Dept of Sociology, Social Work, & Criminal Justice
We offer courses leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology or Social Work and the Master of Arts degree in Sociology. A two year program resulting in a Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice is also offered.
The four programs in the Department are interconnected. The Department contributes to the mission of the College of Arts and Letters by encouraging collaboration with other departments and programs within the College. The Depart-ment concentrates on research, theory, and service in regard to the community. The community plays a pivotal role in the life of individuals and it serves as a platform from which to study health and illness, diversity and social hierarchies, and criminal justice. The focus on community issues enables us to showcase the usefulness of sociology at the graduate and undergraduate levels; to create a niche for social work, particularly in the areas of child welfare, gerontology, and sexual diversity; and to find a pivotal role for criminal justice by emphasizing rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into the community. The agenda of the DHHS Healthy People 2020 serves as concrete guideline for conducting qualitative and quantitative research, theory building, and the generation of external funding.
