Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice

Location: 55 Maes Building, Phone: (409) 880-8538

Chair: Dr. Stuart Wright

Degree Program Coordinators:

Social Work - Dr. Ginger Gummelt (409) 880-85568 Socialwork@lamar.edu

Criminal Justice - Dr. Robert Worley (409) 880-7827

Sociology - Dr. Chiung-Fang Chang (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 criminal justice, 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: /arts-sciences/sociology-social-work-criminal-justice/

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 or criminal justice majors must have a minimum 2.00 grade point average. Social Work majors must have a 2.5 or better grade point average. Sociology and Criminal Justice must maintain a 2.00 or better G.P.A to remain in their respective programs; Social Work majors must maintain a 2.5 or better to remain in the program.
  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 3000-and 4000-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:

CRIJ 1306 Court System and Practices; CRIJ 1310 Fundamentals of Criminal Law (pending final approval); CRIJ 3300 Advanced Criminal Law; CRIJ 3310 Criminal Procedure and Evidence; CRIJ 3380 Correctional Law; CRIJ 4300 Legal Research, Brief Writing and Oral Advocacy; POLS 4370 — American Constitutional Law and Development; BULW 3310 Business Law; BULW 4340 — Advanced Legal Principles; SOCI 4300 -- Sociology of Law

Degrees Offered

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 Criminal Justice

Master of Science in Criminal Justice - Thesis Option

Sociology

Program Director: Dr. Chiung-Fang Chang

Location: 53 Maes Building

Phone: (409) 880-7621

The mission of the Sociology 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, poverty, discrimination, and social inequality. 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.

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the 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 education.  Students majoring in sociology have established careers in such areas as law, business administration, health, politics, urban planning, city government, counseling and human resources, advertising and marketing, public relations and the media, criminal justice, education, and the nonprofit sector.  Our program offers majors a solid foundation in sociological theory, research methods, data analysis skills, and sufficient knowledge in the fields of criminology, gender, culture, social movement, social psychology, marriage and family, and education, amongst others, that will provide students with training and skills for the workforce or advanced studies upon graduation. We also offer a minor in Sociology which allow students to take the courses that are most appropriate to coordinate with their major and career aspirations.

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 (B.S.) or the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.).  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.

Bachelor of Science – Sociology Major

  1. General Core Requirements: 42 credit hours, +2 hours required of all Arts and Sciences students (Includes SOCI 1301).
  2. Sociology major core (36 hours): 12 of 36 hours must be be from one of the following four concentration areas:
    1. Race, Class & Gender: 3306, 3315, 3340 ,3355, 3365, 4315
    2. Global Health Populations: 3311, 4310, 4325, 4335, 4342
    3. Crime & Deviance: 3326, 3375, 3380, 3390, 4345
    4. Social Organization & Change: 2301, 4320, 4330, 4340, 4350, 4365
  3. Departmental Requirements (15 hours): 
    1. SOCI 4380 Research Methods
    2. SOCI 4385 Data Analysis
    3. SOCI 4390 Social Theory
    4. 6 Hours from ANTH, CRIJ, SOCI or SOWK courses
    5. Minor or other fields (18 hours): 9 hours at the 3000-4000 level
  4. Free Electives (7 hours)

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120

First Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301 3 ENGL 1302 3
SOCI 1301 3 COMM 3
Lab Science 4 Lab Science 4
LANG/PHIL/CULT 3 MATH 1301 3
HIST 1301 3 ANTH 3
TOTAL 16 16
Second Year
Fall Spring
SOCI 1306 3 POLS 2302 3
HIST 1302 3 Creative Arts 3
POLS 2301 3 SOCI 2301 3
PSYC 2316/MATH 1342 3 Minor 3
Minor 3 Elective 3
TOTAL 15 15
Third Year
Fall Spring
SOCI 4380 3 SOCI 4385 3
1st course from SOCI concentration area 3 2nd course from SOCI concentration area 3
SOWK 3 CRIJ 3
SOCI Elective 3 SOCI Elective (advanced level) 3
Minor 3 Minor (advanced level) 3
TOTAL 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
3rd course from SOCI concentration area 3 SOCI 4390 3
Minor (advanced level) 3 4th course from selected SOCI concentration area 3
Minor (advanced level) 3 SOCI (advanced) 3
Elective (advanced level) 3 Elective 1
Minor (advanced level) 3 Minor (advanced level) 3
TOTAL 15 13

