Sociology at UM

An Important Message from Sociology

The Department of Sociology at the University of Montana stands with Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) members of our community. This includes current BIPOC undergraduate and graduate students, BIPOC alumni of our program, and BIPOC members of the Missoula community and beyond.

We abhor racism in all forms, including anti-Black sentiments, racially discriminatory policies, and hate speech. We urge all members of our community to educate themselves about race, racism, racial injustice, and structural inequality.

We stand ready and willing to learn with, and from, our BIPOC students and alumni.

Welcome

The University of Montana Sociology program includes a broad range of topics and issues.  At the undergraduate level, students can focus on General Sociology, Criminology, or Inequality and Social Justice.  At the graduate level, students can focus on General Sociology, Criminology, Inequality and Social Justice, or Rural and Environmental Change. Faculty and student interests range from social issues facing local communities, to national questions about the impact of legislation on poverty programs or the causes of criminal behavior, to global concerns such as climate change and worldwide structures of inequality. We offer both an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and the only Master of Arts degree in Sociology in the state of Montana.

Stories

Featured Content

UM graduate Kayla Ballou portrait

UM Alumnae Addresses Homelessness

UM graduate Kayla Ballou is taking some time before enrolling in law school to work for Tumbleweed, a Billings-based agency serving homeless, trafficked, runaway and other at-risk Montana youth and their families. After interning with the program, she now serves as a youth advocate with the...

Keeza Leaven profile

Keeza Leavens Serves as No Kid Hungry Youth Ambassador

Keeza Leavens, a UM sophomore majoring in sociology, interned for No Kid Hungry this summer. No Kid Hungry is a national program feeding at-risk children through the Whitefish-based Farm Hands- Nourish the Flathead, an organization that addresses food insecurity using locally produced farm...

University of Montana sociology grad student Zach Rehm in front of a body of water.

Zach Rehm Brings Personal Experience to Study of Veteran Reintegration

Zach Rehm is a second-year sociology master’s student. Despite having traveled across the globe, he has’t found any place quite like Montana. He grew up here, even practicing with his high school football team on the Griz football field. Experiences like these showed Zach the community that the...