Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of human beings; their cultures, biology, behaviors, and their changes through time (evolution).

Because we study all aspects of humans, anthropology is said to be holistic and inter-disciplinary, where anthropologists work hand-in-hand with other sciences such as biology, physiology, sociology and psychology.

The University of Utah’s Anthropology Department is divided into four main divisions: Cultural, Biological, Evolutionary Ecology, and Archaeology.

• Cultural anthropology focuses on human cultures and how they vary through time and space—around the world and back through pre-history.
• Biological anthropology focuses on ancient and modern human anatomical, physiological, and biological variability and concerns itself with non-human primates like chimpanzees and gorillas—by studying them, we hope to learn more about ourselves.
• Evolutionary ecology (sometimes referred to as behavioral ecology) examines human (and non-human primate) behavior and life-history—why did human beings evolve the way they did?
• Archaeology is the excavation and interpretation of what humans leave behind in order to infer how and why humans have evolved.

Student Experiences at the U

• Join the Anthropology Club to learn more about the field, meet like-minded students, and practice networking.
• Engage in Study Abroad and Field School programs. Study Abroad examples include student travel to Tonga for an immersive research experience. Field School examples include assignments in archaeology or primate research to gain hands-on skills.
• Participate in undergraduate research projects that offer excellent opportunities to pursue individual interest areas and gain valuable research and analytical skills.

Career Opportunities

• Researchers
• Archaeologists
• Professors
• Museums curators and archivists
• Non-profit program managers
• Forensics
• Pre-med
• Public health
• Government Policy Analysts

A degree in anthropology prepares you for advanced degrees in:

• Business
• Medicine
• Law

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees offered

Anthropology (BA/BS)
Anthropology – emphasis in Archeological Sciences
Anthropology – emphasis in Cultural Anthropology
Anthropology – emphasis in Evolutionary Anthropology
Anthropology – emphasis in Health
Anthropology Minor
Integrative Human Biology Minor

Department of Anthropology

Criminology

Criminology is the study of crime, deviant behavior, social control and the law. Through exploration of theoretical and applied social science research, students learn about crime as a social phenomenon.

This exploration includes empirical research on crime and criminal behavior, the tools and methods used to study and prevent crime, issues relating to criminal law, offenders, victims and victims’ rights and the agencies involved in the processing and sanctioning of juvenile and adult offenders.

Policies surrounding crime and criminal justice that affect individuals, families, and communities are implemented on a daily basis. Crime, and our response to it, continues to be a major issue with far reaching impacts. A major in criminology prepares students to deal with these critical issues.

Student Experiences at the U

• Sociology Club
• Criminal Justice Honor Society
• Research / Internships

Career Opportunities

• Behavioral Intervention
• Compliance Officer
• Counselors / Crisis Management
• Cyber Security
• Local & National Government / Public Service
• Non-Profit Administrators
• Pre-Law
• Public Safety Officer
• Victim Advocacy / Social Services

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees offered 

Criminology BA/BS
Criminology Certificate

Department of Criminology

Economics

Our world is shaped in a fundamental way by economic forces. High unemployment, financial uncertainty, and growing public debt present great challenges for all of us. Concerns about energy sources and about the environmental impact of economic activity continually impact the world. Studying economics allows you to understand these challenges more deeply and gives you tools to help solve economic and real-world problems.

Economists study where people produce and distribute goods and services and focus on issues related to decision-making in governments, social and economic institutions, firms and industries. Students majoring in economics gain critical thinking and quantitative analysis skills to impact the world and affect positive change in a wide array of circumstances and organizations.

Student Experiences at the U

• Omicron Delta Epsilon (national honor society for economics majors)
• Economics Student Ambassadors
• Women in Economics
• College of Social and Behavioral Science Internship Program

Career Opportunities

Economics majors earn higher starting salaries than students who major in any other social science field. Potential careers include:

• Investment banking
• Financial services
• Health care administration
• Market research
• Public-sector and nonprofit work.
• Project executives/account managers
• Financial analysts
• Entrepreneurs
• Business development representatives

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees offered 

Economics BA/BS
Economics – emphasis in Statistical Analysis
Economics – emphasis in Business Economics and Analytics
Economics minor

Department of Economics

Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Environmental and Sustainability Studies focuses on understanding ecological systems and the consequences of human-environment interactions.

This major stresses the importance of social responsibility, leadership, and a science-based focus on solutions and integrated problem solving, with a curriculum rooted in interdisciplinary approaches from earth systems science, humanities, and social and behavioral sciences. The program provides students with a broad multi-methods education that emphasizes systemic analysis, peer learning, and community engagement.

