Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice 2011-2012

Department of Sociology, Social Work
and Criminal Justice


Location: 55 Maes Building, Phone: 409.880.8538

Chair: Dr. Kevin Smith

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

Dr. Chiung-Fang Chang 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

Departmental Academic Policies

  1. A grade of “C” or higher for each course in the major field (including transfer courses) is required for graduation.
  2. Each student’s use of English is subject to review up to and including the semester in which he or she is scheduled to graduate. Any faculty member who identifies a departmental major having poor English skills will notify the student and the department chair in writing. The department chair will then review writing samples and consult with the Director of Writing for the Department of English. Based on the recommendations of the Director of Writing and the department chair, additional diagnostic procedures and course work may be required before the student is recommended for graduation.
  3. Students who wish to transfer into the department as sociology, criminal justice, or social work majors must have a minimum 2.00 grade point average. All department majors must maintain a 2.00 or better G.P.A. to remain in their respective programs.
  4. The departmental academic probation and suspension policy is identical to that of the College of Arts and Sciences and is available from the office of the dean or department chair.
  5. Students who are majoring in this department and who are on academic probation or returning from academic suspension may not enroll in more than 12 semester hours (13-15 hours if a laboratory course and P.E. are taken) in any semester.
  6. All departmental majors (full-time and part-time) must have satisfied both the University’s and the College of Arts and Sciences’ requirements for English composition and mathematics before registering for 300-and 400-level courses offered by the department.

Pre-Law

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:

Criminal Justice 1306 — Court System and Practices Criminal Justice 1310 — Fundamentals of Criminal Law (pending final approval) Criminal Justice 3300 — Advanced Criminal Law Criminal Justice 3310 — Criminal Procedure and Evidence Criminal Justice 3380 — Correctional Law Criminal Justice 4300 — Legal Research, Brief Writing and Oral Advocacy Political Science 4370 — American Constitutional Law and Development Business Law 3310 — Business Law Business Law 4340 — Advanced Legal Principles

Sociology

Program Director: Chiung-Fang Chang

Location: 53 Maes Building

Phone: 409.880.7621 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.

Social Work

Program Director: Michael Sullivan, Ph.D.

Location: 56A Maes Building

Phone: 409.880.8552 The Lamar University Social Work Program prepares graduates for generalist social work practice. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education which entitles the BSW 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.

Criminal Justice

Program Director: Eric Bronson

Location: 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.

Anthropology

Faculty Advisor: Carolyn Shelton-Wallace

Location: 54 Maes Building

Phone: 409.880.8551 The mission of anthropology at Lamar University 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.

Degrees Offered

Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice Degree Plans

Bachelor of Science in Sociology -120 hrs
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology -120 hrs
Bachelor of Social Work -121 hrs
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice -120 hrs
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice -120 hrs
Minor in Criminal Justice -18 hrs Minor in Anthropology -18 hrs Minor in Social Work -18 hrs Minor in Sociology -18 hrs

Master of Science in Applied Criminology

Bachelor of Science – Sociology Major

  1. General Requirements: Meet the University’s core curriculum requirements for a bachelor’s degree. Math requirement: MATH 1314 or higher, plus PSYC 2471 or MATH 1342.
  2. Major – 37 credit hours to include: SOCI 4380 – Research Methods SOCI 4385 – Social Data Analysis SOCI 4390 – Social Theory SOCI 4110 – Proseminar TWO of the following elective courses: SOCI 3306 – Race and Ethnic Relations SOCI 3310 – Sociology of Gender SOCI 3365 – Social Stratification SOCI 4310 – Population Problems
  3. Departmental Requirements -9 credit hours to include: Three career development courses (CDCs) with approval by advisor, two of which must be at an advanced level.
  4. Minor -an approved minor of 18 credit hours, 12 of which must be at an advanced level. Or, 18 credit hours of electives from other fields combined, 12 of which must be at an advanced level.
  5. Electives -Sufficient approved electives of 6 credit hours to satisfy university minimum hour requirements for graduation, 3 of which must be at an advanced level.

