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Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
326 Kleinpell Fine Arts
(715) 425-3992
sociology@uwrf.edu

 

Sociology is the study of social life and social change, as well as the social causes, conditions and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate distinctive perspectives on the world, generating new ideas and critiquing old ones. Almost everything we do, from our own private reflections to international conflict, is done either directly or indirectly, through and with others. Sociologists study such areas as:

• smoking, sports, sexuality, and terrorism
• anger, frustration, fear, love and happiness
• street crime and delinquency
• birth, life, and death

Sociologists understand social inequality, patterns of behavior, forces for social change and resistance, and how social systems work. Since Sociology examines human behavior - the field of research and theory is vast and applicable to virtually any aspect of social life!

What do Sociology Majors do?
Students majoring in Sociology generally follow one of three career orientations relating to their eventual career:

1. A professional orientation is for those seeking a sociology major as preparation for attending professional graduate schools in such fields as law, medicine, architecture, business, clergy, or public administration.

2. The graduate sociology orientation is for students planning to pursue graduate study in sociology as preparation for a career in teaching, pure or applied research, or clinical practice in sociology.

3. Immediate Career Orientation is for those expecting to seek employment immediately upon graduation. Several career paths are available: criminal justice with jobs in probation and parole; police and corrections; FBI; private investigations; IRS; Security, etc. International/cross cultural with jobs in Peace Corps; International Relations/Foreign Affairs; International Assistance Organizations/International Business, etc. Sociological practice/human services with jobs in vocational counseling; rehabilitation; recreation; health services; etc. Business/industry with jobs in management; accounting, finance, and investment; personnel; marketing, etc. Social action/social change with jobs in community organization; religious work; political
advocacy, etc.

A students orientation should guide their choice of electives in the major and the choice of a minor field, as well as consideration of an internship. These three orientations can be easily conceptualized in the form of a diagram.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Sociology Department is to assist students in learning to "think sociologically" in order to define, analyze, and understand human behavior. Specifically, preparation in the Sociology major will:

1. Contribute to a complete education by improving the student's appreciation of the role of society in forming the individual. This involves understanding and unraveling the complexities of social life; learning methods appropriate for analyzing social reality; and being able to go beyond common sense to describe and explain classes of social behavior and the connections among them.
   
2. Educate the student for world citizenship. This requires an enlarged (broad) knowledge of culture and society and an appreciation of the meanings of human diversity. an improved tolerance of diversity and willingness to contribute to individual and community well-being are outputs of this process.
   
3. Provide education for a productive life. This involves the development of specific skills necessary for the pursuit of careers and professional opportunities, including graduate school. they include communication skills; team work and team building skills; critical thinking skills; problem solving skills; data gathering and analyzing skills; computer skills; as well as the following qualities; flexibility, adaptability and creativity; global awareness; and ethical behavior.
   
4. Educate for a love of learning by providing contact with faculty role models who will demonstrate that learning is a life-long process which sustains interest in community and society, and is consistently rewarding. This mission leads to the Department's goals and objectives.

 

 

University of Wisconsin - River Falls
410 South Third Street River Falls, WI USA 54022-5001 (715)425-3911
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