The Sociology Program at Palomar College

Sociology is the study of social behavior and human groups. The discipline focuses on social relationships, how those relationships influence people’s behavior and beliefs, and how societies develop and change. The study of sociology can offer insight into the self, the family, and interpersonal relationships and can foster a better understanding of how small groups and larger communities are created and maintained. Sociology can increase your knowledge of the world of politics, business, health, and the law and can help you better understand how societies can offer opportunities but also perpetuate inequalities. Sociology helps us to see and understand the larger social world or “big picture” and our place in it.

Sociology at Palomar College is part of the Behavioral Sciences Department. The Sociology program offers courses to prepare students for upper-division programs in sociology at four-year colleges and universities. In addition, there are two paraprofessional programs for employment in human services culminating in the awarding of a certificate in Psychological and Social Services and/or Alcohol and Other Drugs Studies. For information about these paraprofessional programs, please contact Maria Miller, the director of these programs, at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2188.

A sociology course, Introduction to Women's Studies (SOC 115), is the core course required for the A.A. degree in Women's Studies. For information on the Women's Studies degree, please click here.

There are currently four full-time faculty members and sometimes as many as eight part-time faculty members teaching sociology at Palomar College.

All inquiries about the Sociology Program should be directed to the Sociology Advisor, Kalyna Lesyna, at klesyna@palomar.edu.