Students in Sociology and Criminology can expect to develop the insights of the sociological perspective as they become familiar with continuing research and theoretical analysis of the social world. They learn how to better understand the structures and patterns upon which everyday life rest, to understand the interplay between individual choices and social constraint, to interpret events from multiple perspectives, and to examine social arrangements critically. They learn how to make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others.
Work with Leading Faculty
We are a small, active faculty who publish award-winning monographs, articles in the top journals of our field. We are committed to the public good and our scholarship is used to inform national and local policy debate.
Get Personal Attention
Our classes are small. Faculty-student partnerships are keys to our successful program.
What's Happening
DEPARTMENTAL AWARD WINNERS FOR 2012
- William H. Key Award for Outstanding Work in Applied Sociology--given to Tom Albert and Devanie Helman
- Wilbert E. Moore Award for Outstanding Scholarship--given to Sarah Cunningham and Melody Maitland
- The OMNI Award for Sociological Contribution in the Area of Public Policy--given to Katherine Roberts
The Key, Moore and OMNI Awards will be formally given out on Thursday, May 17, at the Pioneer Awards Ceremony.
DEPARTMENTAL THESIS WRITERS FOR 2012
The following students are writing senior theses in the department this year:
- Tom Albert -- her thesis explores the lives and experiences of sexual minority girls in the juvenile justice system from the girls' perspectives
- Devanie Helman -- her thesis is about how students who completed comprehensive health and sexuality education reflect on their experiences and the absences in their education
- Melody Maitland -- her thesis is about understanding problematic (or "risky") adolescent behaviors
- Kate Roberts -- her thesis examines school reform politics and policy
- Rachel Tucker -- her thesis examines wrongful conviction, especially in relation to the execution of Gary Graham
- Zach Welch -- his thesis examines media representations of gay men as victims of hate crimes
STUDENTS TO BE INITIATED INTO ALPHA KAPPA DELTA (AKD) -- the International Sociology Honor Society -- in 2012
- Candace Couper
- Damaris Escobar
- William Flannagan
- Alexandra Morrison
- Catherine Njue
- Sarah Page
- Tessa Permut
- Christopher Powers
- Katherine Roberts
- Sara Schwartzkopf
- Kailaini Smith
