Sociology at North Park University

The City.

Louis Wirth, more than 100 years ago, observed of Chicago that the city was a place of wonder. It was the seat and source of civilization. It was a space that was large, dense and diverse. It was a place to be explored and studied. That same diversity and density moved Jane Addams to create Hull House, and to engage in what we would today call applied sociology.

Welcome to sociology at North Park University! Located in one of the great cities of the world, and at zip code 60625 one of the most diverse settlements in the US, we are ideally suited to explore and apply.

The Swedish, Jewish and German immigrants have moved on. In their place we have vibrant communities of Mexicans, Indians, Filipinos, Palestinians and Cambodians.

Together with ethnic diversity we find diversity of faith communities, lifestyles, educational models, health services and vocational institutions. This is our community –where we live, worship, play, study, heal, work and grow.

Blessed with the city’s diversity at our doorstep a course on urban sociology hosts District 17 police officers to explain Chicago’s Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS). A course on community transports students to Ukrainian Village and Humboldt Park. Area schools host Justice in Education students to experience first-hand classroom diversity in the Chicago Public Schools. And students of globalization visit the Chicago Board of Trade downtown, or travel to the suburbs for a tour of McDonald’s Hamburger University.

Come join us, then, and see what there is to learn in the City of Chicago.