What Is the UCSB Department of Sociology Website?

Updated

The site at soc.ucsb.edu is the official website of the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). It serves prospective and current students, faculty, researchers, and visitors who want to learn about the department, its people, and its academic programs. The page evidence describes it as a "highly ranked department" that was established in 1944 and is "among the most diverse nationwide in terms of faculty and students."

What the Department Is

According to the site's welcome message from the Chair, the department's faculty include "internationally renowned scholars whose research and teaching have influenced intellectual developments affecting the landscape of the discipline." The areas named on the page include:

  • Intersectional analysis of social phenomena
  • New approaches to the study of gender and sexualities
  • Social movements as drivers of social and political change
  • The "cultural turn" in Sociology
  • A "reflexive turn" in ethnography

The page also cites rankings from the US News and World Report Guide to Graduate Departments: in 2022, UCSB Sociology was ranked third nationwide in the subfield of Sex and Gender, and tenth in Sociology of Culture.

What You'll Find on the Site

The homepage is organized around several sections:

Section What it covers
Message from the Chair A welcome and overview of the department
Remembering Tom Scheff A tribute to a pioneering sociologist
News Campus and department updates
Links and Resources Additional links and materials

The "Remembering Tom Scheff" section notes that Tom Scheff, described as a pioneering sociologist, passed away on May 23, 2025. He was most renowned for his foundational work in the sociology of emotions, and the page describes him as a dedicated educator committed to student-centered pedagogy.

The News section highlights campus happenings, including the 2025 Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Graduate Students Award.

Who the Site Is For

  • Prospective students evaluating the department's research strengths and reputation
  • Current students and faculty looking for news, resources, and departmental information
  • Researchers interested in the department's areas of specialization
  • Visitors seeking general information about the department and its history

Key Takeaway

If you want to confirm the department's identity, history, research focus, or recent news, soc.ucsb.edu is the authoritative source. The site states the department was established in 1944 and points readers to its research page for more detail on faculty work.