Welcome to the Department of Sociology & Social Work

We offer a wide variety of programs to meet the needs of a diverse set of student interests. In addition to majors in Sociology and Social Work, we house minors in Gerontology, Social Science and Health, Native American Studies, and Small Cities Analysis,hgvbhghj concentrations in Applied Sociology and in Adult Life and Aging, and areas of emphasis in Deviance and Social Control, Family and Socialization, and Community and Environment. We offer internship programs for both Sociology and Social Work majors where students gain hands-on experience, working under the supervision of social service professionals in a wide variety of agencies and organizations. Our department houses two research centers. The Community Research Center conducts applied social science research for local community agencies and groups, including survey research, using the department’s Telephone Survey Center. The Center for the Small City sponsors a variety of public and university programs of contemporary interest, including the biennial national Small Cities Conference. Opportunities exist for students to participate in sociological research through these centers as well as through independent research projects under the supervision of faculty.

The curricula of the two majors are integrated, offering Social Work majors a strong grounding in sociological perspectives and Sociology majors access to cross-listed courses in social services. A unique aspect of our curriculum is the inclusion of courses in Native American and rural social services.