SOCIOLOGY
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
In an increasingly diverse and global society, understanding human behavior — and how we interact with each other and the world around us — is a valuable asset in nearly any career path.
Studying sociology builds writing, research, communication and critical thinking skills, and it also develops cultural competency, emotional intelligence and a keen awareness of challenges facing society today.
The research, statistics, and quantitative and qualitative analysis skills you gain in a sociology program are valuable in many career paths, including the rapidly growing data science field. These skills are also solid preparation for graduate study in any social science field.
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
100% of recent graduating sociology students at UW-Whitewater were employed or pursuing an advanced degree after graduation. (2020-21 research survey)
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that demand for sociologists, market research analysts and statisticians will grow faster than the average occupation through 2028.
Why major in Sociology at UW-Whitewater?
As a sociology major at UW-Whitewater, you have the option to choose a concentration area. The global comparative studies emphasis explores and compares social systems and processes between cultures and across borders. Our robust sociology honors track prepares you for the rigors of graduate school with advanced theory and research- and writing-intensive courses.
You can further your knowledge and career opportunities by adding on a minor, either from our department or another discipline.
Other highlights of studying within UW-Whitewater’s Department of Sociology, Criminology and Anthropology include:
- Annual student awards banquets
- Career nights featuring alumni guest speakers
- Honor society induction ceremonies
- Service-learning opportunities
- Scholarships and research grants
- Chance to attend regional and national sociology conferences
- Courses taught by faculty members, not graduate assistants
What our Sociology students do
Participate in undergraduate research
Gain real-world experience in professional settings during internships
Explore other cultures and societies through travel study
Hands-on learning experiences
As you pursue your degree in sociology at UW-Whitewater, you will gain hands-on experience in many ways:
Internships
Our sociology majors intern with marketing firms, human resources departments, public health agencies, social services and other types of organizations.
Undergraduate Research
As a major in sociology, you can hone your writing, research and analytical skills through our nationally respected Undergraduate Research Program. Our students pursue original research ( or serve as assistants for faculty projects) on topics such as:
- Victorian homosexual activism
- Japanese cultural marriage lags during booms and busts
- Alternative/sustainable lifestyle communities
- Racial inequalities in education
- School bullying
Cross-cultural experiences
Experiencing another culture is an excellent way to further your understanding of human behavior. Among the programs offered by UW-Whitewater’s Global Experiences office, you’ll find many that will appeal to sociology majors and minors.
Travel study
Take a semester-long course that culminates in a faculty-led international trip with your classmates. Courses and locations vary by semester, but our students have traveled to Scotland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Northern Ireland and England.
Study and intern abroad
Spend a year, semester or summer abroad learning about humans and society in destinations such as Quito, Ecuador; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Gold Coast, Australia; Prague, Czech Republic; Jyvaskyla, Finland; Berlin, Germany; Bangalore, India; Dublin, Ireland; and Rome, Italy.
Campus and community involvement
Our department is home to student organizations and honor societies such as:
- Student Anthropology and Archaeology Society
- UWW Empower!
- Alpha Kappa Delta (sociology honor society)
What our graduates do
Teachers and professors
Human resources and marketing professionals
Researchers and analysts
Sociology jobs: What can you do with a Sociology degree?
Jobs in sociology — and positions that take advantage of the transferable skills learned in a sociology bachelor's degree program — can be found in a range of industries, such as:
- Consumer research/data science
- Health and human services
- Higher education administration/admissions
- Human resources/training
- Law enforcement, corrections and probation/parole
- Marketing/public relations
- Publishing/journalism/media
- Real estate
- Teaching social studies and related subjects in secondary school
A few job titles and locations of our alumni include:
- Assistant strength and conditioning coach, University of South Dakota
- Brand relationship manager, Number Project
- Case manager/transition specialist, Community Connections, Inc.
- Community school coordinator, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
- Coordinator, Asian American & Pacific Islander Student Involvement and Advocacy, University of Maryland
- Human resources director, D&H Distribution
- Marketing specialist, Peoplelink Group
- Motivational interviewing coach, Wisconsin Community Services
- Premier lending specialist, Wells Fargo
- Public relations officer, Ho-Chunk Nation
- Residence life and education coordinator, University of Central Florida
- Safety and compliance specialist, The QTI Group
- Senior talent acquisition specialist, Precision for Value
- Talent development partner/vice president, EDGE Business Management Consulting
- Technical recruiter, TEKsystems
- Vice president/broker/recruiter, New Home Sales division of JWilliams Staffing
Nyjeria West, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, earned a B.A. in sociology and was accepted to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater pursuing a Master of Science in Education in Higher Education Leadership in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
Collin Price, who earned a B.A. in sociology, was named one of Wisconsin’s 32 Most Influential Native American Leaders by Madison 365. Price is owner of Heeną Development, a Milwaukee-based real estate development firm focused on multifamily and hospitality spaces, and B Team Strategy, a consulting firm that helps connect Indigenous tribes with corporate partners.
Graduate and professional school
Many UW-Whitewater sociology majors pursue graduate degrees in sociology and related social science disciplines at schools such as:
- UW-Whitewater
- Ball State University
- Cardinal Stritch University
- Concordia University-Wisconsin
- George Mason University
- Loyola University Chicago
- Marquette University
- Northern Illinois University
- Oregon State University
- San Diego State University
- Syracuse University
- Tulane University
- University of Michigan Kalamazoo
- University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School
- UW-Madison
- UW-Milwaukee
Our faculty
Sociology faculty members are engaged in research, publication and service in their areas of expertise. You’ll find a broad range of teaching and research interests, including:
- Connection between the primitive brain and modern society
- Decision-making
- Feminist theory
- Memory
- Work and leisure
Want to learn more about earning a Sociology degree?
262-472-1133 | sociology@uww.edu
UW-Whitewater offers the following undergraduate sociology degrees and programs:
- Bachelor of Arts — Sociology | 4-year plan [PDF]
- Bachelor of Science — Sociology | 4-year plan [PDF]
Teaching licensure:
Minors:
Certificates:
In addition to UW-Whitewater’s general education requirements, as a sociology major, you’ll take a set of core and foundational courses, such as:
- Principles of Sociology
- Social Theory: Classical and Contemporary Perspectives
- Methods of Social Research
- Basic Social Statistics
You’ll also have a vast selection of electives and advanced courses available to you, based on your personal and professional interests, such as:
- Sociology of Money
- Sociology of Health and Illness
- Social Psychology
- Race, Ethnicity and Film
- Sociology of Gender
- Culture, Medicine and Health
- Sociology of Disability
- Restorative Justice
- Sociology of Law
- Contemporary Japanese Society
- Environmental Sociology
An approved minor is also required.
Students pursuing the BSE will also complete the required education courses and teaching placements to fulfill licensing requirements.
To apply, you’ll complete the UW-Whitewater standard application for admission and indicate your interest in a sociology major.