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120

First Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301 3 ENGL 1302 3
MATH 1314 3 COMM 1315 3
Lab Science 4 Lab Science 4
PHIL 1370 3 SOCI 1301 3
HIST 1301 3 PEGA 2
TOTAL 16 1415
Second Year
Fall Spring
English Lit 3 POLS 2302 3
HIST 1302 3 Fine Arts 3
POLS 2301 3 CDC* 3
PSYCH 2471/Math 1342 3-4 SOCI 3
Minor/elective 3 Minor/elective 3
TOTAL 15 15
Third Year
Fall Spring
SOCI 4380 3 SOCI 4385 3
SOCI (advanced) 6 SOCI (advanced) 6
CDC* 3 C DC* (advanced) 3
Minor/elective 3 Minor/elective 3
TOTAL 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
SOCI (advanced) 6 SOCI 4110 3
SOCI 4390 3 SOCI (advanced) 6
Minor/electives 6 Minor/electives 6
TOTAL 15 15
*CDC=Career development course approved by advisor

Bachelor of Arts – Sociology Major

The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Sociology will be awarded upon completion of the following requirements:

  1. General Requirements: Meet the University’s core curriculum requirements for a bachelor’s degree. Math requirement: MATH 1314 or higher, plus PSYC 2471 or MATH 1342. Completion of foreign language courses including 2312 course (12 credit hours). Completion of English Literature courses (6 credit hours).
  2. Major – 37 credit hours to include: SOCI 4380 – Research Methods SOCI 4385 – Social Data Analysis SOCI 4390 – Social Theory SOCI 4110 – Proseminar TWO of the following elective courses: SOCI 3306 – Race and Ethnic Relations SOCI 3310 – Sociology of Gender SOCI 3365 – Social Stratification SOCI 4310 – Population Problems
  3. Minor -an approved minor of 18 credit hours, 12 of which must be at an advanced level.

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120

First Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301 3 ENGL 1302 3
MATH 1314 3 COMM 1315 3
Foreign Lang 1311 3 Lab Science 4
PHIL 1370 3 SOCI 1301 3
HIST 1301 3 Foreign Lang 1312 3
TOTAL 15 16
Second Year
Fall Spring
English Lit 3 English Lit 3
HIST 1302 3 Fine Arts 3
POLS 2301 3 PSYCH 2471/Math 1342 3
Foreign Lang 2311 3 SOCI 3
Lab science 4 Foreign Lang 2312 3
PEGA 1
TOTAL 17 15
Third Year
Fall Spring
SOCI 4380 3 SOCI 4385 3
SOCI (advanced) 6 SOCI (advanced) 6
POLS 2302 3 Minor/electives (advanced) 6
Minor/elective (advanced) 3
TOTAL 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
SOCI (advanced) 6 SOCI 4110 3
SOCI 4390 3 SOCI (advanced) 6
Minor/electives 6 Minor/electives 6
TOTAL 15 15
*CDC=Career development course approved by advisor

Minor In Sociology

(No grade less than “C”)

Total of 18 hours required for the minor. Two required courses from lower division:

SOCI 1301 -Introduction to Sociology

SOCI 1306 -Social Problems

SOCI 2301 -Marriage and the Family

Four courses from upper division:

Two required courses:

SOCI 4380 -Research Methods

SOCI 4390 -Social Theory

And two of the following:

SOCI 3306 -Race and Ethnic Relations

SOCI 3310 -Sociology of Gender

SOCI 3326 -Social Psychology and Human Interaction

SOCI 3330 -Urban Sociology

SOCI 3360 -Social Stratification

SOCI 3380 -Criminology

SOCI 4310 -Population Problems

SOCI 4320 -Sociology of Education

SOCI 4330 -Sociology of Family

SOCI 4340 -Social Change and Movement

SOCI 4350 -Sociology of Religion

Any other approved, advanced-level sociology courses

Bachelor of Social Work

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), which prepares students for entry-level professional social work practice, will be awarded upon completion of the following requirements: General Core Curriculum 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).

1. Major -49 credit hours to include: Social Work 2361, 2371, 3300, 3310, 3320, 3330, 3340, 3350, 3360, 4321, 4324, 4380 plus four seminar selectives (SOWK 4320).

