Sociology

Associate Professors: Curch, Leung (Chair), Lowe, Mohammad, Thomas (Interim Dean); Assistant Professors: Dennis, Fulkerson, Schlosser, Seale; Lecturers: Allison, Curch, Gedmintas, Koonz, Mills, Ryther, Small, Smith-Thomas

Approach

The Sociology Department offers four major programs of study as well as three minors.

The Department offers a Sociology major with two tracks—Liberal Arts and Human Services Preprofessional. The Liberal Arts program is a traditional Sociology major centered on understanding and explaining problems defined by classical traditions of sociology. These problems include the historical emergence of economic and political institutions; the changes resulting from industrialization, revolution, and modernization; the meaning of modern society as found in the study of work, religion, family, culture and knowledge; racially and ethnically diverse societies; and the relationship of the individual to society. Courses—with a total requirement of 33 s.h.—are primarily chosen from Sociology offerings and provide the basis for a true liberal arts education.

The Human Services Preprofessional program is a track within the Sociology major, but it provides a wider study of human behavior suited to students interested in human services professions. This program is interdisciplinary, with 39-45 s.h. of courses offered from Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, and Educational Psychology. An internship experience and a statistics requirement are also part of the program.

The Criminal Justice major prepares students for a career or further study in criminal justice. The program’s emphasis is on understanding criminal behavior and its consequences. Students take 43-46 credits in such courses as introductory sociology, criminal justice, criminology, social theory and research methodology as well as engage in hands-on field experiences in the criminal justice area. The program involves twelve additional credits of course work chosen from a list which includes a variety of sociology electives in the general area of criminal justice. An internship experience is also part of the program.

The Gerontology Studies major utilizes the body of knowledge in sociology as well as psychology, anthropology, and human ecology to develop theoretical frameworks for the study of aging. Students take core courses in sociology, such as in research methodology and social theory, as well as courses focusing on the study of aging in sociology and other departments.

The Sociology Department offers a minor program to provide students in all disciplines with exposure to the central themes of sociological study. The minor requires completion of 18 s.h. of Sociology courses. The department also offers a minor in Criminal Justice as well as Gerontology Studies. Dual programs of study with other Liberal Arts disciplines or studies in professional education are possible with careful planning.

Transfer credit in the major for standard Sociology courses from accredited two and four year institutions is generally approved if there is equivalency to departmental courses. Transfer credit for Sociology upper-level electives taken at another college without equivalency to a departmental course listed below may be approved for credit in the major after review. Some (but usually not all) courses taken in completed criminal justice programs are generally transferable. New course options may be added; check departmental office for latest program information.