Immediately after earning his doctorate, Bogardus joined the faculty of the University of Southern California as a professor of sociology, helping to establish an independent sociology department there in 1915. He also developed a sociological principle known as the Bogardus Social Distance Scale.
”He conducted pioneer studies of Mexican immigration [to the United States], labor, education and settlement patterns in the Southwest” in the early 20th century.[4]
In addition to his work in the field, Bogardus also engaged in many activities designed to strengthen the discipline of sociology through social organizations. In 1920, he founded Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society and was national president of that organization from 1924–1925, 1926–1927, and 1946–1947. In 1929, he co-founded the Pacific Sociological Association. In 1931, he served as president of the American Sociological Society. He is one of the honorees of the California Social Work Hall of Distinction.
During his lengthy academic career, Bogardus authored 24 books and over 250 articles of varying lengths. His books are as follows (multiple dates indicate various editions):
Introduction to the Social Sciences, 1913, 1922
Introduction to Sociology, 1913, 1927, 1931, 1949
Essentials of Social Psychology, 1917, 1923
A History of Social Thought, 1922,1929
The New Social Research, 1923, 1927
Fundamentals of Social Psychology, 1924, 1941
Social Problems and Social Processes, edited, 1933
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Pitt, Leonard; Pitt, Dale (1997). Los Angeles A to Z: An Encyclopedia of the City and County. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press. p. 52. ISBN0-520-20274-0.
