Northern Research, Policy, & Arctic Knowledge Hub (NORPAK), Department of Sociology, Northern Arizona University

The Northern Research, Policy, & Arctic Knowledge Hub (NORPAK), housed in the Department of Sociology at Northern Arizona University focuses on the health needs of Northern and Rural communities based on resilience and ecological knowledges seeking to maintain traditional and sustainable ways of life. Such ways of life are consistently threatened by marginalization and the outcomes of colonialism, the changing climate, increased tourism, and land use specifically focused on green energy development, amongst other challenges. The Hub places a strong emphasis on scholarly exchange and research collaboration through inter-university partnerships.

As the home for NORPAK, the Department of Sociology at Northern Arizona University provides graduate and undergraduate students with the critical tools to understand human social behavior, institutions, and cultural systems. We provide rigorous training in social science methods, allowing our graduates to critically examine and analyze real world situations. Our programs emphasize the importance of analyzing how identities are formed, how social interactions shape attitudes and behaviors, and how larger institutions and structures influence beliefs, perceptions, and life chances. Through our curriculum, students engage with complex topics such as race, social class, gender, sexuality, religion, health, environment, government, and social change. We challenge students to think critically about the boundaries between personal agency and structural constraint.

The Department of Sociology fosters rigorous academic inquiry and applied learning, preparing students for a wide range of careers in research, education, social services, marketing, public policy, government institutions, and beyond. Graduates of our programs have gone on to serve in roles at colleges and universities, government agencies like FEMA, nonprofit organizations, journalism, and research institutions. Whether pursuing graduate studies in sociology or professional programs in medicine, law, or public health, our students leave equipped to make meaningful contributions to their communities and broader society.