Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work (SOC, ANT, SWK, SCJ)

For information, please contact the chairperson, 989-774-3160, 142 Anspach Hall; https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/chsbs/SASW/

Why Study Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, or Social and Criminal Justice?

Sociology is the study of human groups, institutions, and societies. It considers people’s behavior and interaction, and analyzes both the influence of social groups on individuals, and the influence of individuals on social groups. Students interested in the structure and conflicts of societies major in sociology, and the major provides valuable background for many professions, social work, social and criminal justice, and professional work with youth among them.

Anthropology is the study of people, their cultures, customs, languages, and origins. Students with an anthropological perspective gain an evolutionary, comparative, and comprehensive view of their own society and of other societies in our world.

Social Work is the study of the person(s) and the environment from the generalist perspective. The curriculum addresses practice in various fields of social work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, neighborhoods and communities.

Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work and Social and Criminal Justice at CMU

The Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work endeavors to fulfill four general objectives for undergraduate students:

To render modern social life more intelligible to the student.
To contribute to the student’s understanding of the unity and diversity of human beings through the study of evolution, culture, societal development, and the contemporary cultural patterns of many areas of the world.
To enhance the professional effectiveness of the student entering occupations in which knowledge of human relationships is relevant.
To prepare the student who seeks graduate education in sociology, anthropology, social work or social and criminal justice.

The department offers a Sociology major or Sociology majors with concentrations in Social and Criminal Justice or Youth Studies; minors in Sociology or Youth Studies, a major and minor in Anthropology, and a CSWE-accredited major in Social Work.

Sociology and Anthropology majors apply on the B.A. and B.S. degrees; minors apply on most degrees. Social Work majors apply on the B.S.W. degree; no minors are offered in Social Work. Consult the degree section of the Bulletin for information on specific degree requirements.

The Faculty

Mensah Adinkrah, Elbert Almazan, Brigitte Bechtold, Elizabeth Bradshaw, Tracy Brown, Rachel Caspari, Sergio Chavez, Laura Cochrane, Amanda Garrison, Susan Grettenberger, Rebecca Hayes, David Kinney, Athena McLean, Gil Richard Musolf, Katherine Rosier, Alan Rudy, Lissa Schwander, Mary Scheuer Senter, Brian Smith, Justin Smith, Sarah Surface-Evans, Cedric Taylor, Carmen White, Cathy Willermet, Kathleen Woehrle

The Programs

Sociology Major

Sociology Major: Social and Criminal Justice Concentration

Sociology Major: Youth Studies Concentration