The School of Sociology was established in July, 2005. The former deans were Prof. Yue Guoan and Prof. Yingxing. The current dean is Prof. Zhao Bingxiang. There are four teaching and research entities: Department of Sociology, Department of Psychology, Department of Social Work and Policies, and the laboratories. During the decade-long rapid development, the School of Sociology has encompassed the whole spectrum of undergraduate education, graduate education and postgraduate education, and has become the indispensable part of CUPL on its striving towards world-famous prestigious law school.

Within the School of Sociology, there are: three undergraduate majors: Sociology, Applied Psychology and Social Work; two first-class graduate education programs: sociology and psychology; one second-class postgraduate education program: political sociology, an inter-disciplinary postgraduate program; as well as the graduate program of social work.

Sociology used to be one of the three pillar disciplines of Beijing College of Political Sciences and Law, the precursor of China University of Political Sciences and Law. In 1952, Beijing College of Political Sciences and Law was founded upon the combination of three pillar disciplines of law, politics and sociology from Peking University, Tsinghua University, Yenching University and FuJen University. Although the discipline of sociology was abolished nation-wide back then, Mr. Yan Jingyao and Ms. Lei Jieqiong, two eminent sociologists, still took up long-term teaching post in Beijing College of Political Sciences and Law, thus having contributed immensely to the preservation of the sparks of sociology. In 1980s, Mr. Wang Kang, the famous sociologist, was one of the significant assistants of Mr. Fei Xiaotong in re-building the sociology discipline, and used to hold important posts in China Association of Sociology. Mr. Wang Kang devoted his later life to teaching in China University of Political Sciences and Law, and China University of Political Sciences and Law was also among the first few universities in teaching sociology after the rebuilding of sociology in 1980s. Prof. Ying Xing, the famous sociologist, used to teach in the School of Sociology of CUPL from 2002 to 2018. Ever since its establishment in 2001, the discipline of sociology has paid meticulous attention to the choice of teaching faculty, and the development of majors with special characteristics. After eight years of persistent efforts, the major of sociology was classified as the nation-level major with special characteristics by the Ministry of Education in 2009. In 2019, the major of sociology was selected as among the national first-class undergraduate majors.

China University of Political Sciences and Law used to be the pioneer university in carrying out the research into criminal psychology and forensic psychology, and now still maintains its frontier research in this field. The academic team headed by Prof. Luo Dahua, one of the major path-breaking figures in contemporary criminal psychology research field, laid the foundation for the development of the discipline of psychology in School of Sociology, CUPL. In 1981, the teaching and research team devoted to exploration of criminal psychology was established, headed by Luo Dahua and affiliated to the T&R section of criminal investigation. In 1983, the T&R section of criminal psychology was established, the first one across the country. The Forensic Psychology Committee of Chinese Psychological Society was affiliated to CUPL ever since its establishment in 1983, whose current chairman is Prof. Ma Ai from School of Sociology. Prof. Yang Bo is the chairman of Forensic Psychology Committee affiliated to Chinese Social Psychology Society. In 2004, the application for first-class graduate program for psychology major was approved and in the same year, the postgraduate program in criminal psychology also went underway. In 2006, the undergraduate major of applied psychology was established. In a backward glance, after three decades of persistent efforts, the Department of Psychology features the complete talent cultivation system ranging from undergraduate to postgraduate, and the most comprehensive discipline of forensic psychology. Founded upon the disciplines with its prominent characteristics, and competent teaching faculty, the Department of Psychology has gained rapid development and the “small yet strong, exceptional and excellent” development pattern has come into being.

With the ever-increasing national attention paid to the cultivation of talents in social work in the new century, the teaching and research into social work in CUPL also gained rapid development. In 2012, the undergraduate program of social work was re-built and Master of Social Work (MSW) program was also approved in 2014. Upon the basis of two pillar disciplines---sociology and applied psychology, and with the help of other disciplines such as law and public policies, the Department of Social Work and Policies is oriented towards the cultivation of social work talents for the judicial system, social services and social governance. The core practical abilities to be cultivated include: conflict mediation, correction work, assistance in drug prohibition and rehabilitation, rescue of the vulnerable groups and protection of legal rights.

The School of Sociology boasts excellent teaching faculty with immense potentials. There are currently thirty-five teachers , including nine professors and sixteen assistant professors. All the teachers are doctors, 19 with overseas academic background. The teaching awards are also prominent, with individual teachers, particular course or particular textbook being granted their well-deserved titles.

Despite its comparatively small scale, the School of Sociology has made conspicuous achievements in various research fields of sociology and applied psychology, such as historical sociology, political sociology, forensic psychology, forensic sociology, criminal psychology, judicial social work, and etc. Among these specific research fields, historical sociology, political sociology, and forensic psychology are forerunners across the country. Dating from the establishment of School of Sociology, the teachers have published dozens of academic articles in the core national academic journals, such as Social Sciences in China, Science China, Sociological Studies, Chinese Journal of Law, Acta Psychologica Sinica, and etc, dozens of academic papers in overseas SSCI journals, as well as dozens of academic monographs. The teachers from School of Sociology are also responsible for dozens of important projects supported by the nation or municipal government. Their research fruits have been recognized and awarded by the Ministry of Education, the municipal government, and the international social work journal.

The School of Sociology is oriented towards two main goals. On the one hand, the dual disciplines of sociology and psychology shall become significant helpers for the teaching and research of law, hence an integral and indispensable propeller for the university’s strategic goal towards prestigious law school. On the other hand, the three majors of sociology, applied psychology and social work shall model on the “small yet strong, exceptional and excellent” pattern, in order to maintain its prior advantages and make new achievements.

Contact address: School of Sociology, China University of Political Sciences and Law, NO. 27, FuXue Road, ChangPing District, Beijing

Post code: 102249

Fax: 010—58909379