Study the Forces that Shape Humanity
In an increasingly global society, you’ll need to be prepared to work with diverse groups of people in a variety of different social settings.
Our applied sociology program is designed to create independent thinkers with a clear understanding of real-life situations, and the ability to work towards resolving social problems. We provide you with the tools needed to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing social world, whether you choose a general sociology major or a sociology minor.
Our program prepares you for graduate study or work in sociology or related fields such as counseling, administration, law, applied social research, and social work.
Career opportunities span virtually any vocation that involves working with people, including juvenile services, social planning and policy-making, personnel management, public and industrial relations, probation, law enforcement, community action, advocacy and non-profit organizations.

Get Real Sociology Experience
Real-world, hands-on experience is an important part of your Sociology degree.
The Keuka College Field Period® gives you the chance to have four separate Sociology internships, starting your freshman year.
Program Overview
Thanks to a strong, theoretical foundation in traditional liberal arts, and our unique, experiential-focused curriculum, our sociology program will provide you with an understanding of social relationships through periods of stability and change, as well as conflict and cooperation among individuals, groups, organizations and communities.
Your sociology major will transform you into an independent thinker with a clear understanding of the complexities of contemporary social issues and the ability to assess root causes of social problems in order to identify potential solutions to resolve or reduce conflict.
As a sociology major, you will learn to:
- Understand the role of sociology in contributing to cultural awareness of social realities.
- Comprehend sociological theories and their application to current social issues
- Develop computational research skills useful to acquire knowledge, uncover patterns, formulate opinions and support conclusions through cutting-edge technologies.
- Build effective communication skills to convey understanding and empathy in a manner that promotes cultural inclusion and celebrates diversity.
- Evaluate and identify career options and professional opportunities in relation to personal values, traits and experiences developed in our hands-on Field Period® program and experiential, applied curriculum.
By the time you graduate, you will have acquired up to 560 hours of real-world experience through your senior sociology fieldwork placement and annual Field Period® opportunities which can take the shape of a professional internship, a cultural study at home or abroad, community service project, artistic endeavor or spiritual-based exploration. Find a variety of settings where you can develop your personal and professional interests in the fields of social service, mental health, criminal justice and more.
Deepen and refine connections between classroom learning and hands-on experience, as you explore career opportunities, gain transferable skills within your field and build your professional network.
The sociology major may be completed with either a general major or a concentration in criminology.
Learn More About Sociology
As a sociology major, you’ll take an upper-level research methods class, in which you’ll propose a specific study in an area of interest, and outline the research methods and steps that would render your thesis question valid or not. You’ll present your research proposal to professors and classmates, but will not have to formally complete the study itself.
One example of a Keuka College student whose research study made a difference for others in the campus community is that of Indigo DeJong ’15, who worked with Dr. Jessica MacNamara in the fall of 2015 to conduct an independent research study on the campus climate and gauge interest levels in gender-inclusive housing for LGBTQA+ students within the campus community.
Through the use of 281 surveys, Indigo found that 81% of respondents were supportive of gender-inclusive housing, and another 15% were indifferent.
These findings, and others from self-identified LGBTQA+ students, were presented to members of the Student Senate, College President, Board of Trustees, and administration at an open town hall meeting where a proposal recommending gender-inclusive housing was requested from Indigo. After submitting the recommendations along with her results, Indigo learned in December 2015 that the College Board of Trustees had unanimously approved the proposal and gender-inclusive housing would be offered on campus in the Fall of 2016.
According to Indigo, Dr. MacNamara provided strong encouragement that the research could help Indigo reach out to the greater Keuka College community and advocate for social change.
“I am so excited it will be making a lasting impact on the college and community!” Indigo said.
Enjoy an interdisciplinary approach to this program through a number of faculty in our Basic & Applied Social Sciences Division. Your sociology-specific courses will be enhanced by additional study with professors in the fields of criminal justice, psychology and social work.
Two sociology faculty teach the bulk of sociology courses supplemented with expertise from other faculty specializing in areas such as child and family development, behavioral science, mental health counseling, law enforcement, and community resourcing. For more information on specialty areas of expertise and specific courses, please click their respective faculty profiles.

Dr. Carolyn Balzer
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Academic Credentials
- SUNY Upstate Medical University
- M.D.

Dr. Janine Bower
Professor of Criminology/Criminal Justice
Chair, Institutional Review Board
Academic Credentials
- Western Michigan University
- Ph.D.
- Western Michigan University
- M.S.
- Indiana University at Fort Wayne
- B.A.

Dr. Angela Graves
Associate Professor of Political Science
Academic Credentials
- Syracuse University
- Ph.D.
- Central European University
- M.A. in Political Science
- Babes-Bolyai University
- B.A. in Political Science
Biography
Angela G. Graves received her Ph.D. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University in 2011 and is currently an Associate Professor of Political Science. Prior to joining Keuka College, she taught at the University of North Dakota and Idaho State University.
Originally from the Washington D.C. area, Angela moved to Eastern Europe after high school to study post-communist transition firsthand. She received her B.A. (2002) in Political Science from Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania and went on to Budapest, Hungary to obtain an M.A. (2003) in the same field from Central European University. Although her research is primarily grounded in the field of American Politics, it continues to reflect her international interests by focusing on the new challenges posed by globalization for national institutions such as the U.S. Supreme Court. Angela has presented her work at the American Political Science Association and the Law and Society Association’s annual meetings, and her publications include 2010 and 2013 articles in the Journal of Law, Politics, and Society and a chapter in the 2015 Wiley Handbook of Law and Society.
In addition to teaching, Angela is an Intercultural Coach for Cartus, a corporate relocation firm, and both Tour Guide and Services Ambassador for Experience! The Finger Lakes' Corning office.

Dr. Nicholas Koberstein
Associate Professor of Psychology
Academic Credentials
- University of Connecticut
- Ph.D.
- University of Connecticut
- M.S.
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- B.S.

Dr. Melis Kural
Associate Professor of Sociology
Academic Credentials
- University at Buffalo
- Ph.D.
- University at Buffalo
- M.A. in Sociology
- SUNY Geneseo
- B.A. in Sociology

Dr. Christopher Leahy
Professor of History
Academic Credentials
- Louisiana State University Baton Rouge
- Ph.D.
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
- M.A.
- Washington and Jefferson College
- B.S.

Dr. David Pak Leon
Associate Professor of Political Science
Academic Credentials
- University of Minnesota
- Ph.D.
- University of Minnesota
- M.A.
- University of Maryland College Park
- B.A.

Dr. Jessica MacNamara
Associate Professor of Sociology
Academic Credentials
- University at Buffalo
- Ph.D.
- SUNY Albany
- M.A.
- SUNY College at Buffalo
- B.A.
- Finger Lakes Community College
- A.A.

Dr. Rich Martin ’05
Division Chair
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
Academic Credentials
- Regent University
- Ph.D.
- Boston University
- M.S. in Criminal Justice
- Keuka College
- B.S. in Criminal Justice Systems

Dr. Josh Staley
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Esports Management
Head Coach, Esports
Academic Credentials
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Ph.D.
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- M.A. in Psychology
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- B.S. in Psychology

Dr. Tom Tremer
Professor of Criminology/Criminal Justice
Academic Credentials
- Indiana University Pennsylvania
- Ph.D.
- Fordham University
- M.A.
- SUNY Oneonta
- B.A.

Penny Waugh
Administrative Assistant
Contact Information
