The Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Students earning a Bachelor of Arts in sociology may major in anthropology, criminology, or sociology; a program of teacher preparation is also available for sociology majors. Minors are offered in anthropology, criminology, sociology, and geography. All majors acquire a strong liberal arts background as well as experience in understanding society from a sociological perspective. The three majors all emphasize and develop the ability to analyze significant social issues, conduct research, and communicate the results of scholarly investigation. Students learn to apply conceptual models and conduct research in the context of a global and broadly comparative perspective on the world today. The major in sociology, criminology, or anthropology provides practical skills for the work world, valuable preparation for graduate study, and a solid foundation for intelligent citizen participation.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in social work offers a strong liberal arts base and has the principal educational objective of preparing students for beginning generalist social work practice. The highly integrated curriculum includes sequences of study in social welfare policy and services, human behavior and the social environment, research, and social work practice. Coursework includes the study of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; it also integrates content on values and ethics of the profession, diversity and special populations, social and economic justice, and provides a strengths perspective. The culmination of the major is the educationally directed field instruction which places students in social agencies in the community. Graduates find employment in public and private social service agencies in fields such as family and child welfare, health, mental health, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, schools, corrections, and probation.