Department of Sociology
Making a difference in people's livesDepartment of Sociology at UCCS
The UCCS Sociology Department studies social life and broader global social structures.
About the Department
The UCCS Sociology department is guided by a vision of social justice. We provide methodological and theoretical frameworks to transcend individual experience to understand social life.
We study the broader social structures that are shaped by diverse social identities, systems of stratification, and culture, all in a global context, to advance equitable and just social change.
A Message from the Chair
Dr. Jeffrey Montez de Oca, Professor and Chair
Sociology helps us to understand and answer questions about the world we live in. Why has Israel invaded Palestine, again? Why are pronouns so important? What is happening to the “traditional family”? Why is there a growing number of billionaires while unhoused populations swell?
The Sociology Department has award-winning faculty in teaching, service, research, and diversity who can help you wrestle with vexing questions. Students will find that our faculty are caring and compassionate and work hard to you achieve your professional and academic goals. Our high-quality in-person and online teaching is reflected in consistently high student evaluations and positive student emails.
Our students receive thorough training in academic skills needed for graduate studies:
- Critical thinking
- Theory building
- Writing
- Social research methods
- Research presentation
Our students also develop professional skills valued in private and public sector jobs:
- Communication
- Leadership
- DEI
- Conflict management
- Teamwork
- Emotional intelligence
- Questionnaire design
- Data analysis
As a result, employers value the well-rounded education of our students.
CU System 2022 President's DEI Award Recipients
In 2022, the Department of Sociology as a whole was selected to receive the 2022 CU President's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. This award recognizes campus units that demonstrate outstanding commitment to and make significant contributions to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the University of Colorado community.