Environmental Sociology

Concentration

water     social justice     climate change     global change

natural resources     social inequalities 

politics & governance     green criminology     food justice

agricultural systems     global change     society

Why study Environmental Sociology?

Opportunities to:

Learn how to address contemporary issues at multiple scales – from individuals, to communities, to nations.

Develop tools to better understand the sources of issues and create systems-based solutions to vital social and environmental problems.

Gain a strong theoretical foundation in sociology, research methods, data collection, and analysis. These are all essential skills for a wide variety of careers associated with environment, natural resources, policy, justice, or advocacy – as well as strong preparation for graduate or law school. 

Connect with alumni & faculty through our unique mentoring program that models how to transfer students’ sociological skill sets to meaningful employment after graduation. 

Course Highlights:

Our faculty teach and conduct research & outreach in areas like environmental inequalities, natural resource conservation, and food justice. These are some of our students' favorite courses:

SOC 220 : Environment, Food, Social Justice

SOC 320 : Population-Natural Resources & Environment

SOC 322 : Intro to Environmental Justice

SOC 324 : Food Justice

SOC 359 : Green Criminology

SOC 360 : Political Sociology

SOC 364 : Food, Agriculture & Global Society

SOC 460 : Society and Environment

SOC 461 : Water & Social Justice

SOC 463 : Sociology of Disaster

SOC 487 : Internship

Our 15-credit Certificate in Applied Social Research is a great addition to any major. Help create new pathways for social change with as you learn to identify, gather, interpret, and organize information about today’s pressing social justice issues. Get hands-on training for making evidence-driven arguments. Acquire concrete skills and research tools that employers look for on your resume!

Explore a diverse array of topics such as dynamics of social inequalities, race, gender, capitalism, environmental justice, deviance, and the criminal justice system.

Examine crime, victimization, and justice to understand the social aspects and impacts of crime—especially as they relate to social inequalities—as well as the role of research in creating effective policy

Develop tools to better understand how individuals, communities, and nations affect natural resources, and create systems-based solutions to vital social and environmental problems.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

Thank you for your interest! We encourage you to visit campus, talk with Sociology faculty and staff, and sit in on a class or two.

Thinking about majoring in Sociology, but want more information?

Discover Sociology's Academic Program

CURRENT STUDENTS

Make an appointment with your ASC by calling 970-491-3117 or stopping by the Academic Support Center in Hartshorn
Email Sara Winter, Sociology's Academic Coordinator, or call Sociology's Main Office at 970-491-6044
Find answers and resources on the Academic Success Center's website