Location: 55 Maes Building, Phone: (409) 880-8538
Chair: Li-chen Ma
Chair email: li-chen.ma@lamar.edu
Degree Program Coordinators:
Dr. Michael Sullivan
Director of Social Work Program, (409) 880-8552
Dr. Eric Bronson
Director of Criminal Justice Program, (409) 880-8541
Director of Sociology Program, (409) 880-7621
Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice is a multidisciplinary department, consisting of four academic programs: sociology, anthropology, social work, and criminal justice. Each has its own unique mission. The common general mission of the four programs is to provide high-quality education through baccalaureate programs in sociology, social work, and criminal justice, a master’s in applied criminology, and a minor in anthropology. All programs emphasize excellence in instruction, research and scholarship, professional development, university and community service, and the preparation of students for graduate and/or professional education. For additional information about the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice, visit our website: http://dept.lamar.edu/sscj
As prospective candidates for admission to a school of law, students may pursue one of the bachelor’s degrees offered by the department. The degree plan may include any of the following courses as electives or a minor:
Program Director: Li-chen Ma 65 Maes Building, Phone (409) 880-8545
The mission of the program is to provide undergraduates with scientific knowledge of the structures, forms, and dynamics of human interaction within a broadly-based liberal arts education. The program emphasizes the research methods used to acquire data, test hypotheses, conduct analyses, and evaluate information. In addition students are prepared to critically consider social problems such as crime, unemployment, violence, urban decay, and poverty. In our complex, technical and multicultural world, sociology equips students to understand the importance of empirical research from which to evaluate societal needs and inform public policy.
The program is committed to baccalaureate study which creates liberating educational experiences for each major. Under the personal and concerned guidance of faculty, students matriculate in one of two baccalaureate programs – the bachelor of science or the bachelor of arts.
Sociology is the study of social life and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociology’s subject matter ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob, from crime to religion, from the division of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, from the sociology of religion to the sociology of medicine. Sociology is a popular major for students planning futures in such professions as law, business, education, politics, public administration, and even medicine. The research interests of Lamar’s sociology faculty include social stratification, criminology, alienation, gender roles, sociology of education, sociology of religion, and family structure and functioning.
The Bachelor of Science degree is designed for students whose interests are more quantitative, while the Bachelor of Arts offers a traditional liberal arts education.
Program Director:Michael Sullivan, Ph.D. 56A Maes Building, Phone (409) 880-8552
The 海角社区 Social Work Program prepares graduates for generalist social work practice. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education which entitles the B.S.W. graduate to apply for licensure as a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW). The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. Social workers promote social justice and social change with, and on behalf of, individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities (National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics). The research/training interests of Lamar’s social work faculty include family violence, child welfare, multicultural practice, developmental disabilities, adolescent development and program evaluation.
Program Director 58 Maes Building, Phone (409) 880-8541
The mission of the criminal justice program is to provide excellence in graduate and undergraduate instruction; research and scholarship; professional development; and university and community service. The program seeks to promote professionally and academically relevant curricula and programs and effective cooperative relationships with regional service agencies in order to prepare criminal justice practitioners at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Faculty Advisor: Carolyn Shelton-Wallace 54 Maes Building, Phone (409) 880-8551
The mission of anthropology at 海角社区 is threefold: 1) to provide a minor in anthropology to undergraduate students; 2) to support general education, and 3) to advance higher learning through both research and instruction. The minor in Anthropology adds cultural breadth to almost any major field and can also effectively prepare a student for graduate work in anthropology. Anthropology supports general education both through the Core Curriculum (ANTH 2346 and ANTH 2351) and through course content throughout the anthropology curriculum, which focuses strongly on the relevance of anthropology to modern life in a multicultural, global community. Faculty in anthropology maintain an active program of original research, which is of direct benefit to curriculum and instruction.
Anthropology 2346 or 2351 satisfies the social science requirement of the Philosophy of Knowledge Core Curriculum. A minor in anthropology is a useful complement to majors in sociology, social work, criminal justice, history, psychology, and other fields. Interested students are invited to consult with the faculty advisor in anthropology.
Bachelor of Science in Sociology – 121 hours
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology – 121 hours
Bachelor of Social Work – 121 hours
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – 120 hours
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice – 123 hours
Minor in Criminal Justice – 18 hours
Minor in Anthropology – 18 hours
Minor in Social Work – 18 hours
Minor in Sociology – 18 hours
The degree of Bachelor of Science in Sociology will be awarded upon completion of the following requirements:
Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 121
The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Sociology will be awarded upon completion of the following requirements:
Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 121
Total of 18 hours required for the minor (No grade less than “C”).
Three required courses from lower division:
Three courses from upper division:
Two required courses:
And one of the following:
The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), which prepares students for entry-level professional social work practice, will be awarded upon completion of the following requirements: General Requirements are 48-49 credit hours. See Philosophy of Knowledge Core Curriculum, section 6.4.1. The lab science courses must be 4 credits each. Math requirement: MATH1314 plus a statistics course (Math 1342 or Psych 2471).
Grade of “C” or above required in social work courses. Total of 18 hours are required for a minor in Social Work. Required lower division classes:
Plus, any additional 12 hours in Social Work.
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice will be awarded upon completion of the following requirements:
Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120
The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice will be awarded upon the completion of the following requirements:
No grade less than “C”) Total of 18 hours required for the minor.
Three lower division courses:
Required Courses:
And one of the following courses:
Plus, any three upper division CRIJ courses.
No grade less than “C”. Total of 18 hours required for the minor.
Required Courses (recommended in this sequence):
Three from the following:
The master of Science degree in Applied Criminology is designed to prepare students for upper level staff, administrative, management, treatment and planning positions in criminal/juvenile justice agencies. The program has an applied focus, teaching practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge. The program consists of 36 semester hours including the completion of an applied project. Those electing the optional thesis route may complete their degree requirements with 30 hours.
Applicants who do not meet all admission requirements may enter as Pre Graduate, pending full admission. Under Pre Graduate status, the student must make up all deficiencies and earn at least a “B” average. No more than six hours of graduate credit may be earned prior to full admission.