College

Title

Sociology Department

Subtitle

Building Stronger Communities

Intro text

Sociology is the study of how our behavior is impacted by the individuals, groups, and social environment around us. Sociology examines how social inequality impacts people’s life trajectories. Learn how people with different backgrounds — ability, age, class, gender, race and ethnicity, religion, sexuality, and more — have different experiences and overcome different obstacle. In short, sociology empowers you by fostering a deeper understanding of how society works, and the skills needed to interact with diverse people in our globalizing world.

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Intro Text

Majors and Minors in Sociology

Pursuing a degree in sociology at UWEC means having a flexible education that sets you up for success in any career that involves working with people. A major or minor in sociology will enhance your analytical skills for work either in the non-profit or private sectors. Our major has only five required courses allowing you the freedom to pick from a slate of electives to match your interests. The minor offers even more choices with only one required course. Personalize your studies further through research, independent study, internships, and more.

Group of international students eating a meal

Social Diversity

Certificate

Sociology

Major | Minor

Meet the Faculty

Dr. Kathleen A Nybroten

Sociology Department

Professor

Melissa Bonstead-Bruns

Sociology Department

Professor

Dr. Kati Barahona-López

Sociology Department

Latin American and Latinx Studies Program

Assistant Professor

Meet all the Sociology Department faculty

Hallmarks

Caitlin D. sociology research presenter at CERCA 2024

Student-Faculty Collaborative Research

At UW-Eau Claire, every Sociology major participates in student-faculty collaborative research. Beyond the optional one-on-one faculty-mentored research experiences, every student carries out an original survey research project from beginning to end via the Eau Claire Longitudinal Student Survey (ECLSS).

Learn about the ECLSS

Kati Barahona-Lopez of sociology and student research mentee

Advising and Mentoring

Blugolds in the Sociology program have incredible support from the department. Our faculty — including our Department Chair — regularly meet with interested Blugolds one-on-one. We also have several student assistants majoring in Sociology who offer weekly office hours to discuss the major from a student perspective.

When you declare your major, our faculty advisors will share important information about advising, registration, course offerings, service-learning opportunities, jobs, internships, and student engagement events.

Facts List

Just
the
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100% Conduct Research

All sociology majors conduct original research twice during their undergraduate career; many others participate in more than two research projects.

Explore A New Campus

Participate in the National Student Exchange Program and choose from 180 schools, including universities in Canada, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.

Student Opportunities

Honors Program

Sociology Honors Requirements

Two-semester sustained project overseen by department faculty member
Three credits of SOC 496 Research Apprentice, SOC 497 Student Academic Apprentice, SOC 498 Internship, or SOC 499 Independent Study
Project needs to center sociological perspectives (research, pedagogy, or public sociology)
Final Paper
Presentation of project to broader audience (workshop is another option)

Honors is open to sociology majors with a minimum of 36 semester credit hours in the department with a resident and total GPA of 3.5 in Sociology at time of graduation.

To apply, use the eform under Sociology.

Scholarships and Awards

ROBERT AND CLARIBEL ROWAN AWARDS FOR RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENT

Robert (Bob) Rowan was an industrialist for 35 years before he began teaching at the College of Business at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire from 1981 to 1988. Bob served on the board of the UWEC Foundation and on the Eau Claire County Board.

Rowan Award for Early Achievement in Sociology

Eligibility: Faculty nomination for small projects completed by a student in a 100- or 200-level sociology class.

Rowan Award for Advanced Achievement in Sociology

Eligibility: Faculty nomination for large projects in a 300- or 400-level sociology class.

Rowan Award for Best Sociological Theory Paper

Eligibility: Faculty nomination

Rowan Award for Best Sociological Methods Paper

Eligibility: Faculty nomination

ALBERT AND MARIE BLUMENTHAL AWARDS FOR PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT

Albert Blumenthal received his doctorate in sociology at the University of Chicago. His teaching career spanned the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. He wrote several books including Small Town Stuff about his home of Philipsburg, Montana. Marie Blumenthal set up this scholarship to honor Albert.

