TTU Undergraduate Catalog

The College of Arts & Sciences provides a liberal arts education for all TTU students, strong major programs in more than twenty areas of study, high-quality foundational courses for students in programs outside the College, and new knowledge through faculty and student research. In pursuing this mission, the College emphasizes the skills and perspectives vital to lifelong education and decision-making in a democracy. These include critical and contextual thinking, effective communication, active learning, and proficiency with technology. Across the eleven departments, many courses address one or more of the following major issues: environmental problems, the complex relations of science and society, and the coexistence of differing cultural or ethnic groups within the U.S. and around the globe.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE
IN THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

A student must satisfy the general university requirements for a baccalaureate degree and the following requirements of the College:

The departmental chairperson, or a faculty member designated by the chairperson, serves as the student's academic advisor.

Students majoring in the College of Art and Sciences must complete a minor consisting of 18 semester hours, including 6 Upper Division hours, in a coherent program of study. The criterion of coherence may be met (1) by taking all minor courses in a single discipline (i.e., 18 hours of courses with the same course prefix) or (2) by taking the courses prescribed in an interdisciplinary minor approved by the CAS Curriculum Committee. Approved interdisciplinary minors are:

Business: 9 semester hours chosen from ACCT 2110-2120 and ECON 2010-2020 plus any 9 additional hours, including 6 upper division hours, chosen from the College of Business Administration.

Education: Any combination of 18 semester hours, including 6 Upper Division hours, chosen from Art Education (ARED), Early Childhood Education (ECED), Educational Psychology (EDPY), Elementary Education (ELED), Foundations of Education (FOED), Music Education (MUED), Reading (READ), Secondary Education (SEED), and Special Education (SPED).

Preparation: Students wishing to minor in Environmental Studies must fulfill their general education science requirement by selecting two of the following sequences: BIOL 1010/1020 or BIOL 1110/1120; CHEM 1010/1020 or CHEM 1110/1120; GEOL 1040 plus GEOL 1045 or GEOL 1050.

The Minor: A minor in Environmental Studies will consist of at least 18 hours of coursework, with a minimum of 6 upper-division hours, and will include: (1) HIST 2900; (2) SOC 3600 or AGBE 4120 and (3) 12 additional semester hours chosen from the following courses, including at least one course at the 3000-4000 level and two areas of study from agriculture, biology, chemistry, geography, geology, and sociology (note: WFS is considered biology): AGBE 4120, AGET 3110, AGRN 1010, AGRN 2210, AGRN 3230, AGRN 4220, AGRN 4230, BIOL 2120/WFS 2120 or BIOL 2130/WFS 2130, BIOL 4130, BIOL 4250, BIOL 4610, BIOL 4740, BIOL 4840, CHEM 3710, CHEM 4710, ENGL 4540 or 4570, GEOG 1010, GEOG 2130, GEOG 3330, GEOL 4100, GEOL 4150, GEOL 4410, GEOL 4650, GEOL 4710, GEOL 4720, SOC 2100, SOC 3600, WFS 4500.

NOTE: Except for Biology majors, students who did not take BIOL 1010-1020 under "Preparation" (above) must take BIOL 2120/WFS 2120 or BIOL 2130/WFS 2130 as one of the "12 additional semester hours."

Minors approved for English-Journalism majors
(contact the Department of English for a list)

Theatre/Speech: 18 hours in theatre and speech, including at least 6 in each discipline and an additional 6 of upper-division work in one of the disciplines. THEA 1030, 2100 or 2200, plus THEA 2150, 3000, 2110-2120, 3300, 4300, or 4500. SPCH 2410 plus 3130; SPCH 3610 or 3630; SPCH 4430 or 4620.

Women and Gender Studies: A minimum of 18 credit hours of course work in approved courses including a minimum of 9 credit hours from the following core courses: *ENGL 4731, *HIST 4350/5350, HIST 4370/5370, POLS 3400, and SOC 2200. (*Indicates that course may be repeated provided that topic is different each time.) The remaining 9 credit hours may include additional core courses listed above or approved courses that contain a significant focus on women and/or gender, or in which a student may individually contract with course instructor to focus on women and/or gender issues. These courses include, but are not limited to the following: CHEM 2810/HIST 2810; CHEM 2820/HIST 2820; ENGL 4920; HIST 4360 (may be repeated if topic is different); HIST 4440 (may be repeated if topic is different); POLS 3200, 3800, 4610; SOC 2630, 2840, 4210, 4610; Honors 4010; and 4900 in various disciplines. No student will receive credit toward both the major and the minor from the same course. Student contracts must be approved by the instructor before the last day to add classes. For more information, see the web page: http://www2.tntech.edu/wgsm/

