Completion of this certificate provides evidence of specialized study in diversity and inequality issues, which can be beneficial for enhancing future career options and interests and is marketable to a wide variety of employers and educational institutions, including social work, graduate and professional schools, community action organizations, and social services. Participation in the certification program also provides students with opportunities for networking and mentoring. 

For more information contact the Certificate Coordinator, Abby Ferber. 

The Sociology Department has a strong emphasis on diversity and inequality issues, highlighting race and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class. For sociology majors, minors, and other students wishing to concentrate in these areas, we offer a certificate of specialization.

General Requirements:

• Minimum requirement for completion: four courses from four different categories, for a total of 12 credit hours.
• A minimum grade of 3.3 is required for each course applied toward the certificate.
• At least three courses must be upper division (3000+ level) and in Sociology. Independent studies may not be used to earn this certificate.
• Up to 3 Sociology transfer credits may be applied to the certificate.

Complete one course each from the four different categories below, for a total of four courses. Three of the four courses must be upper-level courses.

Race and Ethnicity:

• SOC 2200 - Introduction to Racial and Ethnic Groups
• SOC 3210 - American Minority Communities
• SOC 3230 - Chicano/a Communities
• SOC 3240 - African American Communities
• SOC 3280 - Asian American Communities
• SOC 3290 - Perspectives on Race and Ethnic Relations
• SOC 3320 - African American Families
• SOC 4480 - Racial Storytelling: Montgomery Travel Course
• SOC 4590 - Youth Gangs

Gender:

• SOC 3110 - Sex, Society & You: A Sociology of Human Sexuality
• SOC 3610 - Gendered Images
• SOC 4040 - Sociology of Gender and Sexuality
• SOC 4080 - Men and Masculinities
• SOC 4700 - Global Feminisms *

*NOTE: SOC 4700 may be taken to fulfill either the Gender or Global requirement.

Disability:

• SOC 4120 - Body, Power, and Culture
• SOC 4230 - Foundations of Disability Studies
• SOC 4240 - Sociology of Dis/Ability
• SOC 4650 - Sociology of Mental Illness

Intersectionality:

• SOC 3250 - Power, Privilege, and Social Difference
• SOC 4300 - Sociology of Sport
• SOC 4470 - Travel Course: Intersections of Privilege
• SOC 4530 - Advanced Privilege Studies

Class:

• SOC 4200 - Sociology of Poverty
• SOC 4210 - Social Services and Welfare Reform
• SOC 4310 - Class, Stratification, and Power
   

Global:

• SOC 2220 - Communities in a Global Environment
• SOC 3270 - Global Indigenous Issues
• SOC 4380 - Globalization and Development
• SOC 4700 - Global Feminisms *
• SOC 4780 - Global Migration

*NOTE: SOC 4700 may be taken to fulfill either the Gender or Global requirement.

Additional special topic courses may be offered that can be counted toward the certificate. These courses must be approved in advance by the Certificate Coordinator or the Sociology Department chair.

For details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Once admitted to UCCS, students choosing to pursue a certificate must submit a Certificate Declaration Form.

After completing the program requirements, the student must submit the Certificate Completion Form with all supporting documents uploaded where indicated on the form. Students planning to pursue multiple certificates will need to submit separate declaration and completion forms for each certificate.

Students wishing to enroll in a certificate program must turn in an application to the Certificate Coordinator, ideally when they declare their major.

Students are strongly encouraged to enroll by their junior year to ensure that certificate requirements are met.

Students that are not sociology majors or minors must complete three (3) credit hours of additional lower-division sociology credit before enrolling in the certificate program.

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions:

• Tuition Rate
• Cost of Tuition Estimator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships