Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior" (American Sociological Association 2002:1). Criminology is an area of study within sociology that examines the social causes and consequences of crime.

Sociology & Criminology faculty at the University of Montana conduct research on social issues facing our local community, the Intermountain West region, and beyond. Faculty research addresses theoretical issues such as the causes of interpersonal violence as well as practical matters, such as racial disparities in sentencing and the dynamics of inequality in the American west. Sociology & Criminology faculty use a wide array of methodological strategies in their research and teaching, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods data collection techniques.

Students in the department have a choice of three degrees:

1. The general Sociology major provides a broad foundation in sociological theory and research and exposure to courses covering a wide range of topics in the discipline.
2. The Sociology major with a concentration in Inequality and Social Justice offers the same theoretical and research training as the general Sociology major, but allows students to focus their coursework on the causes and consequences of inequality based on class, gender, race/ethnicity, and other identities.
3. The Criminology major allows students to focus their studies on crime and the criminal justice system while still acquiring a solid foundation in the discipline of Sociology.