Courses within this cluster provide students an in-depth knowledge of the challenges and issues of these relevant and inter-related fields.<br><br>Sociology is especially relevant for the analysis of the causes and consequences of social change in a global landscape. We are therefore convinced that students of sociology are in a special position to help to improve the quality of human life. Thus, the mission of the Sociology Program at the University of Pittsburgh is to provide our students with the skills necessary to become effective in this endeavor. We believe that the goals of sociology, (originally known as the science of society), are strongly consistent with the objectives of the liberal-arts tradition. The sociological lens provides a powerful analytical tool for explaining, predicting, and understanding human behavior. Sociological insights can be applied to virtually every type of group setting, ranging from families, marriages, and small groups to institutions, organizations, and nations.