Bachelor of Arts – Sociology Major

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

  1. General Core Requirements: 42 credit hours +2 hours required of all Arts and Sciences students (Includes SOCI 1301).
  2. Modern language requirement (12 hours)
  3. Sociology major core (36 hours): 12 of 36 hours must be be from one of the following four concentration areas:
    1. Race, Class & Gender: 3306, 3315, 3340 ,3355, 3365, 4315
    2. Global Health Populations: 3311, 4310, 4325, 4335, 4342
    3. Crime & Deviance: 3326, 3375, 3380, 3390, 4345
    4. Social Organization & Change: 2301, 4320, 4330, 4340, 4350, 4365
  4. Modern Language Requirements: completion of 12 credit hours in foreign language courses, including 2312 course.
  5. Departmental Requirements (15 hours): 
    1. SOCI 4380 Research Methods
    2. SOCI 4385 Data Analysis
    3. SOCI 4390 Social Theory
  6. Minor (18 hours): 9 hours at the 3000-4000 level

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120

First Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301 3 ENGL 1302 3
SOCI 1301 3 SOCI 1306 3
Foreign Lang 1311 3 Lab Science 3
PHIL 1370/2306 3 MATH 1314 3
HIST 1301 3 Foreign Lang 1312 3
TOTAL 15 15
Second Year
Fall Spring
ENGL Lit 3 POLS 2302 3
HIST 1302 3 SOCI 2301 3
POLS 2301 3 PSYC 2317/MATH 1342 3
Foreign Lang 2311 3 COMM 3
Lab science 3 Foreign Lang 2312 3
TOTAL 15 15-16
Third Year
Fall Spring
SOCI 4380 3 SOCI 4385 3
1st course from SOCI concentration area 3 2nd course from SOCI concentration area 3
Creative Arts 3 3rd course from SOCI concentration area 3
Elective 3 Elective 3
Minor 3 Minor 3
TOTAL 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
4th course from SOCI concentration area 3 SOCI 4390 3
Minor 3 minor 3
Minor (advanced) 6 SOCI (advanced) 3
Elective 3 Minor 6
TOTAL 13 15

Minor in Sociology

Total of 18 hours required for the minor. Grade of “C” or higher required in all Sociology courses.

A minor in Sociology will be awarded upon completion of the following requirements:

  1. Two required core courses:
    • Research Methods - SOCI 4380, PSYC 3420, CRIJ 4380, or SOWK 4380
    • Social Theory - SOCI 4390
  2. Two lower level courses from SOCI 1301, 1306, and 2301
  3. Two upper level electives from SOCI 3306, 3310, 3311, 3315, 3326, 3330, 3340, 3355, 3365, 3375, 3380, 3390, 4300, 4310, 4325, 4330, 4335, 4340, 4342, 4345, 4350, and 4365.

Social Work

Program Director: Dr. Ginger Gummelt.

Location: 56A Maes Building

Phone: (409) 880-8568

Email: socialwork@lamar.edu

The Â鶹ÊÓƵ Social Work Program prepares graduates for generalist social work practice. The B.S.W. Program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduates of the B.S.W. program are eligible to take the state licensing examination administered by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners.

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, adolescent development and program evaluation.

Students in the Social Work Program are expected to understand and adhere to the policies outlined in the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Social Work Student Handbook.

