement of Purpose, three letters of recommendation, academic writing sample and resume/CV are required of all applicants, in addition to the Graduate Division’s general application and required documents. GRE scores are optional and not required for admission into the program. An undergraduate major in sociology is not required for admission, but makeup course work may be required in some cases. The application deadline for admission is January 15 for the Fall semester. Please see the department website for more information.

Programs

Bachelor’s

Sociology, BA

Master’s

Sociology, MA

Doctorate

Sociology, PhD

Minor

Sociology, Minor

Combined