A minor for Arts and Sciences students requires the completion of 15 semester hours, including 6 upper-division hours, in a coherent program of study. The criterion of coherence may be met in either of two ways: (1) by following the minor curriculum prescribed by any department or college at TTU, so long as it includes at least 6 upper-division hours; (2) if such a minor curriculum is not available in the chosen department or college, by taking the 15 semester hours, including 6 at the upper division, in a single discipline—i.e., normally, courses with the same course prefix, but students should check with the department offering the minor before assuming this. Approved interdisciplinary minors in the College of Arts and Sciences are:

Home: Department of Earth Sciences. Advisor: Dr. Larry Knox, Kittrell Hall 201 or 103 (lknox@tntech.edu) .

Preparation: Students wishing to minor in Environmental Studies must fulfill their general education science requirement by taking any two of the following

The Minor: A minor in Environmental Studies will consist of at least 15 hours of coursework, with a minimum of 6 upper-division hours, including the following: (a) HIST 2900 Environmental History; (b) One of the following: SOC 3600 Environmental or AGBE 4120; (c) 9 additional semester hours chosen from the course list below, including at least: one course at the 3000-4000 level and two of the following areas of study: Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Geology, and Sociology (note: WFS is considered to be Biology).

AGET 3110, AGRN 1010, AGRN 2210, AGRN 3230, AGRN 4220, AGRN 4230, BIOL 2120/WFS 2120 or BIOL 2130/WFS 2130, BIOL 4130, BIOL 4610, BIOL 4840, CHEM 3710, CHEM 4710, ENGL 4930 or 4931, GEOG 1010, GEOG 2130, GEOG 3330, GEOL 4100, GEOL 4150, GEOL 4410, GEOL 4650, GEOL 4710, GEOL 4720, SOC 3600, WFS 4500 .

Note: Except for Biology majors, students who did not take BIOL 1010-1020 under “Preparation” (above) must take BIOL 2120/WFS 2120 or BIOL 2130/WFS 2130 as part of the “9 additional hours.”

Home: Department of English. Advisor: Dr. Kristin Walker, Henderson Hall 312A (kwalker@tntech.edu)

Curriculum: A minor in Professional Communication will consist of at least 15 hours of coursework and will include (1) ENG 4411; (2) PC/ENG 4970; (3) PC/JOUR 4940;(4) PC 4850; and (5) PC/JOUR 4360.

A certificate in Professional Communication may be completed by taking the same courses as required for the minor.

Home: Department of History. Advisor: Dr. Paula Hinton, Henderson Hall 112 (phinton@tntech.edu)

Curriculum: A minimum of 15 credit hours of course work in approved courses including a minimum of 9 credit hours from the following core courses: *ENGL 4731, *HIST 4350/5350, HIST 4370/5370, POLS 3400, and SOC 2200. (*Indicates that course may be repeated provided that topic is different each time.) The remaining 6 credit hours may include additional core courses listed above or approved courses that contain a significant focus on women and/or gender, or in which a student may individually contract with course instructor to focus on women and/or gender issues. These courses include, but are not limited to the following: CHEM 2810/HIST 2810; CHEM 2820/HIST 2820; ENGL 4920; HIST 4360 (may be repeated if topic is different); HIST 4440 (may be repeated if topic is different); POLS 3200, 3800, 4610; SOC 2630, 2840, 4210, 4610; Honors 4010; and 4900 in various disciplines. No student will receive credit toward both the major and the minor from the same course. Student contracts must be approved by the instructor before the last day to add classes.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers the following curricula and undergraduate degrees:

*The psychology curriculum is a joint undertaking of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. It satisfies the graduation requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and leads to a degree from that College. It is administered by the Department of Counseling and Psychology, College of Education.

*The economics curriculum is a joint undertaking of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business Administration. It satisfies the graduation requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and leads to a degree from that College. The economics curriculum is administered by the Department of Economics, Finance and Marketing, College of Business Administration.

*The World Cultures and Business curriculum is shared by the Colleges of Business Administration and Arts and Sciences. Jointly administered by the Department of Economics, Finance, and Marketing (Business Administration) and the Department of Foreign Languages (Arts and Sciences), it leads to a joint B.S. degree, not a separate degree in either college.

