1999-2000 Undergraduate Catalog
Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Sociology

Herbert M. Hunter, Chairperson (Fall, 1999); Stephen K. Sanderson, Chairperson (Spring, 2000); Ackerman, Chang, Darling, Gondolf, Grant, Heckert, Holtz, Nowak, Reynolds, Sanderson, Snyder

The Department of Sociology seeks to develop both the scientific and humanistic foundations of sociology, to educate the wider community as to the significance of sociological knowledge, to apply sociological knowledge to current social problems, and to advance the profession by promoting the welfare of individuals and society. The discipline of sociology focuses primarily on the analysis of modern industrial societies by examining their basic patterns of social organization, the various changes that occur within these patterns, and the impact of the patterns on individual thought and action. Students are prepared for employment in human service fields or for graduate study in sociology or related fields.

Students majoring in sociology may select one of three tracks: General Sociology, Clinical Sociology, and Applied Social Research. The general track attempts to broadly educate those students who may wish to pursue graduate training in sociology and make sociology a career and profession. Because of its flexibility, it is also appropriate for students who want to pursue double majors that would include such fields as psychology or criminology. The general track gives students the broadest possible training in sociology. Students graduating with majors in general sociology often find employment in business, industry, and government.

The clinical track in sociology seeks to help students understand the causes of many of the problems that plague modern societies, such as poverty, racial discrimination, substance abuse, and domestic violence. It is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become practitioners in various human services areas (e.g., juvenile delinquency, medical sociology, gerontology, and interpersonal dynamics and family sociology).

The applied social research track emphasizes the development of research and assessment skills in students. Such skills are important in carrying out program assessments, needs assessments, program development, and other activities that focus on gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data important for policymakers.

The department also prepares teachers for secondary school social studies with a concentration in sociology. The program leads to the degree Bachelor of Science in Education. With its emphasis on patterns of social organization in modern industrialized societies, sociology provides a solid foundation for teaching social science at the secondary level. Minors are available in sociology and in applied social research.