Bachelor in Sociology (Bachelor's)

At Reed College, tuition is Tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year is $61,500 per year..

This programme is designed for undergraduate students interested in understanding social structures and human behavior through research. Students study sociological theory, historical patterns, and contemporary social issues using methods like statistical analysis and ethnographic research. They work closely with faculty in small, discussion-based classes without graduate teaching assistants. The programme emphasizes independent research through a senior thesis project guided by a faculty mentor.

Focus areas include Economic and organizational sociology, Gender, race, and ethnic studies, Network theories of social structure, Political sociology, Science, knowledge, and technology, Sociology of culture.

The programme requires a total of 36 credits, including foundational courses, major-specific classes, research methods, and a senior thesis. Students complete a junior qualifying examination and write an independent senior thesis in their final year.

Graduates pursue careers in academia, public policy, research, communications, and management, including roles such as research consultant, project manager, and director of communications.

Applicants must submit a completed application, high school transcripts, standardized test scores if required, and a personal statement. Admission is competitive and based on academic record and demonstrated interest in social sciences.

The programme totals about 36 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, four-year programme. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 27% of applicants.

Reed's liberal arts tradition has grown around broad study, close faculty mentorship, and sustained inquiry. Students share Humanities 110, a signature program examining how people in different historical contexts have addressed fundamental questions about existence, then study deeply in a major. Research begins early: undergraduates collaborate with faculty, work in labs, participate in archaeological fieldwork, conduct canopy research, or volunteer in the nuclear reactor. Summer fellowships and grants can support campus projects, travel, and research abroad. In the final year, every student undertakes a senior thesis, working with a faculty adviser on experiments, primary-source research, or another major-based project that remains in Reed's Thesis Tower.

The Portland campus combines green open space with places for study and community. Reed Canyon is a 28-acre watershed with a lake, trees, and the Blue Bridge, while lawns and Old Dorm Block sit against views of the Portland skyline. Downtown Portland is a short bike ride away, and students can plan trips to the college's ski cabin on Mount Hood. International applicants apply as a specific applicant type through the Common Application or Coalition for College Application and complete a Reed writing supplement. Reed does not use SAT or ACT results in admission review. TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo is strongly encouraged for applicants who do not speak English at home or whose school teaches in another language; international interviews are by invitation only. Admitted international students receive financial aid meeting 100 percent of demonstrated need for all four years.