At UNLV Sociology, an entire world of new knowledge and opportunity awaits you. Sociology is a social science that uses data to examine how people interact, form communities, and shape the world around them. Sociology helps us understand not just what happens in society, but why. Our courses explore how human behavior and society influence one another. We examine social inequality across race, gender, and class; study how societies evolve; and learn how sociologists use research, theory, and ethics to uncover patterns in our social world.
At UNLV Sociology, you will have the chance to experience courses that connect directly to life in Las Vegas and provide a sociological foundation for diverse career pathways. We specialize in five distinct areas:
- Social Inequalities
- Crime, Law, and Deviance
- Life Course, Health, and Well-Being
- Culture, Media, and Identity
- Urban and Community Life
Outside the classroom, we invite you to join our vibrant Sociology Society or Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) International Sociology Honor Society. You can also participate in a personalized Internship Experience with local community partners conducting professional sociology across a wide network of employers.
Sociology can provide many skills that are useful in employment and life more generally. Sociology offers skills such as critical thinking, persuasive argumentation, logical reasoning, and effective communication, as well as specific capabilities in designing and carrying out research, such as survey design, complex data analysis, professional interviewing, textual analysis, media analysis, and more. Our Sociology graduates enter careers in non-profit leadership, human resources, healthcare administration, law enforcement, public health professionals, education, urban planning, victims’ advocates, public relations, community organizers, and research.
Studying Sociology in Las Vegas offers something truly unique - a living social laboratory filled with human diversity, unique cultural experiences, urban growth, economic and tourism innovation, and constantly evolving societal challenges. There’s no better place to explore how societies work and how you can help shape a better one. We invite you to join our community of curious, passionate, and socially conscious thinkers.
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Our sociology bachelor’s degree offers students an opportunity to explore the relationships between human behavior and social structures, cultures, and institutions. Using theoretical perspectives and research methods, students analyze social issues across a wide range of topics including health, crime, immigration, gender, families, culture, substance abuse, and more. Students gain durable skills such as cultural intelligence, problem-solving, teamwork, critical thinking, adaptability, and leadership.
Minor in Sociology
Our sociology minor is a flexible program that helps students enhance their skills for success in a wide range of fields such as education, social services, law, politics, urban planning, business management, marketing, and social research analysis. We provide students with individual and group experiences working with our faculty to examine important social issues and to develop a useful analytic skill set.
Minor in Religious Studies
A minor in religious studies introduces students to the diverse beliefs, practices, and cultural roles of major world religions. Through interdisciplinary coursework, students explore how religion shapes societies, identities, and historical developments. The minor enhances critical thinking and complements majors in fields such as history, sociology, anthropology, and international studies.