2. Departmental Requirements -12 credit hours

(1) Sociology, 1306 or higher, (1)Criminal Justice,

(1) Anthropology

(1) Approved Elective 3000 level or higher

3. Field Practicum Prerequisites: Students must have completed: Intro 2361, 2371, HBSE l, Practice l, and Special Topics Seminar (SOWK 4100-1 cr/hr) and must have completed or be concurrently enrolled or completed Social & Economic Justice, Practice ll, HBSE ll, Practice lll. Field students must be a SOWK Major in good standing with: A GPA < 2.5 in Social Work Courses & overall GPA < 2.25 prior to placement, be interviewed & approved by the Field Director. Any exception must be approved by the student’s academic committee (Program Director and Advisor)

Suggested Program of Study. Total credits 120-121

First Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301 3 ENGL 1302 or 1374 3
MATH 1314 3 COMM 1315 3
BIO 1408 4 BIO 1409 4
SOCI 1301 3 CRIJ/ANTHRO 3
PEGA 1 PSYCH 2301 3
TOTAL 14 16
SUMMER: Intro to SW 3
Second Year
Fall Spring
Fine Arts 3 English Lit 3
HIST 1301 3 HIST 1302 3
POLS 2301 3 Psych 2308 or 2311 3
PHIL 1370 3 POLS 2301 3
SOWK 2361 Intro 3 SOWK 2371 3
Elective 3
TOTAL 18 15
SUMMER: Intro to SW and 4320 series, sometimes SEJ
Third Year
Fall Spring
Elective 3 Sowk 3300 HBSE I 3
Dept Elective (advanced) 3 Sowk 3310 Prat. 1 6
POLS 2302 3 Sowk 4320 elective 6
SOWK 4320 Elective 3 Psych 2471/Math Stat 34
Elective (advanced) 3 SOWK 4320 Elective 3
SOWK 4100 Special topics 1
TOTAL 15 16
SUMMER: Multiple SOWK 4320 series are offered online
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
SOWK 3320 HBSE II 3 SOWK 3350 Prat. ll 3
SOWK 3330 Prat II 3 SOWK 4320 Elective 3
SOWK 4380 Research 3 SOWK 3340 Policy 3
SOWK 3360 SEJ 3 SOWK 4324 Field II * 3
SOWK 4321 Field I * 3
TOTAL 15 15
* SOWK 4321 and SOWk 4324 Summer Block Field Placement SUMMER: SOWK 4320 series are offered

Minor in Social Work

(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:

SOWK 2361 SOWK 2371

PLUS any additional 12 upper level hours in Social Work

Bachelor of Science – Criminal Justice Major

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice will be awarded upon completion of the following requirements:

A. General Requirements: See Core Curriculum, Section 6.1. Math requirement: Math 1314 plus a statistics course.

B. Criminal Justice Core -36 semester hours including:

  1. 18 semester hours required: CRIJ 1301, CRIJ 1306, CRIJ 2313, CRIJ 2328, CRIJ 4321, and CRIJ 4311.
  2. Criminal Justice Electives (3 semester hours — any level)
  3. Advanced Criminal Justice Electives (12 semester hours)

C. Advanced Social/Behavioral Science Cognate Courses —6 semester hours selected from ANTH, SOCI or SOWK.

D. Research and Analysis Courses — 9 semester hours.

  1. Research Methods: PSYC 3420, SOCI 4380 or SOWK 4380
  2. Criminology Elective: SOCI 3380 or CRIJ 3311
  3. Computer Science: COSC 1371

E. Criminal Justice Field Experience (3 semester hours): CRIJ 4340. If student has prior criminal justice field experience, the faculty advisor may substitute an additional CRIJ approved elective.

F. Minor or Approved Electives -18 semester hours, twelve of which must be advanced.

G. Electives -Sufficient electives to complete the 120 hour degree requirement.

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120

First Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301 3 ENGL 1302 or 1374 3
MATH 1314 3 Math/data 3
CRIJ 1301 3 Social Science 3
PHIL 1370 3 CRIJ 2313 3
CRIJ 1306 3 Criminal Justice elective 3
PEGA 1 HIST 1301 3
TOTAL 16 18
Second Year
Fall Spring
English Lit 3 CRIJ 2328 3
HIST 1302 3 Fine Arts 3
POLS 2301 3 POLS 2302 3
Criminal Justice 3 COMM 1315 3
Lab science 4 Lab science 4
TOTAL 16 16
Third Year
Fall Spring
CRIJ 3311 3 Social Science 3
Quantitative analysis 3 COSC 1371 3
Criminal Justice advanced 3 Electives (advanced) 6
Electives (advanced) 6 Methods 3
TOTAL 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
CRIJ 4311 3 CRIJ 4340 3
Criminal Justice advanced 6 Criminal Justice electives advanced 3
Criminal 4321 3 Elective advanced 3
Elective advanced 3
TOTAL 15 9

