The primary goal of the department is to lead students to an understanding of the sociological perspective or, as it is often called, the sociological imagination. Students of sociology will discover the social world and the intersection of socio-cultural forces and individual biographies. One of the primary purposes of the Department of Sociology/ Social Work is to foster the understanding that groups, organizations, and social institutions are social constructions that guide individual behavior.
In addition to teaching the fundamentals of a sociological perspective, our department focuses to a great extent on social inequality, community, and community service. These areas are included in the goals of the department to instill a sense of community service and altruism in our students.
The grasp of the sociological imagination is developed through an understanding of the major concepts in the field, research methodology, and the ability to examine data from a critical point of view. Students are also taught an understanding of the history of the discipline and the major historical and theoretical perspectives. In addition, students are able to communicate their understanding of sociological concepts with oral competency and improved academic writing skills.
The department's Social Work program offers courses designed to guide students to an understanding of the profession and its development and the techniques involved in the various social work practices. Students also study the structure of agencies. The working goal of the Social Work program is to offer students a generalist social work major, with areas of professional specialization available for minor.
