About Us

The Sociology Department at Stony Brook was founded in the 1960s and rapidly became an internationally visible center of innovative education and ground-breaking research.  Hanan Selvin was responsible for starting the graduate program and for recruiting the nucleus of an eminent department, including such luminaries as Eugene Weinstein, John Gagnon, Rose Coser and Lewis Coser.  Not only did these department members in turn recruit other outstanding sociologists, but all of them, in particular the Cosers, established a tradition of cooperation through the creation of informal events, like reading groups, that fostered an atmosphere of departmental cordiality.

The Department of Sociology at Stony Brook University is a vibrant community of students and scholars exploring how people, power, and culture shape our world. We study social life, social change, and the causes and consequences of human behavior from a global perspective. Through research, collaboration, and community engagement, our students learn to think critically, act compassionately, and create meaningful change. Whether through local partnerships or global inquiry, we connect sociology in action; linking research to real-world impact. At Stony Brook Sociology, we dare to be engaged and kind — using knowledge to build understanding and stronger communities.