Community and environmental sociology explores the communities in which people live and the relationships between people and their natural environments. Using an integrative approach, the major provides students a broad view of the societal factors involved in issues of environment, food systems, health, and community development, as well as strategies for promoting a more just and sustainable world.
Through core courses, students receive foundational knowledge in sociology and select from a wide range of electives covering environmental stewardship, resource conflicts, public health, social change, social justice, agroecology, rural development, labor, science and technology, colonialism, and globalization.
Graduates go on to a wide variety of careers in environmental conservation, community and international development, food systems, law, public policy, sociology, and public health – in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. A Community and Environmental Sociology major also provides excellent preparation for graduate school. Alumni hold positions as directors, managers, administrators, policymakers, data analysts, planners, consultants, researchers, teachers, health care workers, and civil servants.
Learn through hands-on, real-world experience
Students can apply their course learning to real life through internships, field courses, and research projects. During their final year, majors complete a senior capstone course where they receive instruction helping them integrate what they have learned through previous courses, and also build knowledge and skills that will help them transition into professional careers or graduate school. This can be done through either seminar-style discussion involving guest speakers and other resources or community-based research projects in collaboration with community groups.
Build community and networks
Students get to know faculty and instructors through departmental courses and social activities, and they can build their networks by participating in student organizations, internships, and research experiences.
Customize a path of study
In addition to a set of core courses, students choose from a wide array of electives to explore their areas of interest within the major. Many choose to add a certificate or double major to their degree. Common certificate options include global health, food systems, organic agriculture, science and technology policy, and environmental studies. Common second majors include environmental sciences, nutritional sciences, agronomy, biology, and wildlife ecology.
Make a strong start
An introductory course provides an overview of topics such as community organizing, local food systems, energy transitions, environmental justice, resource dependence, and sustainable development.
Gain a global perspective
Majors learn about different cultures, communities, and environments through the classes they take, and many choose to study abroad to further expand their perspectives. Majors can choose semester-long programs or summer opportunities at top universities in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, or shorter faculty-led study abroad experiences. Students can explore studying abroad as a Community and Environmental Sociology major by utilizing the Community and Environmental Sociology Major Advising Page. Students work with their advisor and the CALS study abroad office to identify appropriate programs.
How to Get in
To declare this major, students must be admitted to UW–Madison and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). For information about becoming a CALS first-year or transfer student, see Entering the College.
Students who attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have the option to declare this major at SOAR. Students may otherwise declare after they have begun their undergraduate studies. For more information, contact the advisor listed in the Contact Box for the major.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements
In addition to the University General Education Requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements (General Education and Breadth) or within college requirements (First-Year Seminar, International Studies, Science, and Capstone), but courses counted toward university requirements may also be used to satisfy a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, courses counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.
College Requirements for all CALS BS Degree Programs
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Work: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation. | ||
| Residency: Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UW–Madison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree. | ||
| First year seminar | 1 | |
| International studies | 3 | |
| Physical science fundamentals | 4-5 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
or CHEM 108 | Chemistry in Our World | |
or CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | |
| Biological science | 5 | |
| Additional science (biological, physical, or natural) | 3 | |
| Science breadth (biological, physical, natural, or social) | 3 | |
| CALS Capstone Learning Experience: included in the requirements for each CALS major (see "major requirements") | ||
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| C&E SOC/SOC 140 | Introduction to Community and Environmental Sociology | 4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 475 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 357 | Methods of Sociological Inquiry | 3-4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 360 | Statistics for Sociologists I 1 | 4 |
| Electives within the Major 2 | 15 | |
| Select 6-9 credits from the Community course set 3 | ||
| Select 6-9 credits from the Environment course set 3 | ||
| Capstone | ||
| C&E SOC 500 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
| Total Credits | 32-33 | |
- 1
We strongly encourage our majors to take C&E SOC/SOC 360 Statistics for Sociologists I, if they have not already taken a statistics course at time of major declaration. Acceptable statistics courses other than C&E SOC/SOC 360 Statistics for Sociologists I are: STAT 301 Introduction to Statistical Methods, STAT 371 Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences, ECON 310 Statistics: Measurement in Economics, PSYCH 210 Basic Statistics for Psychology, GEOG 360 Quantitative Methods in Geographical Analysis, and MATH/STAT 310 Introduction to Probability and Mathematical Statistics II. Please note that statistics courses taken outside the major do not count toward the credit requirement in the major.
- 2
Must complete a total of 15 credits of community and environment electives. No more than 6 credits may be from courses numbered between 100-299. At least 6 credits must be taken in each course set.
- 3
Consult advisor to request permission to use C&E SOC 299 Independent Study, C&E SOC 399 Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education, or C&E SOC 699 Special Problems toward the Community or Environmental course sets. No more than 4 such credits may be counted toward the major.