All College of Arts and Sciences programs cross over departmental lines to bring in appropriate experiences from other disciplines. Some programs, however, require an unusually broad set of activities to accomplish their goals. The B.S. in World Cultures and Business uses the resources of two colleges in preparing students to solve complex problems in international commerce. The pre-professional programs draw from a wide spectrum of sciences, humanities, and social sciences as they prepare students for careers in medicine, law, and the allied health sciences. In addition to department-based minor programs, students can choose from several interdisciplinary minors: Women and Gender Studies, Environmental Studies, Education or Business. Finally, the Internship in Technology and Community Development adds an applied technology credential to the student’s major.

This joint-degree program, shared by the College of Business Administration and the College of Arts and Sciences, is designed to prepare American and international students for the arena of international relations and trade. Track 1, designed for American students, emphasizes competence in basic and international business, a high level of proficiency in foreign languages, and solidly grounded knowledge of foreign cultures and the world business community. Track 2, designed for international students, offers specialized concentrations in American studies and aspects of American and international business cultures. The capstone course for both Tracks 1 and 2 is a domestic or international internship (WCB 4980). Track 1 students may also choose to spend a semester or year studying abroad in order to improve their foreign language proficiency and deepen their knowledge of foreign cultures.

The College prepares students for professional training in law, medicine, dentistry, and other health sciences. All the courses required or recommended for pre-professionals are annually revised and updated to make certain students are well-prepared and are competitive on required aptitude tests (DAT, LSAT, MCAT, OAT, PCAT, VCAT). Among the many opportunities for active learning related to pre-professional studies are: the mock-trial team, speech and debate teams, internships and work experiences, and pre-professional student groups, such as the Chem-Med Club, which provide trips to professional schools and interactions with other pre-professional students and with prominent practitioners in the various fields. Should a student later decide not to pursue entrance to a professional school, TTU offers a wide range of degree options that capitalize on the pre-professional work already accomplished.

Pre-law students have no fixed requirements, but law schools recommend they major in a discipline known for its rigor in analytical thinking and communication. Pre-law students are advised by a team of professors–in Business, English, History, Political Science, and Sociology–led by Professor Sharon Whitney (e-mail: SWHITNEY@tntech.edu) of the Political Science Department.

The pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-pharmacy, pre-optometry and pre-allied health science students must take certain courses required by the professional school while at TTU, but they can do so while pursuing almost any major. In most pre-professional health science areas, students have the option of obtaining a B.S. in Applied Chemistry from TTU after three years at TTU and one year at a professional school. Pre-veterinary students have the special option of majoring in Agriculture with a concentration in animal science. Pre-professional health science students are advised by Professors Kline (e-mail: EKLINE@tntech.edu) and Banks (TBANKS@tntech.edu) in the Chemistry Department. Pre-veterinary students are advised by Professors Sam Winfree (e-mail: SWINFREE@tntech.edu) and Bruce Greene (e-mail: BGREENE@tntech.edu) in the School of Agriculture.

Completion of one of these three-year programs meets the requirements for admission to professional school but does not guarantee entrance. Admission into any professional school is competitive.

Students who wish to transfer to pharmacy school at the close of the sophomore year should complete the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum.

The Doctor of Pharmacy degree may be obtained at an accredited college of pharmacy in four additional years after completing this two-year curriculum in pre-pharmacy and being accepted for admission.

In addition to the pre-professional curricula offered in medicine, dentistry, optometry and pharmacy, Tennessee Technological University also offers pre-professional programs in auxiliary or paramedical specialties of the health professions, including medical technology, dental hygiene, physical therapy, health information management, and others.

This internship program is designed for the student who is completing a bachelor's degree program that does not include a significant application of current computer technologies to "real-world" problems and needs. During three of the student's last four semesters in a major program in the College of Arts and Sciences at Tennessee Tech, he or she will register for CAS 4910, 4920, and 4930, in that order, for one semester each, and not simultaneously. A certificate is awarded upon completion of all three courses, each with a passing grade.

Graduate curricula lead to the Master of Science degree in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, the Master of Arts degree in English, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Sciences. For details, consult the TTU Graduate Studies office.

Students may major in the College of Arts and Sciences and work towards teacher licensure, although in some cases they may be required to earn more than 132 hours.