Bachelor of Social Work

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

  1. General Education Core Curriculum: 42 credit hours. The science courses must be BIOL 1308 and BIOL 2306 unless substituted with a 4-hour lab science. Math requirement: MATH 1314 or 1332 plus a statistics course (MATH 1342 or PSYC 2317.
  2. Major: 49 credit hours to include - SOWK 2361, 2371, 3300, 3310, 3320, 3330, 3340, 3350, 3360, 4321, 4324, 4380 plus four seminar electives (SOWK 4320).
  3. Departmental Requirements: 12 credit hours - SOCI 1306 or higher, Criminal Justice, Anthropology, 2 Approved Electives of 3000 level or higher.
  4. Field Practicum Prerequisites: Students must have completed: SOWK 2361, 2371, HBSE l, Practice l, and Special Topics Seminar (SOWK 4300) and must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in Social & Economic Justice, Practice 2, HBSE 2, Practice 3/Macro. 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. Field students must submit a criminal history check prior
    to placement. Any exception must be approved by the student’s academic committee (Program Director and Advisor)

 Social Work Degree Map

Freshman Year
Fall Spring
ENGL# 1301 ENGL# 1302
HIST# 1301 HIST# 1302
BIOL# 1308 BIOL# 2306
MATH# 1314/1322 COMM# 1315
Creative Arts#* PSYC# 2301
Sophomore Year
Fall Spring
POLS# 2301 POLS# 2302
Language, Philosopy & Culture#* PSYC# 2317
Elective* Elective*
CRIJ 1301 SOCI 1301
SOWK 2361 SOWK 2371
Junior Year
Fall Spring
SOWK 3300 SOWK 3320
SOWK 3340 SOWK 3350
SOWK 3360 SOWK 3310
SOWK 4320 SOWK 4320
Dept Elective* Dept Elective*
Senior Year
Fall Spring
SOWK 3330 SOWK 4321
SOWK 4380 SOWK 4324
SOWK 4320 Elective*
SOWK 4320 Elective*
SOWK 4300
ANTH 2346

#Core Curriculum Course
*See your advisor for best options

Courses by Semester

Fall:

3300 HBSE

3340 Policy

3360 SEJ

3310 Practice I

3330 Practice II

4320 substance Abuse

4320 Child Welfare

4320 Issues Aging

Spring:

3320 HBSE II

3350 Macro (PIII)

4321/4 Field I & II

3310 Practice I

3330 Practice II

4320 Dual Diag

4320 Families Risk

4320 alcohol

Summer:

3360 SEJ

4320 Domestic Violence

4321/4 Field I & II

4320 Trauma

4320 Crisis

Minor in Social Work

Total of 18 hours are required for a minor in Social Work. Grade of “C” or above required in Social Work courses.

Required lower division classes - SOWK 2361, SOWK 2371 - plus any additional 12 upper-level hours in Social Work

Criminal Justice

Program Director: Robert Worley

Location: 58 Maes Building

Phone: (409) 880-7827

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.

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, 12 of which must be advanced.

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

H. Completion of 45 semester hours of 3000 and 4000 level courses.

 

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120

First Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301 3 ENGL 1302 3
ARTS 1303 3 COMM 1315 3
Lab Science# 4 Lab Science# 4
MATH 1314 3 MATH 1342 3
HIST 1301 3 HIST 1302 3
TOTAL 16 16
Second Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 2300 3 POLS 2302 3
PSYC 2301 3 CRIJ 1301 3
POLS 2301 3 CRIJ 1306 3
PEGA# 1 Advanced Social Science# (3000-4000) 3
COSC 1371 3 Elective 3
TOTAL 13 15
Third Year
Fall Spring
CRIJ 2313 3 CRIJ 3311 3
CRIJ 2328 3 CRIJ 4311 3
CRIJ Elective# 3 CRIJ Elective# (3000-4000) 3
Elective# 3 Elective# 3
Advanced Social Science# (3000-4000) 3 Advanced social Science# (3000-4000) 3
TOTAL 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
CRIJ Elective# (3000-4000) 3 CRIJ 4380 3
CRIJ Elective# (3000-4000) 3 CRIJ 4340 3
CRIJ 4321 3 Elective# (3000-4000) 3
Elective# (3000-4000) 3 Elective# (3000-4000) 3
Elective (3000-4000) 3 CRIJ Elective# (3000-4000) 3
TOTAL 15 13

#Students should consult their advisor for best option

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

E. Completion of 42 upper level semester hours.

Some minors may require more credit hours.

