Faculty and Staff

All faculty members in the Department of Sociology have done post-graduate study beyond the master's degree level, and over three-quarters hold the Ph.D. degree. The Master of Social Work (MSW), the professional standard in social work, is held by part-time social work faculty. Many Field Placement Supervisors in agencies affiliated with our program hold the MSW degree and all have extensive professional experience.

The principal fields and many specializations are represented among our faculty. Collectively, our faculty has a remarkable variety in origins, education, and experience which encompasses all parts of the United States. In our department, the average faculty member has over ten years of teaching experience.

Although course preparation and classroom teaching take most of their time, faculty are also involved in numerous professional activities, both on and off campus. In addition to departmental assignments, faculty members serve on college and university committees. Memberships in over two dozen professional societies are held among our faculty, and in any given year, about half of the faculty are officers, program organizers, or participants at professional meetings. Recent and current scholarly efforts of our faculty range from informal discussions with colleagues at professional meetings to the writing of articles and books. Members of our faculty also serve in a professional capacity as consultants and advisors to agencies and various levels of local government.