Students learn how to shape more resilient and sustainable systems, emphasizing the interaction between society, the economy, and the environment and develop skills to:

• Assess complex environmental issues
• Use diverse methodologies and an interdisciplinary approach
• Explore issues within a context of environmental justice, equity, and long-term sustainability
• Think critically as creative problem-solvers

Student Experiences at The U

• EnviroClub
• Internship or Research in ENVST
• Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF)

Career Opportunities

• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• Environmental Consulting
• Environmental Educator
• Environmental Journalist
• Environmental Policy
• Forestry Service
• Non-profits
• Public Health
• Urban Farming
• Urban Planning
• Watershed Scientist

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees offered 

Environmental & Sustainability Studies – emphasis in Conservation & Land Management (BA/BS)
Environmental & Sustainability Studies – emphasis in Air, Water & Health (BA/BS)
Environmental & Sustainability Studies – emphasis in Food Systems & Community (BA/BS)
Environmental & Sustainability Studies – emphasis in Ecojustice Education (BA/BS)
Environmental & Sustainability Studies – emphasis in Sustainability Initiatives (BS – UOnline degree only. For more information, visit: https://uonline.utah.edu/)

Department of Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Family, Community and Human Development

The Family, Community and Human Development (FCHD) major provides students with an in-depth understanding of the processes of personal development in the context of the family, and community and societal forces impact beyond the family.

Students majoring in FCHD acquire an understanding of:

• Stages of development through the life cycle
• How personal development and experience influence each individual
• The development and maintenance of family relationships within and across generations
• How community and societal forces impact individual and family well-being
• How local, national, and international policies and laws impact individual, family and community well-being
• How research in these areas is conducted and evaluated and used to enhance the well-being of individuals and families

In addition, our department offers students three opportunities for diving more deeply into specific areas of focus that are both relevant to the broader goals of our major and oriented toward specific career opportunities. These include:

• FCHD- Child Life Emphasis
• FCHD-Early Childhood Education (with or without K-3 teaching licensure)
• FCHD-Financial Planning Emphasis

Student Experiences at the U

• Undergraduate research opportunities
• Child and Family Development Center
• Community service and internships
• Student Advisory Committee
• Kappa Omicron Nu (KON) Honor Society

Career Opportunities

• Accredited Financial Counselor
• Certified Financial Planner
• Early Childhood Interventionist
• Human Resource Specialist
• Preschool/Kindergarten-3^rd grade teacher
• Child Life Specialist
• Community Education Coordinator
• Child Care Licensing Specialist

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees offered

Family, Community, and Human Development BA/BS
Family, Community, and Human Development – Emphasis in Child Life
Family, Community, and Human Development – Emphasis in Early Childhood Education
Family, Community, and Human Development – Emphasis in Financial Planning
Consumer & Community Studies Minor
Human Development and Family Studies Minor
Financial Planning Certificate
Infant Mental Health Certificate

Family, Community and Human Development

Geographic Information Science (GIS)

Geographic Information Science (GIS) is an inherently interdisciplinary field of study that deals with gathering, analyzing and communicating spatial data.  This degree provides the foundation for a career in this emerging field that integrates computer science and information technology with geographic concepts and techniques. GIS uses massive data sets from satellite imagery, drones, digital mapping, GPS, and geospatial statistics to analyze and solve 21st Century problems. GIS is applied to important issues as wide ranging as environmental change, health, social justice, emergency management, urban development, and transportation.

Student Experiences at the U

• Undergraduate research and internships to gain valuable hands-on and professional experiences
• Geography and GIS colloquium speaker series

Career Opportunities

• Data Manager
• Data Scientist
• GIS Analysist
• Public Health Analyst
• Resiliency Planner
• Transportation Planner
• GIS professional
• GIS Manager

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees Offered

Geographic Information Science (GIS) BS
GIS Certificate

Department of Geographic Information Science

Geography

Geography bridges physical and social sciences. Geographers examine the interaction between earth systems and human societies---key skills needed to solve complex geographical challenges, including climate change, globalization, sustainability, and urbanization.

Geographers work with technologies such as geographic information systems (GIS), digital Earth imagery (remote sensing), and spatial modeling. Curriculum includes courses in environments, human geography, geographical analysis, cartography, and GIS.

Geography at the U incorporates the “No Student Left Inside” initiative that encourages field work and labs to get technical, real world experiences.

Student Experiences at the U

• Undergraduate research and internships to gain valuable hands-on and professional
• Geography Club

Career Opportunities

• Community Development Specialist
• Data Manager
• Data Scientist
• Emergency Manager
• Environmental Planner
• GIS Analysist
• Public Health Analyst
• Public Land Manager
• Public/Government Administrator
• Research Scientist
• Resiliency Planner
• Social Justice Advocate
• Sustainability Coordinator
• Transportation Planner -Urban Ecologist

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees Offered

Geography (BA/BS)
Geography – emphasis in Climate Change & Landscape Dynamics
Geography – emphasis in Population, Development & Sustainability
Geography – emphasis in Hazards, Resilience & Human Security
Geography – emphasis in Remote Sensing of the Environment
Geography Minor
Geography Teaching Minor
Certificate in Climate Change
Certificate in Hazards and Emergency Management
Certificate in Quantitative Analysis

Department of Geography

Health, Society and Policy

The Health, Society and Policy (HSP) majors learn that human health is determined not only by things like pathogens, illness, and genetics, but also by lifestyle and behavioral choices, environmental exposures, socioeconomic resources, and cultural affiliation. HSP students learn how institutional levels of influence, such as public policy and access to health care, affect health outcomes and create disparities across the globe and within subgroups of the population.

