REBECCA L. UTZ portrait
  • Professor, Sociology Department
  • Co-Director, Consortium for Families & Health Research
  • Adjunct Professor, Family And Consumer Studies
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, College Of Nursing
  • Faculty Associate, Center on Aging
  • Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Education, College of Social and Behavioral Science

Current Courses

Spring 2025

  • SOC 6930-016
    Comprehensive Area Exam
  • SOC 7910-016
    Research Project

Fall 2024

Professional Organizations

  • International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART). 01/01/2019 - present. Position : Member.
  • American Sociological Association. 08/1999 - present. Position : Member.
  • Population Association of America. 08/1999 - present. Position : Member.
  • Gerontological Society of America. 08/31/1996 - present. Position : Member & Fellow.

Teaching Philosophy

In the classroom, I emphasize an experiential method of learning, often asking students to "learn by doing" and to apply their learning to individual lives and communities.  The greatest gift of being a teacher is that I get to learn everyday from the students I teach.

Courses I Teach

  • SOC 3111 -- SOC 6110 - Research Methods
    An introduction to the methods used by social scientists to conduct research. This course is taught at both the undergrad and grad levels.
  • SOC 3650 - Social Epidemiology
    An introduction to epidemiological data and methods.
  • SOC 3673 -- SOC 7071 - Population Principles
    An introduction to population studies, which focuses on the demographic methods and measures, and the dynamics that alter population size and distribution. This course is taught at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
  • UGS 2270/2275 - Families & Health (BlockU Learning Community)
    This year-long course for first-year students introduces students to a social science perspective of "families and health". As part of the BLockU learning community program, it also emphasizes integrative learning across diverse gen-ed requirements associated with the bachelor's degree. How does biology & genetics, nutrition & exercise physiology, humanities, fine arts, and social/behavioral sciences all enhance our understanding of "families & health"?