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

Professor Combs, Chairperson; Professors Ballal, Berk, Bettoli, Goss, Harris, Layzer, Morgan, Redding, Roberts; Associate Professors Andrews, Cook, Jordan;
Assistant Professors Gunderson, Mattingly, Willard

Courses in biology are for students who plan to pursue a major in the field of biology or wildlife and fisheries science; for students who plan to enter medical school, dental school, nursing school, or schools of medical technology; and for students in other fields of study who desire to develop a scientific attitude and to acquaint themselves with the phenomena of living organisms.

Students who plan to continue the study of biology on the graduate level or to prepare for industrial or governmental positions in the field should complete the Biology Curriculum. Curricula preparatory to the study of Medicine, Dentistry, and Medical Technology are given on preceding pages.

Tennessee Technological University is affiliated with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory at Ocean Springs, Mississippi. This affiliation permits students to enroll in marine biology courses that would otherwise be unavailable this far inland.

The Biology Department is unique in Tennessee for its Cooperative Fishery Research Unit supported jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and Tennessee Technological University. A primary function of the unit is to strengthen the graduate fisheries program; however, undergraduates interested in fisheries biology often find opportunities for valuable experience through association with Unit activities.

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY

Professor Northrup, Chairperson; Professors Barker (Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs), Ensor, Furtsch, Glinski, Harwood, Jackson, Kline, Lisic, Torrey (Assistant Vice President for Research), Wells; Associate Professors Banks, Boles, Crouse; Assistant Professors Barber, Swartling; Instructor Rust

Within the major in Chemistry, the Department of Chemistry offers three concentrations leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree:
1.	The A.C.S. concentration is intended to prepare students for graduate school or to pursue chemistry as a profession in industry. Within this concentration, the student may choose from options of Chemistry or Environmental Chemistry. Both curricula are approved by the American Chemical Society.
2.	The Applied Chemistry concentration is intended to serve pre-professional students and those who do not intend to pursue graduate study in chemistry.
3.	The Biochemistry concentration is intended to serve pre-professional students and those who wish to pursue graduate work at the chemistry-biology interface.

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Associate Professor Ramaswamy, Chairperson; Professors Hadlock;
Associate Professors Hume, Kosa; Instructors Boshart, Chakrapani

The computer science curriculum is designed to educate students in the basic areas of computer science, including computer architecture, programming languages and operating systems, general approaches to problem solving and programming, as well as theoretical concepts dealing with models of computation and the design and analysis of algorithms. Through the selection of one of the two options and by the choice of elective course work, the student may prepare for a career in software development for scientific/ engineering applications (Option I) or management decision support applications (Option II) or graduate work in computer science (either option). Graduates of the program are regularly recruited by industry, government and business for computing careers in a variety of areas including systems design, and software engineering.

DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES

Professor Knox, Chairperson; Professors Leimer,
Mills, Stapor; Associate Professor Li; Assistant Professors Harrison, Hart

The aims of the Department of Earth Sciences are:
1.	To aid students in understanding the nature of the earth.
2.	To assist students in obtaining a more sophisticated understanding of the relationships between their physical environment and past and present economic, social, and political conditions.
3.	To provide students who major or minor in the department with an appropriate degree of competence in their area of specialization.

The economics curriculum is a joint undertaking of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business Administration. It satisfies the graduation requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and leads to a degree from that College. It is administered by the Department of Economics, Finance, and Marketing, College of Business Administration.

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

Chairperson; Professors Armistead (Dean), Boocker, Burduck, Christianson, Eisen,
C. Hood, K. Hood, Hutchison, Kemp, Laird, McQuail, McRae, Stedman, Stewart, Viera; Associate Professors Clougherty, Kash, Null, Weidner; Assistant Professors Baker, Creter, O'Rourke, Saya, Walker, Witcher; Instructors Golz, Jared, Mercer, Wilson

The English language and literature curriculum is designed to improve students' skills in writing, critical reading, and thinking; to enrich their cultural experience; and to prepare them for all professions requiring a high level of expression, imagination, and intellectual activity, including creative writing, editing, teaching, law, politics, and management.

The English-Journalism curriculum is designed to prepare students for a variety of employment opportunities in the communications professions, primarily in the print media and public relations. The program stresses practical experience. The student newspaper, yearbook, and radio station, and the regional educational television station are utilized extensively in connection with class work, and students are encouraged to participate in the internship or co-op program.