Suggested Program of Study – Total Min. Hours: 120

First Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 1301 3 ENGL 1302 3
ARTS 1303 3 HIST 1302 3
Lab Science# 4 Lab Science# 4
MATH 1314 3 MATH 1342 3
HIST 1301 3 COMM 1315 3
TOTAL 16 16
Second Year
Fall Spring
ENGL 2300 3 CRIJ 1301 3
PSYC 2301 3 CRIJ 1306 3
POLS 2301 3 POLS 2302 3
PEGA# 1 Elective# 3
Foreign Language#: DSDE 1371, FREN 1311 or SPAN 1311 3 Foreign Language#: DSDE 1372, FREN 1312 or SPAN 1312 3
TOTAL 13 15
Third Year
Fall Spring
CRIJ 2313 3 CRIJ 3311 3
CRIJ 2328 3 CRIJ 4311 3
CRIJ Elective# (3000-4000) 3 Elective# (3000-4000) 3
CRIJ Elective# (3000-4000) 3 Elective# (3000-4000) 3
Foreign Language#: DSDE 2371, FREN 2311 or SPAN 2311 3 Foreign Language#: DSDE 2372, FREN 2312 or SPAN 2312 3
TOTAL 15 15
Fourth Year
Fall Spring
CRIJ 4321 3 CRIJ 4380 3
ENGL 3310 3 CRIJ 4340 3
CRIJ Elective# (3000-4000) 3 CRIJ Elective# (3000-4000) 3
CRIJ Elective (3000-4000) 3 Elective# (3000-4000) 1
Elective# (3000-4000) 3 Elective# (3000-4000) 3
TOTAL 15 13


Minor in Criminal Justice 

Total of 18 hours required for the minor. No grade less than “C”.

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.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice

The Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice 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

Capstone:

  • 15 hours of core courses
  • 12 hours of electives from Criminal Justice or related fields, based on student's needs and interests
  • CRIJ 5340 Capstone course

Thesis:

  • 18 hours of core courses, including Thesis I and II (CRIJ 5390 & 5391)
  • 12 hours of electives from Criminal Justice or related fields, based on student's needs and interests

Anthropology

Faculty Advisor: Stefan Krause

Location: 54 Maes Building

Phone: (409) 880-8551

The mission of the Anthropology Program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ is to give the student a clearer understanding of the world in which he or she lives, and his or her place in it, and to advance higher learning through both research and instruction. The Anthropology curriculum offers classes focusing on life in a multicultural, global community. These classes cover the 4-Field approach to Anthropology:  Physical Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Archaeology and Linguistic Anthropology.   The minor in Anthropology offered at Lamar adds cultural depth to any major offered here and prepares our students for graduate studies in Anthropology. Anthropology supports general education through the core curriculum, with ANTH 2346 Introduction to Anthropology and ANTH 2351 The Nature of Culture, and by satisfying social science requirements for the University Core Curriculum.

Interested students are encouraged to call or visit with the faculty advisor for more information.

Minor in Anthropology

Total of 18 hours required for the minor

Required Classes (this sequence recommended):

    ANTH 2346   Introduction to Anthropology

    ANTH 2351   The Nature of Culture

    ANTH 2302    Archaeology   OR  ANTH 2372   Ethnic Heritage

And three upper-level courses: ANTH 4340 (varied topics) or others