Elective Courses within the Major
Community Course Set
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| C&E SOC/SOC 210 | Survey of Sociology | 3-4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 211 | The Sociological Enterprise | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 245 | Technology and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/AFROAMER/ANTHRO/GEOG/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI/SOC/SPANISH 260 | Latin America: An Introduction | 3-4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 341 | Labor in Global Food Systems | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 365 | Data Management for Social Science Research | 3-4 |
| C&E SOC/POP HLTH 370 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| C&E SOC 375 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| C&E SOC/CURRIC/ENVIR ST 405 | Education for Sustainable Communities | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 532 | Health Care Issues for Individuals, Families and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 533 | Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities | 3 |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| C&E SOC/AGRONOMY/MED HIST/PHILOS 565 | The Ethics of Modern Biotechnology | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 573 | Community Organization and Change | 3 |
| C&E SOC/AMER IND/SOC 578 | Poverty and Place | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC/URB R PL 617 | Community Development | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 630 | Sociology of Developing Societies/Third World | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC/URB R PL 645 | Modern American Communities | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 652 | Sociology of Economic Institutions | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 676 | Applied Demography: Planning and Policy | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 693 | Practicum in Analysis and Research | 3 |
Environment Course Set
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| C&E SOC/AGROECOL/AGRONOMY/ENTOM/ENVIR ST 103 | Agroecology: An Introduction to the Ecology of Food and Agriculture | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 222 | Food, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/F&W ECOL/SOC 248 | Environment, Natural Resources, and Society | 3 |
| C&E SOC/A A E/SOC 340 | Issues in Food Systems | 3-4 |
| C&E SOC 375 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| C&E SOC/CURRIC/ENVIR ST 405 | Education for Sustainable Communities | 3 |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/GEOG 434 | People, Wildlife and Landscapes | 3 |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 541 | Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | 3 |
| C&E SOC/AGRONOMY/MED HIST/PHILOS 565 | The Ethics of Modern Biotechnology | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 650 | Sociology of Agriculture | 3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 693 | Practicum in Analysis and Research | 3 |
Credit Requirement
Must complete a total of 30 credits of C&E SOC courses. Students may count up to 4 credits of Independent Study (C&E SOC 299 Independent Study, C&E SOC 699 Special Problems), Internship (C&E SOC 399 Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education), or Thesis (C&E SOC 681 Senior Honors Thesis/C&E SOC 682 Senior Honors Thesis/C&E SOC 691 Senior Thesis/C&E SOC 692 Senior Thesis) here, with permission of their advisor.
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand how social science arguments are constructed and evaluated.
- Develop ability to assess data quality and understand whether particular data is appropriate to answer specific questions.
- Learn general theories on basic social processes, especially those related to the relationships between society and the environment and the social organization of communities.
- Learn communication skills in the social sciences.
Four-Year Plan
Sample Community and Environmental Sociology Four-Year Plan
Students must complete at least 120 total credits to be eligible for graduation.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| COMM A or COMM B Course | 2-3 | COMM A or COMM B Course | 2-3 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 140 | 4 | CHEM 103, 108, or 109 | 4-5 |
| First Year Seminar | 1 | C&E SOC Elective2 | 3 |
| Electives1 | 8 | Electives (to reach ~15 credits) | 4-6 |
| 15-16 | 13-17 | ||
| Total Credits 28-33 | |||
| Sophomore | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| C&E SOC/SOC 357 | 3 | C&E SOC/SOC 360 | 4 |
| C&E SOC Elective2 | 3 | C&E SOC Elective2 | 3 |
| Ethnic Studies | 3 | Biological Science Course | 2 |
| Electives | 6 | Humanities Elective | 3 |
| Additional Electives | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 30 | |||
| Junior | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| C&E SOC/SOC 475 | 3 | C&E SOC Elective2 | 3 |
| C&E SOC Elective2 | 3 | International Studies | 3 |
| Biological Science | 3 | Additional Science Course | 3 |
| Additional Electives | 6 | Electives | 6 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 30 | |||
| Senior | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| C&E SOC 5003 | 3 | Humanities | 3 |
| Electives | 12 | Electives | 12 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 30 | |||
- 1
Electives should be chosen in order to satisfy university and CALS requirements. See requirements tab for details.
- 2
Community and environmental sociology electives include the community course set and the environmental course set. See requirements tab for details.
- 3
Students may take the capstone course either semester of their senior year. The fall semester and spring semester courses may have different content.
The above plan assumes that a student enters with standard high school preparation (algebra, geometry, third-year math, two years’ foreign language).
Advising and Careers
Advising
Students have an academic advisor who helps them with course planning and mapping out their degree plans. They also have a faculty mentor, with whom they can discuss internship opportunities and career goals.
Career Opportunities
Graduates go on to a wide variety of careers that help support environmental sustainability, sustainable agricultural systems, community development, and public health – in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. The major also provides excellent preparation for graduate school. Alumni hold professional positions as directors, managers, administrators, policymakers, data analysts, planners, consultants, researchers, teachers, health care workers, and civil servants.
People
Professors
Samer Alatout
Michael Bell
Katherine Curtis
Nan Enstad (chair)
Noah Feinstein
Michaela Hoffelmeyer
Malia Jones
Sarah Rios
Monica White
Advisors
Megan Banaszak
Wisconsin Experience
Internships
Many students complete internships, including with campus clubs, community groups, and national and international non-profit organizations. Learn more about internship opportunities.
Research Experience
Community and Environmental Sociology majors can gain research experience by participating in a faculty-led research project or conducting their own project supervised by a faculty member. Students can choose to write thesis papers, and some become authors or co-authors on published research papers.
Global Engagement
Majors are encouraged to participate in study abroad experiences across all continents. Options include a sustainable development course in Uganda, a food systems and health course in South Africa, and many other options.
Community Engagement and Volunteering
There are many opportunities to engage in volunteer activities. The Morgridge Center for Public Service provides resources to help students connect with volunteer opportunities based on their interests and goals.
Student Organizations
There are numerous campus student organizations of interest to majors, including F.H. King Students for Sustainable Agriculture, Campus Food Shed, and REthink Wisconsin. A full list of UW–Madison student organizations is available on the Wisconsin Involvement Network website.
Resources and Scholarships
Students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences receive more than $1.25 million in scholarships annually. Learn more about college scholarships.
The Department of Community and Environmental Sociology awards an average of $15,000 in scholarships each year to undergraduate students in the department. This includes numerous Crowe Scholarships, which are awarded to students to support research, study abroad, conference fees, and professional society memberships. Crowe Scholarships are also awarded for financial need and academic achievement. Learn more about Community and Environmental Sociology scholarships.