Department of Sociology and Social Work
Sociology Degree
Major
START ON YOUR CAREER PATH WITH A SOCIOLOGY DEGREE
Sociology is the scientific study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies and how people interact within these contexts. Potential career paths include community and human service, law enforcement and criminal justice, public service, teaching, general business and management. Students majoring in sociology are assigned a sociology adviser at the beginning of their junior year.
Why Study Sociology at UW-Stevens Point?
Sociology is a highly versatile degree, and at UWSP, we focus on the skills and perspectives graduates need in order to improve organizations, communities, and society. Entry-level positions for sociology degree majors are common in the public sector and can involve case work, program planning, development and evaluation, agency-based or outreach services, survey research, and statistical analysis.
Career Opportunities
Students are encouraged to explore career options throughout their time at UWSP to understand the abundance of options available with a degree in sociology. Graduates pursue careers in the private sector as well as advanced degrees in graduate school.
Internship Program
Internships are a type of experiential learning that provide students with both observational and hands-on knowledge to enhance their academic endeavors and increase their ability to perform professionally. The UW-Stevens Point Department of Sociology and Social Work has partnerships with community agencies across the region and state. Students acquire transformative knowledge to succeed in their careers by completing our Applied Sociology Practicum.
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WHAT TO EXPECT
A sociology degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is excellent as a liberal arts foundation for other specialties such as advertising, business, counseling, engineering, journalism, medicine, planning, public affairs, religion and social services.
Completing an internship as your final undergraduate experience allows for a natural bridge into the professional world and/or graduate school. It also allows you to have a strong foundation of coursework completed before being out in the field.
Students are eligible for application into field when they meet the following criteria:
1. Attainment of senior standing by the time internship is anticipated to start
2. Attainment of cumulative GPA of at least 2.50
3. Attainment of GPA in Sociology Major of at least 2.75
4. Accepted internship application
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Sociology 492 — 3 to 6 cr. Observation and applied sociology practice under the guidance of cooperating field placement supervisors in an approved social service agency; emphasis on guided applied sociology. Sociology majors may apply for placement with field coordinator and chair. (Prereq: Senior standing)
Sociology 493 — Required weekly seminar that goes along with the internship—1 credit for each semester you are interning—an opportunity to learn from others who are currently interning, process challenges and experiences, and discuss topics of importance to Sociology practice—required journaling and presentations.
ONLINE OPTION
Sociology students may choose our program coursework delivery in person or fully online with instructors who are highly interactive in the remote learning environment.
GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS
The department sponsors the Sociology and Social Work Organization, a student organization that involves students in extra-curricular activities related to sociology and social work. The organization participates in a wide variety of activities such as fund raising for cancer research, food drives and numerous other local volunteer activities.
UW-Stevens Point also sponsors a chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta honor society, an organization that acknowledges and promotes excellence in the study of sociology, the research of social problems, and other social and intellectual activities that will lead to involvement in the human condition.
The Wausau campus sponsors the Social Service Club, a club for students of all majors on the Wausau campus. The club is involved in social justice and advocacy work on the campus and in the Wausau community.
More opportunities can be found on the Stevens Point Involvement Network (SPIN).
Sociology
Navigate Your Major
Major Maps help students map their first day to the first job in their chosen field. While a four-year plan outlines classes to get a degree, Major Maps help students learn how to build career-ready skills and experiences outside the classroom. Each Major Map shows how students can get the most of their UW-Stevens Point journey from enrollment to graduation and beyond. It’s a roadmap to discovering your purpose!
Field Work Experiences
Our students work first-hand with environmental justice organizations, advocacy groups, and community revitalization projects they would not otherwise experience. Multi-day trips immerse our students in the work of social justice nonprofit agencies in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis to help them prepare themselves as future professionals.
Research Opportunities
Students may participate in student-led and faculty-mentored research with the opportunity to present at the annual College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium and other venues.
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Meet Your Faculty
All sociology faculty members hold a Ph.D. Our diverse faculty, with backgrounds from around the U.S. and around the world, has expertise in a wide range of subjects including gender and sexuality, race and ethnic relations, demography, sociology of religion, medical sociology, criminology, community studies, global issues, and more.
David Barry
- Associate Professor
- Social Justice and Equity Coordinator
(715) 346-4197
Dorothy De Boer
- Professor
- Criminal Justice Minor coordinator
Maggie Bohm-Jordan
- Associate Professor
- Coordinator, Health, Behavior, and Society Minor
715-346-3060
Ann Herda-Rapp
715-261-6269
School of Behavioral and Social Studies