Department of Sociology

 

Welcome to Western Kentucky University's Department of Sociology!

The Department of Sociology offers programs and course work designed to expand awareness and understanding of the social causes and consequences of human behavior in groups, including organizations, societies, and various cultures.

Completion of the curriculum in sociology will provide you with a broad background for pursuing a variety of careers by helping you to develop the skills most valued by today's employers. These include the ability to communicate effectively and to frame and solve problems realistically in a teamwork setting.

Students interested in research and administrative positions, pursuing graduate degrees in sociology or other related academic fields, or training for teachers of these subjects will find the program in sociology academically and professionally rewarding.

 

What can I do with a degree in sociology?

The following links will help to answer this often-asked question:

      Careers in Sociology - by W. Richard Stephens, Jr

      Barbara Keating's Careers in Sociology Page

      WKU Career Services Page

      Career Choices

Sociology is the study of social life including the social causes and consequences of human behavior. It looks at groups, organizations, and societies--how they develop and change and how people interact in them.

Sociology offers something for everyone, and its career potential is increasingly recognized by today's students.

 

Learn about our Degree Programs

     Undergraduate

     Graduate

 

 

Links of Interest

American Sociological Association - ASA is a non-profit membership association dedicated to advancing sociology as a scientific discipline and profession serving the public good.

The SocioWeb (Complete Sociology Resource Guide) - This site includes articles and essays, famous sociology, information on sociological theories, surveys and statistics for use in research, and more.

Potter College of Arts and Letters - This page has links to other departments in the college, frequently used forms, funding opportunities, and scholarship applications.

WKU Office of Graduate Studies - The Graduate Office serves both as the point of contact for prospective and new graduate students and as a liaison between students and faculty members of all graduate programs.

WKU Center for Teaching and Learning - The purpose of the Center for Teaching and Learning is to advance the University community's commitment to excellence in teaching and engagement in learning through exemplary ideas, activities, and resources.

 

Vision Statement

The Sociology Department prepares students to be successful and contributing members of the global society by inculcating students with "the Sociological Imagination." Developing this critical mindset, students become participants in social life.

 

Mission Statement

To reach this vision, we offer programs and course work designed to further our understanding of social life including the social causes and consequences of human behavior in groups, organizations, societies and various cultures. Students will examine how individual life chances are impacted by social structure and the organization of society, using appropriate methodologies and analytical techniques.

 

Goal

The Sociology and Criminology curriculum provides a broad background for students pursuing a variety of careers. Specifically, students develop the skills most desired by today's employersincluding the ability to communicate effectively, frame and solve real world problems, and come to empirically driven solutions. Further, our programs provide preparation for research and administrative positions, or for pursuing graduate degrees in Sociology.

 

Objectives

• Students will practice oral communication skills through in-class activities, discussion, and debate.
• Students will practice written communication skills through diverse writing assignments such as: essay exams, reading responses, policy reports, and research papers.
• Students will examine problems through the lens of policy debates.
• Students will become versed in the social scientific methods of observation necessary for drawing accurate conclusions as demanded by the question asked.
• Students will develop their capacity for critical and logical thinking.