The Professional Communication degree program prepares students to communicate scientific and technical information via newspaper, magazines, and journals as well as other media efficiently and effectively. Students in the program write and edit technical material and become familiar with a broad range of publication design and printing areas.

Though the Department of English does not offer a major in Speech or Theatre, the Speech Communication-Theatre curriculum offers a wide range of both lower division and upper division courses in Speech and Theatre. Minors are available in both disciplines as well as a combined minor in Speech Communication-Theatre. The program prepares students for a teaching licensure in Speech Communication-Theatre as well as for graduate study in Speech Communication or Theatre, for careers in the theatre, and a wide range of careers which require effective verbal, nonverbal, interpersonal, and public communication. The Backdoor Playhouse, the Speech team, and the Debate team offer students opportunities for public performance of their skills.

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Professor Campana, Chairperson; Professors Evans, Viera; Associate
Professors Kintz, Laurila; Assistant Professors Hays, Shettlesworth

An offering in Foreign Languages was established for the purpose of giving training in the language, literature, history, and customs of the people whose language is studied, as well as for the purpose of providing insights into the various means of organizing thought and reality in the foreign culture by native speakers of the languages.

The specific aims of these courses are: (1) to develop the ability to understand, speak, read, and write the language with some degree of rapidity and accuracy, (2) to gain an acquaintance with the best writers, (3) to enable students to understand better the history and development of their own language, and (4) to offer courses suitable for the other curricula requiring Foreign Languages for graduation.

The Department offers a major in Foreign Languages with a concentration in French, German, or Spanish. Although a minor in a second foreign language is not required, it is strongly recommended, especially for students who plan careers in teaching, government service, or other language-related areas. The B.S. major in World Cultures and Business combines economics, finance, management and marketing with language study.

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

Professor Roberts, Interim Chairperson; Professors Brinker, Fernandez,
Kharif, Reagan, Webb, Whiteaker; Associate Professor
Osburn; Assistant Professors Birdwell, Hinton

The broad liberal arts curriculum of the History Department offers students a traditional education and preparation for many different professions. The content courses in history, for example, require students to think analytically, conduct research, and to communicate effectively both in written and oral forms. These are highly adaptable skills. The department assists each student by providing career guidance in a professional orientation course. One history professor advises pre-law students. The department provides excellent preparation for traditional graduate study, exemplified by TTU history majors who have earned advanced degrees at the outstanding graduate schools.

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

Professor Ablamowicz, Chairperson; Professors Gutek, Liu, Norden, Savage, Selden; Associate Professors Garimella, Mason, Mills, O'Connor, Uddin; Assistant Professors Allen, LeBorne, McHenry, Shibakov; Instructors Crawford, Gandhi, Thurman

The Department of Mathematics at Tennessee Technological University offers a well-balanced four-year curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. A wide variety of course offerings allows students in this program to prepare themselves for careers in business, industry or education, or for further study at the graduate level. Alumni include successful lawyers, bankers, and insurance industry executives, as well as teachers and people working in more technical areas such as the computer and defense industries. Recent graduates have gone on to earn Master's or Ph.D. degrees in mathematics, statistics, computer science and engineering. Mathematics majors may also earn the Secondary Certification in Mathematics through the College of Education. They may also participate in the Cooperative Education Program. See Independent Programs for more information.

Freshmen planning to major in mathematics should have completed in high school 3 units of science and at least 3 1/2 units of college preparatory mathematics including a study of trigonometric identities. Students with less than the recommended mathematics preparation are encouraged to enroll at the University for the summer following high school graduation for the purpose of removing the deficiency.

The Department offers courses to meet the needs of students with varying career objectives. Four options are available: actuarial mathematics, applied mathematics, pure mathematics, and statistics. A mathematics major is required to complete all prerequisite mathematics courses with a grade of "C" or better before enrolling in a subsequent course.

Courses required for the degree include 4 semesters of English; 2 semesters each of American history, a social science (sociology, psychology, economics, etc.), a foreign language (French, German, Russian, or Spanish), two year-long sequences in two different laboratory sciences (biology, chemistry, or physics) and one semester of computer science. Forty-seven semester hours of mathematics are required, including MATH 1910-1920, 2110, 2120, 3070 (or 3470, or 4470), 3400, 3510, 4110, 4530, and 4970 Senior Seminar. Students not completing MATH 4470-4480 must complete MATH 4120. It is strongly recommended that mathematics major considering graduate school complete MATH 3510-3520 and an upper division sequence in mathematics beyond the requirements for the degree.

