Journal profile · SOCIOLOGY
AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST
ISSN 0003-1232 · eISSN 1936-4784 · Springer Nature · 4 issues per year
AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST: CAS Zone 3 · Sociology (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 0.9 (journal website); hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,290; median 51 days to acceptance (36 articles, last 24 months); 31 articles in 2025; indexed in ESCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST is published by Springer Nature and is in Zone 3 of Sociology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice, Social and Cultural Dynamics and Innovative Teaching Methodologies in Social Sciences, together about 59.4% of its articles. Its main subfields are Sociology and Political Science. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The American Sociologist publishes papers, comments, and other writings on topics of professional and disciplinary concern to sociologists. The editors seek papers that examine the intellectual, practical, and ethical issues that affect the work, careers, and perspectives of sociologists. In addition, the editors especially encourage research and reporting on the ways in which sociological knowledge and skill relate to issues of broad public concern, past, present, and future. Topics might include: the uses of sociology in academic and nonacademic settings; the training, placement, and career paths of sociologist; structural and ideological dimensions that affect the development of new perspectives in the discipline; the ethics of research, teaching, and practice; the application of sociological knowledge and methods in practical problems, the historical and interdisciplinary roots of sociological knowledge; and the contribution of sociologists to professional and public issues.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): SOCIOLOGY
Editor-in-chief Lawrence T. NicholsPublisher website
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 25, Canada 6, Hong Kong, China 2, United Kingdom 2, Italy 2 (46 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Contemporary Sociological Theory and PracticeSocial Sciences34.1%
- Social and Cultural DynamicsSocial Sciences19%
- Innovative Teaching Methodologies in Social SciencesSocial Sciences6.3%
- Management and Organizational StudiesBusiness, Management and Accounting4.2%
- Weber, Simmel, Sociological TheorySocial Sciences3.7%
- Critical Realism in SociologySocial Sciences3.4%
- Qualitative Research Methods and EthicsSocial Sciences3.2%
- Sociology and Norbert EliasSocial Sciences2.2%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Sociology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Sociology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Sociology | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Sociology Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Sociology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Sociology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
Database indexing
ESCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSSPublisher website
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 0.9Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2.4LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.48LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.08LetPub ·
- h-index
- 51OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 375OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 0.94OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 11.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 40%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 31LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 173,700Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,360 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 31 | 13 | 4 |
| 2025 | 31 | 17 | 27 |
| 2024 | 34 | 17 | 59 |
| 2023 | 49 | 24 | 158 |
| 2022 | 35 | 17 | 248 |
| 2021 | 49 | 22 | 232 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
51 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 32 days – 69 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 21 days (66 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 76 days
- Sample
- 36 articles with submission and acceptance dates (68 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Submission to first decision
- 12 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,290 / EUR 2,690 / GBP 2,390 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- APA
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted1
- editorialDouble-blind peer review This journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure. This means that the author will remain anonymous to the reviewers throughout p…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Generative AI Images
LLMs do not satisfy authorship criteria; LLM use must be documented in the Methods section; AI-assisted copy editing need not be declared. Model summary
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
Manuscripts must be original, not under consideration elsewhere, and approved by all co-authors and responsible authorities. Model summary
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Competing Interests
Authors are requested to disclose interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Interests within the last 3 years of beginning the work (conducting the research and preparing the work for submission) should be reported. Interests outside the 3-year time frame must be disclosed if they could reasonably be perceived as influencing the submitted work. Disclo…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Data, materials, software, and code must support published claims and comply with field standards. Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Permission from copyright owners required for previously published figures, tables, or text passages. Model summary
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in The American Sociologist, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Double-blind peer review
Double-blind peer review; authors must anonymize manuscripts and submit a separate title page. Model summary
This journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure. This means that the author will remain anonymous to the reviewers throughout peer review. It is the responsibility of the author to anonymize the manuscript and any associated materials. Author names, affiliations and any other potentially identifying information should be removed from the manuscript text and any accompanying files (such as …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints
Editable source files required at every submission and revision; incomplete sets not considered for review. Model summary
Please ensure you provide all relevant editable source files at every submission and revision. Failing to submit a complete set of editable source files will result in your article not being considered for review.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Frequency
- 4 issues per year
- ISSN
- 0003-1232
- Electronic ISSN
- 1936-4784
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 57, Issue 3 (September 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST
What CAS zone is AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST is in Zone 3 of Sociology, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Sociology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Sociology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST?
The journal's website gives an impact factor of 0.9 (2025); this is the journal's own figure, as LetPub lists none for it; CiteScore 2.4, h-index 51.
How long does peer review take at AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST?
Based on the dates recorded on 36 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 51 days (interquartile range 32–69 days). Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: APA; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST based?
Of the 46 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (25), Canada (6) and Hong Kong, China (2). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST is indexed in ESCI and Scopus.
Is AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST open access, and what is the APC?
AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,290.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-30). Last updated: .