Blumenthal Award for Public Sociology

This self-nominated award is given annually to a sociology major who demonstrates an exemplary engagement in public scholarship and |or community service.

Blumenthal Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity

This self-nominated award is given annually to a sociology major who demonstrates a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusivity in scholarship, and | or leadership.

You are not limited to the scholarships available through the Sociology Department. UW-Eau Claire has a large list of scholarships available to all students — explore them all on Gold for Blugolds.

Internships

We encourage all of our students to pursue an internship experience that is of interest to them, and as a sociology major, you have the opportunity to find an internship experience that fits your career goals. Whether you are interested in private business, non-profit, social services, or higher education — these real-world internship experiences are great for personal and professional development and industry networking.

Past Blugold Sociology Internships

There are plenty of other internship options for sociology majors than those listed above. The broad study of sociology means the opportunities for internship areas in endless.

Is there something else you are interested in doing for an internship? Talk to our faculty — we want to help you find the perfect fit.

Student Organization

Content Carousel

Blugold Stories

Here You Can

Creating a Better Future for All

From helpful faculty to accessible resources for those hard of hearing, Jaden feels she received the best possible education at UWEC. Now, Jaden has a full scholarship to study higher education leadership and policy in graduate school. With her sociology major as a foundation, Jaden is looking forward to representing and helping students like her in the future.

Here You Can

Only at Eau Claire

Being a first-generation college student, I was really intimidated at first. What I found were some of the most supportive people I had ever met: my sociology professors. They are the ones who made me feel worthy, intelligent, and brave enough to pursue my dreams.

Stephanie Martin

Sociology

Only at Eau Claire

Academic Excellence

Become a Voice for the Voiceless

UW-Eau Claire's sociology degree can help you find a career path you love. Faculty and advisors act as mentors, introducing you to new areas of study and job opportunities. This unwavering support is what led Alyson Sundby to discover a career path she had never considered: public health.

Academic Excellence

Do Big Things

UW-Eau Claire’s new Sustainability and Climate Action Certificate program helping meet student interest, global need

UW-Eau Claire’s 15-credit Sustainability and Climate Action Certificate program was offered for the first time this fall. Seven Blugolds are currently enrolled in the certificate program, a number faculty expect will grow quickly in the coming months.

Do Big Things

Here You Can

Creating her own sustainability studies degree plan: Lauren Gaffron

When Lauren Gaffron didn't see a sustainability degree plan to suit her interests at UW-Eau Claire, she created her own through the liberal studies program.

Here You Can

Only at Eau Claire

Being a first-generation college student, I was really intimidated at first. What I found were some of the most supportive people I had ever met: my sociology professors. They are the ones who made me feel worthy, intelligent, and brave enough to pursue my dreams.

Stephanie Martin

Sociology

Only at Eau Claire

Events List

Most sociology majors and minors have a strong interest in studying specific areas of our social world such as families and children, gender, social inequality, social media, health, education, environmental concerns, deviance, and many others. Students will gain a solid foundation within sociology and through their many learning opportunities ranging from courses to internships will apply their sociological perspective to their specific areas of interest. As Sociology examines many different areas of social and human phenomena, Sociology pairs well with many majors, minors, and certificates.

Sociology Courses Contribute to These Programs at UWEC:

Family Studies
Criminal Justice
Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Social Work
Gerontology
Child Welfare
Latin American and Latinx Studies
Middle Eastern Studies
Public Health and Environmental Studies
Transnational Asian Studies

Mission

Our students learn to analyze social interactions and institutions; and to engage with questions of social justice within and beyond the Eau Claire community. Their training in sociological theory and research methods enables them to assess social problems; and to formulate equitable and inclusive policies in communities marked by systems of privilege and power.

Vision

We are a community of scholars who embrace the University mission through high quality teaching, scholarship, and service activities. We support the Wisconsin idea through applying our sociological knowledge to the citizens of Wisconsin. Our scholarship analyzes local, state, national, and global social change.