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

For more information contact the Certificate Coordinator, Abby Ferber. 

Completion of the certificate provides evidence of specialized study, which can be beneficial for enhancing future career options and interests. The certificate is useful for students planning careers in the private sector and educational institutions, including social work, graduate and professional schools, community action organizations, and social services.

General Requirements:

1. Minimum requirement for completion: four courses, for a total of twelve credits, with one course each from your choice of four of the six categories listed below.
2. A minimum grade of 3.3 is required for each course applied toward the certificate. 
3. All courses must be at the 5000 level or above in Sociology; independent studies may not be used to earn this certificate.
4. Additional sociology courses may count towards the certificate. To determine if other courses may count please meet with the Graduate Director and bring a copy of the course syllabus.
5. Up to three (Graduate Sociology) transfer credit hours may be applied to the certificate from courses approved by the certificate coordinator.
6. To complete the certificate program, students are required to submit a transcript and a five-page self statement, evaluating changes in their perceptions of diversity issues as a result of program participation and implications for future scholarly and professional work.

Course Requirements:

Complete one course each from your choice of four of the following categories (12 credit hours total):

Gender

• SOC 5040 - Sociology of Gender and Sexuality

Disability

• SOC 5230 - Foundations of Disability Studies
• SOC 5240 - Sociology of Dis/Ability

Class

• SOC 5310 - Class, Stratification and Power
• SOC 5430 - Food, Health, and Inequality
• SOC 5600 - Critical Analysis of Capitalism
• SOC 5680 - Inequality USA

Race/Ethnicity

• SOC 5110 - Sociology of Homelessness
• SOC 5440 - Social Movements
• SOC 5480 - Racial Storytelling - Montgomery Travel Course
• SOC 5830 - Race and Ethnic Relations
• SOC 5950 - Inequality, Crime, and Justice
• SOC 5960 - Juvenile Delinquency

Intersectionality

• SOC 5300 - Sociology of Sport
• SOC 5470 - Travel Course: Intersections of Privilege
• SOC 5580 - Inclusive Teaching
• SOC 5640 - Power and Privilege

Global

• SOC 5380 - Globalization and Development
• SOC 5450 - Global Field Experience in Sociology
• SOC 5780 - Global Migration

SOC 5010 - Seminar: Special Topics in Sociology may be used to fulfill one course requirement when offered as any of the following topics: Global Migration; Sex Trafficking; Social Movements; Bodies, Genders, Sexualities. Additional topics may be offered that must be approved in advance by the certificate coordinator.

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.