Sociology Department

Students who graduate with a B.A. in Sociology will be able to: 

  1. Analyze and interpret the diversity of social experience using a sociological perspective, especially as they relate to race, class, gender, age, sexual preference, religion, and nationality.

  2. Assess the merits of competing theoretical approaches to formulate empirically researchable questions about social life.

  3. Locate, analyze, assess, and communicate sociological scholarship.

  4. Understand and employ a range of research strategies—quantitative and qualitative—and their applicability to particular research questions, theoretical orientations, and social contexts.

  5. Construct informed theories of social behavior from systematic observation of social life.

  6. Understand the ethical and social justice implications of sociological inquiry.

  7. Apply sociological theory and empirical research to advocate for positive social change.

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Justice Studies will be able to

1. Analyze and interpret the diversity of social experience associated with criminology and social justice issues, especially as they relate to race, class, gender, age, sexual preference, religion, and nationality.

2. Assess the merits of competing theoretical approaches to formulate empirically researchable questions about criminology and social justice concerns.

3. Locate, analyze, assess, and communicate criminology and social justice scholarship.

4. Understand and employ research strategies and their applicability to particular research questions, theoretical orientations, and social contexts.

5. Construct informed theories of social behavior associated with criminology and social justice from systematic observation of social life.

6. Understand the ethical and social justice implications of criminology and social justice inquiry.

7. Apply criminology and justice studies theories and research to advocate for positive social change.

The Master of Arts degree in Sociological Practice has been designed primarily as a terminal degree for students seeking careers in the human services or criminal justice sectors. The emphases in the program include:

1. developing critical reasoning in the area of the delivery of human and criminal justice services;

2. practically applying social theory to the development and appraisal of social policies and programs;

3. learning effective communication skills to become strong advocates for sociologically informed decisionmaking;

4. acquiring advanced research skills in applied and evaluation research, using both quantitative and qualitative methods; and

5. appreciating the varying perspectives, experiences, and value differences of those from different gender, race, ethnic, class, and age groups. These educational emphases will providestudents with a very strong background, thus enabling them to contribute to community-based organizations and agencies in the human services and criminal justice sectors. In addition, students with strong academic records and ambitions to complete the Ph.D. degree will be admitted to the program, as preparation for entry to a Ph.D. program.

These educational emphases will provide students with a very strong background, thus enabling them to contribute to community-based organizations and agencies in the human services and criminal justice sectors.

The Master of Arts degree in Sociological Practice has been designed primarily as a terminal degree for students seeking careers in the human services or criminal justice sectors. The emphases in the program include:


1. developing critical reasoning in the area of the delivery of human and criminal justice services;

2. practically applying social theory to the development and appraisal of social policies and programs;

3. learning effective communication skills to become strong advocates for sociologically informed decision making;

4. acquiring advanced research skills in applied and evaluation research, using both quantitative and qualitative methods; and

5. appreciating the varying perspectives, experiences, and value differences of those from different gender, race, ethnic, class, and age groups. These educational emphases will provid estudents with a very strong background, thus enabling them to contribute to community-based organizations and agencies in the human services and criminal justice sectors. In addition, students with strong academic records and ambitions to complete the Ph.D. degree will be admitted to the program, as preparation for entry to a Ph.D. program.

These educational emphases will provide students with a very strong background, thus enabling them to contribute to community-based organizations and agencies in the human services and criminal justice sectors.

Fall 2008