Bachelor of Arts – Criminal Justice Major

The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice will be awarded upon the completion of the following requirements:

A. General Requirements: Meet the University’s core curriculum requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree, which are described earlier in this catalog, and satisfy all departmental requirements

B. Departmental Requirements: Criminal Justice Core, Social Science Cognates and Research/Analysis requirements are the same as those listed for the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

C. Modern language: 12 hours

D. Minor/Advanced--at least 18 hours

Some minors may require more credit hours.

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 121 Minor in Criminal Justice (No grade less than “C”)

First Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301 3 ENGL 1302 or 1374 3
MATH 1314 or higher 3 Math/data 3
CRIJ 1301 3 Social Science 3
PHIL 1370 3 CRIJ 2313 3
CRIJ 1306 3 Criminal Justice elective 3
PEGA 1 HIST 1301 3
TOTAL 16 18
Second Year
Fall Spring
English Lit 3 Criminal Justice/Criminology 3
HIST 1302 3 Fine Arts 3
POLS 2301 3 POLS 2302 3
CRIJ 2313 3 COMM 1315 3
Lab science 4 Lab science 4
TOTAL 16 16
Third Year
Fall Spring
Modern Language 1311 or 1313 3 Modern Language 1312 or 1314 3
Minor 6 English Literature 3
Criminal Justice advanced 3 Minor 3
Minor (advanced) 3 Methods 3
Criminal Justice elective 3
TOTAL 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
Modern Lang 2311 3 Modern Lang 2312 or 2314 3
CRIJ 4340 6 Minor advanced 3
Criminal 4321 3 CRIJ 4311 3
Minor advanced 3 Criminal Justice 3
TOTAL 15 12

Total of 18 hours required for the minor

Three lower division courses: CRIJ 1301

And two of the following courses: CRIJ 1306 CRIJ 1310 CRIJ 2313 CRIJ 2328

Plus any three (3) upper division CRIJ.

Minor in Anthropology

(No grade less than “C”) Total of 18 hours required for the minor. Required Courses (recommended in this sequence):

ANTH 2346 ANTH 2351 ANTH 2302 or 2372

Three from the following:

ANTH 3301 ANTH 3302 HNRS 3360 (Independent Study -supervised by Anthropology faculty) ANTH 4340 (may be repeated, if topic varies)

Master of Science in Applied Criminology

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.

Admission Requirements

  1. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in criminal justice, criminology, sociology, or the equivalent. Students with undergraduate degrees in other fields but with substantial work experience in criminal/juvenile justice may be admitted with special approval. Those without substantial work experience and with undergraduate degrees in other fields may be admitted after taking specified undergraduate courses.
  2. Undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores according to the formula [GPA X 200] + [GRE V+Q] ≥ 1350.
  3. Proficiency in the use of personal computers, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases and Internet search engines.
  4. Satisfactory completion of at least one statistics course and one social science research course.

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.

Degree Requirements

Core Courses 12 hours

    1. CRIJ 5310 Criminal Justice System and Policy
    2. CRIJ 5320 Theoretical Foundations of Crime Control
    3. CRIJ 5330 Planning and Evaluation
    4. CRIJ 5331 Quantitative Methods in Criminology
    5. CRIJ 5340 Special Studies in Applied Criminology (this course may be repeated for credit as an elective when the area of study varies)
    6. CRIJ 5345 Criminal Justice Leadership
    • Elective Courses 9-15 hours
    • Four courses chosen from different CRIJ 5340 topics and/or approved graduate courses in business, counseling, education, political science, public administration, psychology, or other fields related to the student’s needs and interests.
    • Professional Projects 6 hours
    • CRIJ 5601 Applied Project in Criminology I (6 hours)
    • CRIJ 5390/5391 Thesis (6 hours)