Mission and Curricular Philosophy

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Sociology, Criminology & Justice Studies at California State University San Marcos is to provide undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge, critical thinking, research, and communication skills necessary to explore, understand, and improve their social worlds.  Our undergraduate curriculum enables students to develop core skills in theory and research methods and to apply and refine those skills in a concentrated area of elective study.  Our graduate curriculum provides a high quality academic and professional education to students interested in working with human services and criminal justice agencies, teaching in a community college, or continuing study for a Ph.D.  Both curricula consistently promote awareness of the diversity of human experiences and perspectives.

Curricular Philosophy

Four interrelated emphases underlie the Sociology curriculum at CSU San Marcos. The first reflects the sociological concern with issues of inequality, and how inequality is manifested across racial, ethnic, gender, class, age, and national lines. The second emphasis is on the study of social problems. Third, we provide students with multiple opportunities to engage in social research. Fourth, we encourage experiential education through service to the community.

Many courses in our upper-division curriculum address issues of inequality, in social status, privilege and prestige. These include: Inequality (SOC 311), Critical Race/Ethnic Stuies (SOC 313), Aging and Society (SOC 309), Gender and Society (SOC 315), Latino/Chicano Communities (SOC 345), Black Communities (SOC 347), and Asian American & Pacific Islander Communities (SOC 349).

Several other courses focus on a range of specific social problems that are also often related to issues of inequality. Courses in this area include Juvenile Delinquency (SOC 323), Criminology (SOC 325), Sociology of Education (SOC 413), Inequlities (SOC 311), Mental Health & Society (SOC 316), and Law Enforcement (SOC 327).

Courses in social research methods (SOC 360 and SOC 361) and statistics (SOC 201) provide training in quantitative and qualitative research strategies in design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination. Within the quantitative component, particular emphases are placed on the development of computer literacy, familiarity with statistical software, and the progressive development of analytic skills. Within the qualitative component, particular emphases are on participant observation, in-depth interviewing, and analyses of textual material. Students also have the option to carry out a research internship (SOC 499) or independent research project (SOC 498).

One of the special features of our majors is the capstone (SOC 495 and SOC 494) internship option. Internships in Community Service involve students working in an agency addressing needs of specific sectors of the community. At the same time, students have the opportunity to reflect on their experiences in close collaboration with other students and faculty members.

The Sociology, Criminology & Justice Studies Program meets the current educational needs of students and the larger community. Our faculty are committed to preparing students able to address the demands of a world facing complex social problems. This effort requires sensitivity to inequalities, multicultural diversities, and global interdependencies, combined with the creativity and skill to understand problems and pursue solutions.