The Department offers the Master of Science degree with emphasis in applied mathematics, statistics, pure mathematics, and computer science. It provides courses at the graduate and undergraduate level to meet the needs of students in liberal arts, computer science, engineering, science, agriculture, human ecology, business, and education.

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

Professor Shriner, Chairperson; Professors Ayik,
Kozub, Murdock, Robinson, Semmes (Interim Associate Dean), Wells

The Physics Curriculum is designed to accommodate students with a variety of goals: those who wish to prepare for graduate study leading to advanced degrees in physics, those who plan to do graduate work in another field of science or engineering, and those who intend to seek employment immediately after receiving the baccalaureate degree. The basic science background and analytical thinking skills acquired by taking physics courses, combined with the broad knowledge base which characterizes all Arts and Sciences degree programs, has proved to be excellent preparation for a wide variety of careers. This includes endeavors previously viewed as "non-scientific," as virtually all walks of life have been engulfed by the current technological revolution.

Students preparing for graduate study in physics will normally follow the Option I program. The others will follow an approved Option II program which contains, in addition to a solid core of physics courses, a concentration of electives in another area of science and/or engineering, such as electrical engineering, molecular biology, or computer science. Both programs lead to the Bachelor of Science degree in physics. Students in both options are eligible for summer employment in one of the research groups in the Department, for physics scholarships, and for participation in the Cooperative Education Program.

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Professor Williams, Interim Chairperson; Professor Gunter;
Associate Professor Whitney; Assistant Professor Edgemon

The Department of Political Science offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science. The Department offers courses in each of the six main areas of specialization within the discipline: International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, American Government, State and Local Government, and Public Administration. A student who majors in Political Science at Tech is provided a broad liberal arts education with adequate specialization in the major and ample opportunity to take elective courses in related areas. Graduates are well-prepared for a number of options: graduate studies, law school, employment in government or private business.

The psychology program is a joint undertaking of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. It satisfies the graduation requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and leads to a degree from that College. It is administered by the Department of Counseling and Psychology, College of Education.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY

Associate Professor Stanger, Interim Chairperson; Professors Darden, Mannle,
Mookherjee, Neapolitan, Riemer; Associate Professors
Haynes, Henry; Assistant Professor Brignall

The Department of Sociology and Philosophy offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology; a concentration in Criminal Justice within the B.S. Sociology degree; a concentration in Social Work within the B.S. Sociology degree; undergraduate minors in Criminal Justice, Philosophy, Anthropology, and Sociology; and a graduate minor in Sociology.

The Sociology curriculum has three main purposes: (1) to aid students in understanding the roles of social forces and ideas in shaping modern society; (2) to provide a well-rounded education preparing the student for a wide range of occupations, particularly those which work directly with people or with categories or groups of people; and (3) to provide a sound academic background for graduate study in sociology or for such professions as law or the ministry.

The Criminal Justice Program offers a baccalaureate (B.S.) concentration, and a minor (18 hours) in criminal justice. The B.S. concentration involves a major in Sociology with a large proportion of course work in criminal justice.

If a student must exit the University after completing the first two years of the B.S. Sociology-Criminal Justice program, a certificate of program completion can be awarded if certain course requirements are met. This may be of assistance as preparation for careers not requiring a B.S. degree, such as paralegal studies and some positions in law enforcement. Those who complete the B.S. degree will have a sound foundation that prepares them to compete for positions in law enforcement, corrections and social service agencies, or for admission to law school.

The Department of Sociology and Philosophy offers a social work concentration for those students interested in a career in social work.

Social work is a "helping profession" that assists people who face difficult problems. Some social workers do their work in family service agencies dealing with marriage, health and child welfare problems. Others work in a medical setting providing assistance to patients and their relatives during a health crisis or a death. Still others work in the area of corrections assisting juvenile and adult law violators in rehabilitation. Social workers can also be found in public welfare agencies assisting the poor and disabled and in industry assisting employees with chemical abuse problems.

Philosophy courses are designed to help students acquire appreciation for the values and modes of reflection appropriate for the philosophical mind. They seek to stimulate interest in the ultimate human questions and to help students understand the proposed answers to those questions given by thinkers across the centuries. A baccalaureate minor is available and is especially appropriate for those interested in the humanities, the social sciences, and the professions. Courses numbered 1030, 2100 and 2250 are usually offered every year. All other courses are usually offered over a two-year cycle, staff resources permitting.