…This new social science of sociology would, in his view, isolate laws that govern how people interact. Comte and British philosopher Herbert Spencer, who employed the Frenchman's ideas and terminology, are considered the founders of this discipline. It was first taught as a separate field of study in the United States at the University of Kansas in 1890. The first Department of Sociology in North America was launched at McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1922.

Universities approach the subject from different sociological perspectives. There are two main divisions of sociology, qualitative and quantitative. The former focuses on individuals and how they handle specific life situations. The research may involve actually working with the individuals being studied, in much the same way that an actor shadows a police officer in preparation for her role in a new movie. On the other hand, quantitative sociology is concerned with analyzing statistical data associated with larger issues, such as political campaigns or consumer reaction to new products.

Why do people pick sociology as a field of study and where can they expect to find work? Some are drawn to the field for the same reason doctors and nurses practice medicine, to help people. These sociologists may end up working for the state or federal government, adoption agencies, and even police departments. Others want to solve problems on a larger scale. Such a sociologist may apply for work at a think tank, an organization that focuses on a specific subject to develop an interdisciplinary solution to the problem of, for instance, health care.