The Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work seeks to equip students with conceptual tools to enhance their social and cultural awareness and with methodological tools to obtain empirical knowledge to empower them to engage in improvement of social conditions.?

Acknowledging the inextricable link between teaching and scholarly research, we strive for excellence in both areas to unite students and faculty in a common experience of learning and discovery through pure and applied research to prepare students for service through careers and civic engagement.

Sociology is the scientific study of social behavior and social phenomena. Our program seeks to provide students with knowledge and insight about why groups, institutions, organizations, and societies (and the people in them) behave in the ways they do.

Popular courses within the program address such diverse social phenomena as Drug Use, Marriage and Family, Culture, Religion, Crime and Deviance, Medicine, Disasters, Race, Gender, and Aging. We also focus on equipping students with the tools of social research methods and statistics - two very highly-sought-after skills in today's labor market.