Welcome to Sociology and Criminology at UM
The University of Montana Sociology program includes a broad range of topics and issues. At the undergraduate level, students can focus on General Sociology, Criminology, or Inequality and Social Justice. At the graduate level, students can focus on General Sociology, Criminology, Inequality and Social Justice, or Rural and Environmental Change. Faculty and student interests range from social issues facing local communities, to national questions about the impact of legislation on poverty programs or the causes of criminal behavior, to global concerns such as climate change and worldwide structures of inequality. We offer both an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and the only Master of Arts degree in Sociology in the state of Montana.
Welcome to our three new Sociology & Criminology Department faculty starting in Fall 2024!
Learn more about them by clicking on each faculty.![Madison Gerdes](https://images.apps.umt.edu/storage/umt/center/700/683/sociology/images/gerdes2.jpg)
Madison Gerdes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Madison Gerdes was born in New Jersey, went to college in Nashville, Tennessee, and obtained her Ph.D. in Criminology and Justice Policy from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Her research focuses on mass shootings, gun ownership, queer criminology, and media coverage of crime. In her free time, you can find her reading, running, or trying to learn Turkish.
![Jessie Slepicka](https://images.apps.umt.edu/storage/umt/top/700/683/sociology/images/slepicka-headshot.jpg)
Jessie Slepicka, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Jessie Slepicka is thrilled to be joining the University of Montana in the fall! Originally from Niwot, Colorado, where he grew up on a chicken and sheep farm, he's spent the last five years in State College, Pennsylvania getting his Ph.D. in criminology at The Pennsylvania State University. His research interests include green criminology, stratification and crime, and social scientific theory, and he's excited to explore these topics with all his future students at UM. He is moving to Missoula with his wife and three cats (Wallace, Waverly, Wendy), and everyone's looking forward to exploring the scenic wonders of the greater Missoula area!
![Andrew Thompson](https://images.apps.umt.edu/storage/umt/center/700/683/sociology/images/thompson-headshot-1.jpeg)
Andrew Thompson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Andrew Thompson received his Ph.D. from the University at Albany, SUNY. His research interests include police legitimacy, survey methodology, and public attitudes toward crime and justice. He has four dogs and enjoys reading horror novels.
![Picture](https://images.apps.umt.edu/storage/umt/center/700/683/sociology/images/soc-crim-logo-red.jpg)
Meet our Faculty
To see the rest of our Sociology & Criminology faculty at the University of Montana, check out our People page.