The graduate program in the Department of Sociology at Kent State University offers a specialization in medical sociology and sociology of mental health. Within those broad areas, students and faculty study a range of topics:

· the stress process
· neighborhoods and health
· doctor-patient interaction   · identities and health
· aging
· health disparities   · care giving and caregivers
· epidemiology
· substance use

The department offers numerous courses on health and mental health, including the Sociology of Healthcare, Sociology of Medicine, Epidemiologic Methods in Health Research, Sociology of Mental Health & Mental Disorders, and Social Gerontology.

The core faculty for these specializations include: Richard E. Adams, Timothy Gallagher, Kristen Marcussen, Tim Owens, Manacy Pai, Lauren Porter, Susan Roxburgh, and Clare Stacey. Through our joint Ph.D. program with the University of Akron, graduate students can also work with Cheryl Elman, Adrianne M. French, Brian Pendleton, Baffour Takyi, Mark Tausig, and Joann Xi.