Skip to main content
College of Humanities and Social Sciences 
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Faculty and students work on an archaeological dig

Research and Engagement

We study what it means to be human, to live in society, to create and recreate ourselves and our cultures.

Purposeful Research

Our faculty — and our students — dig up tiny sherds of pottery and bones. They put entire societies and cultures under their microscopes. They’re driven to examine and understand what we can learn from the past — and how we can guide the future.

We’ve made our mark in studies of family sociology, ecological change, work and labor markets, migration, nonprofit organizations, and crime, to name just a few.

Our research, which appears in the top journals of our fields, creates new knowledge that informs pressing issues in our communities. It helps solve problems.

Recent Projects

four young adults of different racial backgrounds stand together wearing masks that cover their nose and mouth.

Why the COVID Pandemic Hit Non-White Americans the Hardest

There was a stark difference in the percentage of non-white Americans who died in the first year of the COVID pandemic compared to white Americans. A new book authored and co-edited by professor of sociology Melvin Thomas explains why. 
a Black man and woman sit on either side of a playful Black toddler

How Racism Shapes Black Motherhood in the U.S.

A new study authored by assistant professor of sociology Mia Brantley, underscores how being a Black mother in the U.S. involves navigating aspects of parenthood that are explicitly tied to dealing with racism. 
four young women of different races sit on a bench on a busy street.

How Education, Work and Motherhood Shape Women’s Life ‘Pathways’

The researchers, including associate professor of sociology Anna Manzoni, found seven “pathways” that illustrate the way major life events can have long-term ripple effects for women. 

In the Community

As part of our university’s land-grant mission, we serve North Carolina citizens through our research and engagement activities. Locally, we bring our expertise to projects like the Friends of Oberlin Cemetery, an initiative to preserve a culturally significant African American cemetery in Raleigh.

We also work with industries and governments to solve problems related to food insecurity, climate change, child abuse, poverty and inequality, among other issues.

Our faculty and students also embed themselves abroad to explore the effects that tourism, globalization, political change and other factors have on communities.

Resources for Researchers

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences research office can help faculty navigate projects, locate funding sources and make connections in the community.

Learn more 

Signature Articles

Our faculty have made significant contributions to the breadth and depth of scholarship in their fields. Here are some of our signature articles — those that are indicative of our scholarship and our research interests.

NC State students and employees can access these articles through the NC State University Libraries’ extensive database.