Family

Sociology of the Family is a broad area of inquiry that overlaps with several other sub-areas in the discipline, including demography, social stratification, education, criminology, and social psychology. Faculty and graduate student research at Washington State University addresses a variety of family topics. Much of our research considers different aspects of the family life course including adolescent parenthood, the transition to marriage, and the entry into other adult family roles. We examine issues related to the intersection of family with race/ethnicity, class, and gender inequality. We also study how the family as a social institution relates to other institutions, such as work, education, policy/politics and the law. The faculty is committed to excellence in graduate-level training. This is achieved through course work, collaboration, and student involvement in the ongoing research of faculty members.