Sociology
Academic Department
Sociology studies how society actually works! We explore why inequalities exist, how groups form and clash, and what makes institutions fail or success. You’ll learn to see hidden patterns in everyday life and develop research skills that employers value.
See the World Through a Sociological Lens
Building Career Skills
Sociology students don’t just study social problems; they build valuable job skills. You’ll learn how to create surveys, study data, do interviews, and write clear reports. These research and thinking skills prepare students for jobs in education, health care, criminal justice, and many other areas.
Racial Diversity
Mission Statement
The UNC Department of Sociology helps students understand how society shapes our lives. We use social theory and research methods to give students the skill to study inequality and how to create real change. Our program also prepares students for graduate school in sociology and related fields.
UNC students collaborate on a sociology class project, gaining hands-on experience.
Diversity Statement
We are committed to inclusion and to fighting inequality based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, ability, religion, sexuality, and other identities that face discrimination in society. As sociologists, we know that inequality comes from social structures, not just individual actions. We work to change those structures through our teaching, research, and community work.
A diverse group of people
Land Acknowledgement
The University of Northern Colorado sits on the territories of the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapahoe, and Lakota peoples. The University also recognizes the 48 tribes that have historical ties to Colorado. UNC values this connection and has deep respect for this land. The University community honors the Elders, past, present, and future, and all those who have cared for this land across generations.
Outside Candeleria Hall
Stay Connected with Our Department
Striving for Excellence Outside the Classroom
Award Recipients of the HSS Honored Scholars Convocation 2025
Congratulations to Marlene Castanon, Christina Renteria-Salazar, Tey Hairston-Chase, Shaun Schultz, and Xen Hesse. that were celebrated at the HSS Honored Scholars Convocation of 2025! We are proud of these students' accomplishments both inside and outside the classroom
Dr. Ford Cleere Legacy Celebration
Professor Kyle Anne Nelson at the Dr. Ford Cleere Legacy Celebration! This event honors De. Cleere, a former UNC sociology professor, and celebrate past alumni.
Welcome to UNC: Dr. Aghil Daghagheleh
Dr. Aghil Daghagheleh has joined the sociology program! He studies and writes about Indigenous people, ethnic groups, protests, how people stand up for their rights in the middle east.
Scholarships & Awards
The Sociology Department has a number of available awards for students. For additional information and to apply, please visit the Office of Financial Aid Website. All the below rewards are presented each spring at the Sociology Awards Reception. Students and their parents are invited.
Erika Lynn Miller studied Family Studies and minored in Women’s studies and Early Childhood Education. The Erika Lynn Miller Scholarships remember Erika Lynn Miller, who was president of the Families Studies Club and died in a car accident while she was a student. Sociology students who study Sociology Phycology, Family, and Life Course can apply.
The scholarship varies from $3000 to $4000 and is awarded to one student each spring.
Requirements are:
- Must be a Sociology major with a Social Psychology, Family, and Life Course concentration.
- Have a minimum of 3.0 GPA.
- 30 college credits completed.
- A desirable minor is Gender Studies.
Applications must be made through the UNC Universal Scholarship Application. Find the application here.
Dr. Ford Cleere was a professor who inspired Walt Francis to join the field of sociology. Both teachers were recognized for helping students learn how society works and how to make it better. Every spring, the $1000 Ford Cleere-Walt Francis Award is given to a college or graduate student who works hard in school and helps their community.
Requirements are:
- Must be a senior sociology major.
- A 3.0 GPA.
- A demonstrated interest in social justice.
Applications must be made through the UNC Universal Scholarship Application. Find the application here.
The Patricia Wilkins-Well Service Award is a $250 scholarship given every spring. It is named after a faculty member who was very involved in the community service and taught a course called Sociology of Community. Sadly, she passed away between semesters in the winter of 2007. To apply for this award, students must be sociology majors who actively participate in service to the Sociology program, the university, or community groups.
Application must be made through the UNC Scholarship Application. Find the application here.
Each spring the sociology department gives awards to up to six (6) junior and senior majors. Faculty members nominate students for these awards. The award committee looks at the faculty’s recommendations and the student’s GPA when making a decision.
From Classroom to Careers
Our graduates work as:
- Policy analysts who study social programs
- Market researchers who study consumer behavior
- Community organizers working for social change
- HR specialists managing workplace diversity
- Data analysts finding patterns in social trends
- Nonprofit program managers
- Graduate students in sociology, law, social work, and public health
Whether you’re studying healthcare gaps, workplace discrimination, or community development, you’ll have tools to understand causes and create solutions based on evidence.
Additional Career Resources
Internship Organizations
The main goal of the sociology Internship is to give students work experience that connects to what they learn in class. It helps them explore future careers, build job skills, and meet professionals who can guide and support them.
- Connections for Independent Living
- Frontier House
- Hearts and Horses
- Meals on Wheels
- Bonell Good Samaritan Community
- Senior Resource Services
- Meals on Wheels
- 13th Judicial District Probation Department Morgan County Justice Center
- Greeley Police Department-Victim Assistance Unit
- Juvenile Assessment Center (J.A.C.), Weld County
- Public Defender’s Office
- Suicide Education & Support Services of Weld County
- Weld County District Attorney
- Weld County Human Services
- Weld County 19th Judicial Probation
- Weld County Sheriff
- Weld County Youth Alternatives
- Food Bank, Weld
- FT. Collins Rescue Mission/Harvest Farm
- Greeley Area Habitat for Humanity
- Lighthouse Mission
- Transitional House
- Bonell Good Samaritan Community
- Ft. Collins Rescue Mission/Harvest Farm
- Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado
- Island Grove Regional Treatment Center
- North Range Behavioral Health
- A Woman’s Place
- American Red Cross – Northern Colorado
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County
- Child Advocacy Resource and Education (C.A.R.E)
- Girl Scouts, Mountain Prairie Council
- The Jacob Center
- Joyful Journeys Community Enrichment
- Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountain
- Rocky Mountain Resource Center – New York Resource Center
- Turning Point
- United Way of Weld County – Promises for Children
- Suicide Education & Support Services of Weld County
- Community Education Outreach
- Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado