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Rural Sociology

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Rural Sociology

Have you ever wondered…

why people go hungry in the midst of plenty? Or how population changes and new industrial production practices affect the environment? Do you care about the survival of small towns or distinctive cultures in an increasingly globalized and homogenized world? Would you like to learn about new strategies for community development? If so, a major in Rural Sociology may be what you are looking for.

What Rural Sociologists Study

Sociologists are scientists who study human social behavior. Rural sociologists have a special interest in rural people and the conditions in which they live and work. But rural sociologists at the UW-Madison are also centrally concerned with how rural issues affect everyone. They are interested in a wide range of issues related to the sociology of agrofood systems, community development, environmental sociology, applied demography, science and technology studies and the sociology of labor markets.

Here Are Some Of The Issues We Study
  • Problems of the rural/urban interface, such as urban sprawl and the loss of farmland.
  • People and environmental interactions
  • The socioeconomic composition of Wisconsin's population
  • Poverty and well-being among minorities
  • Social impacts of new technologies
  • How globalization affects communities in the United States, people in low-income countries and the environment
  • The organization of agricultural production and cultural and political dimensions of food consumption
  • The development and deployment of new technologies
  • How socioeconomic and political factors shape the way that science is conducted
  • How people organize themselves to improve the communities in which they live and work

Gear Your Studies To Your Interests

Rural Sociology faculty teach a wide range of courses for both beginning and advanced students. If you choose to major in Rural Sociology, you will take a common core of theory and methods courses, and also select an area of concentration from among three options: Natural Resources, Social Science, or International Agriculture and Natural Resources. These concentrations let you choose a curriculum best suited to your particular needs and interests.

Natural Resources

Students in the Natural Resources degree program study issues such as the growing controversies about energy and the implementation of laws such as the Endangered Species Act, and the special problems and unique concerns of people in resource-dependent communities.

Social Science

Rural Sociology majors in the Social Science degree program focus on such issues as how new agricultural technologies affect the future of family farming, how gender and education affect occupational opportunities in rural communities, or how community leaders and citizens can address problems such as urban sprawl or rural poverty, and similar topics.

International Agriculture and Natural Resources

Students in the International Agriculture and Natural Resources degree program explore matters such as how population growth and public policies affect hunger, tropical rainforest destruction, and the prospects for achieving sustainable development in developing countries.

Our faculty are committed to providing a quality educational experience for undergraduates. Each of our majors is assigned a faculty advisor, and professors meet with their advisees at least once each semester to provide guidance in course selection and the overall design of each student's academic program.

Beyond the Classroom

One advantage of being part of a relatively small department is that you can get involved in what we do outside the classroom. Some students find jobs in the department, and there are often opportunities to participate in faculty projects to gain practical experience in research and analysis. The Department of Rural Sociology has several research and outreach programs – including the Applied Population Laboratory and the Program on Agricultural Technology Studies – which offer students job and internship opportunities. Students who work with our Extension faculty help conduct applied research projects throughout the state.

Career Opportunities

Rural Sociology majors acquire a broad range of skills, ideas and social research knowledge that can be applied to a variety of career paths. A degree in Rural Sociology is good preparation for jobs that require an understanding of rural people or the relationship between rural communities and natural resources.

Here are some examples of what our majors have done after graduating:

  • Legal Advocate, Walworth County Association for the Prevention of Family Violence
  • Director of Policy Development, Missouri Farmers Union
  • Research Supervisor, Wisconsin Survey Research Center, UW-Madison
  • Research Scientist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Some of our students have double-majored, combining rural sociology with fields such as education, nursing, or wildlife ecology, then gone on to hobs in elementary education, health care and natural resources management. Many of our graduates pursue master's or doctorate degrees in sociology or a related field, or earn professional degrees in fields such as law or social work.

Whatever they do, our graduates are prepared for careers in which they can do positive things to address important issues affecting communities and people of Wisconsin, the nation, and the world.

Financial Assistance

Approximately $500,000 in scholarships are awarded each year to College of Agricultural and Life Sciences students. Criteria are based on curricular activities and scholastic achievement.
For more information contact:

  • Department of Rural Sociology
    • 350 Agricultural Hall | 1450 Linden Drive | Madison, WI 53706
    • Ph (608) 262-1510
    • Department Rural Sociology Homepage
    • web@drs.wisc.edu
    • Prospective Student Services
    • Office of Agricultural & Life Sciences 116 Agricultural Hall | 1450 Linden Drive | Madison, WI 53706
    • Ph (608) 262-3003
    • Toll Free: 1-877-919-CALS (2257)
    • CALS Undergraduate Programs and Services

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an AA/EEO institution. University policies create additional protection that prohibits harassment on the basis of cultural background and ethnicity. Inquires concerning these policies may be directed to the appropriate campus admitting or employing unit or to the Equity and Diversity Resource Center, 179-A, Bascom Hall, (608) 263-2378, TTY (608) 263-2473.