The HSP program is an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree (BA or BS) that provides students select coursework from a number of different departments with a focus on guiding students toward an understanding of the multidimensional character of human health. HSP Introduction and Capstone courses provide a signature and unifying experience for all HSP students.

Student Experiences at the U

• Internships
• Research Opportunities
• Career Exploration
• Global Health Learning Abroad

Career Opportunities

Health, Society and Policy students can find work in a number of fields:

• Medicine/Dentistry/Pharmacy
• Health Care Administration
• Public Health
• Clinical/Laboratory Research
• Public Policy
• Public Administration
• Nonprofit/Advocacy
• Nutrition

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees Offered

Health, Society and Policy BS/BA

Department of Health, Society and Policy

Political Science

Political Science studies the world of politics and government – particularly the manner in which people organize, administer, and seek to improve their governments, the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, and the use and abuses of power.

Political Science majors explore how laws and policies affect peoples’ lives, community engagement, and social change. Through a critical investigation of the political world, political science students grapple with some of the most pressing challenges facing societies around the globe.

Curriculum covers a broad understanding of political concepts, institutions, behaviors, and processes, and includes coursework in American government, global politics, public policy, and political theory.

Political Science students can customize their major by selecting from four emphasis areas: Community Involvement & Nonprofit Leadership, International Politics, Public Policy, and Law & Politics.

All students majoring in political science acquire an understanding of:

• Political ideas, institutions, policies, and behaviors
• How to apply concepts and theories to the study of politics
• How to identify, analyze, and assess information from a variety of sources and perspectives
• How to craft compelling arguments and present them verbally and in writing

Student Experiences at the U

• Undergraduate research opportunities
• Internships through the College of Social and Behavioral Science and the Hinckley Institute of Politics
• Peer advising
• Undergraduate Student Advisory Committee (USAC)
• Honor Societies - Pi Sigma Alpha and Pi Alpha Alpha
• Maxwell Lectures in Political Theory
• The Hinckley Institute: Journal of Politics, Hinckley Political Forums, HIP Talks

Career Opportunities

• Activism
• Consulting
• Data Analysis
• International & Foreign Services
• Legal & Judicial Services
• Media
• Museums/Public History
• National Park Services
• Nonprofit Sector
• Public Policy
• Research Associate Work
• Social Services

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees Offered

Political Science (BA/BS)
Political Science – emphasis in Community Involvement & Nonprofit Leadership
Political Science – emphasis in International Politics
Political Science – emphasis in Public Policy
Political Science – emphasis in Law & Politics
Political Science Minor

Department of Politcial Science

Psychology

Psychologists study human and animal behavior, seeking to understand how people and nonhuman animals function in their environments, ultimately seeking to understand, predict, and resolve behavioral and psychological problems in an effort to help people achieve and maintain mental health.

Curriculum includes coursework in psychology as a science and profession, cognition and behavior neuroscience, intergroup relations, development in infancy, emotions, human performance, personality, sexuality, and health to provide a solid knowledge base and critical thinking skills needed for success.

Student Experiences at the U

• Experiential learning through independent and/or faculty-mentored projects
• Research and internships
• Peer advising
• Teaching assisting
• Psychology Club
• Psi Chi, the international psychology honor society

Career Opportunities

Psychology students graduate with an array of transferrable skills in communication, teamwork, critical thinking, writing, and problem solving, which will equip graduates for a number of careers.

• Education field
• Human services (case managers, psychiatric technicians, coordinators)
• Human Resource Management
• Industrial and Corporate psychology
• Government careers
• Management

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees Offered

Psychology BA/BS
Psychology Minor
Human Factors Certificate

Department of Psychology

Sociology

Sociology is the study of how human behavior shapes and is shaped by larger cultural and social contexts. At the U, we offer a versatile Sociology major that introduces you to a variety of social issues and processes and enables you to connect with other departments and the community. This program covers a variety of domains including deviance, criminology, and the law; globalization, environment, and politics; population and health; and diversity and inequality. This means you have the opportunity to take classes based on your interests, passions, and goals. Whether you're passionate about criminal justice reform, involved in sustainability and other worldwide issues, invested in important public health issues, or committed to pursuing equity across diverse populations, Sociology at the U has something for you.

With these well-rounded studies, you will learn how to be a critical observer, participant, and actor in the social world. You will develop the skills you need to analyze, understand, and explain important matters in your personal life, your communities, and the world.

Student Experiences at the U

• The Bennion Center
• Internships
• Sociology and Criminology Student Association
• SOC 3870, Research Seminar

Career Opportunities

• Human Resources
• Social Services
• Public Health
• Medical School
• Higher Education
• Marketing
• Public Relations

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees Offered

Sociology BA/BS
Sociology Minor
Diversity Certificate

Department of Sociology