Sociologists, according to Mills, were in the unique position among social scientists of cultivating a sociological imagination that could grasp that individuals' actions, behaviors, histories, and seemingly "personal" troubles could only be understood as effects of social organization: as public issues. Mills' hope was that through understanding the?actual?dynamics that shape our lives - individually and collectively - we would also develop the tools and strategies to effect positive social change.

Sociology at Whittier embraces this Millsian tradition and we believe that sociology, at its best, is not merely an academic pursuit, but rather a daily practice, a "thing lived": a hopeful act of discovery and transformation.

With greater Los Angeles as our muse, we invite you to re-envision your social world, and to act in and upon it.