We have a tradition of close collaboration between faculty and students. If you look at recent issues of major sociology journals, you will see that many of our students have co-authored articles with faculty members, as well as amongst themselves.

At IU, you learn sociology not just through formal course work, but also through active participation in faculty research projects. Moreover, our graduate students are prepared well for careers in teaching as well as research. Most will work as teaching assistants for faculty members, as preparation for teaching their own undergraduate courses at IU.

Graduate Student Portal

Our students have won more university-wide teaching awards in recent years than students in any other department at IU, and many alumni have gone on to win teaching awards at other colleges and universities. Most students in the program begin teaching their own courses during their third year of study, under the guidance of experienced faculty mentors.

Our Preparing Future Faculty program includes a three-course sequence in college pedagogy. You have the opportunity to receive fellowships, and you can shadow faculty at liberal arts colleges. You also attend pedagogical workshops and conferences, becoming familiar with those aspects of the profession.

A measure of our success is the placement of our graduates at research universities, teaching-oriented colleges, in applied research settings, and in the business world.

The Indiana University Department of Sociology is committed to following best practices in all workplace and professional relationships that involve differences in power; that is, where one individual is in a position to make decisions which affect the educational opportunities, standing, employment, or career of the other. The document below sets out our current understanding of best practices for advising and mentoring relationships, faculty and student responsibilities, and supervisory relationships involving faculty members, graduate students, or staff. We consider this a “living” document, subject to regular review, with the oversight of the Graduate Affairs and Evaluation Committee.

Read our full Advising and Mentoring Relationships Best Practices