| Faculty | Sociology BA Major and Minor |
Social Work BA Major and Minor |
| Sociology Approved Courses |
Social Work Approved Courses |
Sociology and social work, as distinct disciplines, are concerned with understanding contemporary social issues, policies, and solutions. While sociology emphasizes research, interpretation, and analysis, social work emphasizes intervention and practice. The disciplines share an interest in human relationships and experience, contemporary family life and family policies, ethnic diversity and race relations, poverty and social stratification, social justice and community organization. Both disciplines encourage hands-on learning through field placements, internships, and service learning projects.
Students may major or minor in either sociology or social work, or complete a double major in sociology and social work. Social work majors are encouraged to minor in sociology.
Faculty: Gregson, Chair; Ciabttari, Keller, Leon-Guerrero, Moran, Oka, Renfrow, Russell (Social Work Director), Suarez
Sociology examines the processes and structures which shape social groups of all sizes, including friends, families, workplaces, and nations. The study of sociology provides students with unique interpretive tools for understanding themselves and others in a changing world. Sociology has broad appeal to those who are interested in developing practical skills and analytical talents. Some of the practical pursuits enabled by sociological training are in the areas of program development, counseling, research, criminal justice, management, and marketing. The academic preparation is valuable to those interested in pursuing degrees in law, administration, social work, theology, or the social sciences.
The department's curriculum offers a variety of courses in sociological analysis while permitting an optional concentration in the specialized areas of family/gender or crime/deviance. The curriculum is deliberately flexible to permit students to study individual subject areas, or to pursue majors or minors in the field. Students majoring in business, nursing, education, and computer science find the sociological minor particularly useful for broadening their understanding of social rules and relationships, programs and solutions, and continuity and change.
The faculty is attentive to the individual needs of students in their efforts to provide academic excellence to a diverse student body.
- SOCI 101, 232, 240, 330, 496, 499
- 12 semester hours in sociology chosen in consultation with the department
- STAT 233 for Sociology and Social Work majors
- SOCI 101, 232; 330, 440, 496, 499
- 12 semester hours in sociology chosen in consultation with the department
- STAT 233 for Sociology and Social Work majors
- SOCI 101, 232, 336, 413, 496, 499
- 12 semester hours of sociology chosen in consultation with the department
- STAT 233 for Sociology and Social Work majors
Revised requirements for those majoring in both sociology and social
work - 80 semester hours including:
- SOCW 245, 250, 350, 360, 460, 465, 475, 476, 485, 486, and 499
- SOCI 101, 232, 496, 499
- 16 elective credits (Recommended courses include: SOCI 240, 296 and 330)
- STAT 233 for Sociology and Social Work majors
- BIOL 111 and PSYC 101
- SOCI 10116 semester hours of sociology chosen in consultation with the department
- STAT 233 may be included in the minor
- Sociology minors are required to attain a minimum grade of C- in sociology classes
To remain in the major, junior and senior level students must:
The department accepts, for transfer credit
from another college or university, only those courses equivalent to
SOCI 101 (Introduction to Sociology) and SOCI 240
(Social Problems). If students wish to have additional
courses considered for transfer to either their major or minor
requirements, they must first meet with the department chair. The
student should bring to this initial meeting the following:
Declared majors/minors will be required to fill out one petition per transfer course.
Departmental honors are awarded by vote of the sociology faculty to outstanding majors. Criteria for selection include a high grade point average, election to Alpha Kappa Delta, International Sociology Honor Society, and exceptional performance in senior seminar.
Prerequisite Note: SOCI 101 or consent of instructor is prerequisite to all 300- and 400-level courses.
Within a program that is firmly based in the liberal arts, the social work major is designed to prepare students for beginning professional social work practice. Social work has both a heavily multidisciplinary-based body of knowledge and its own continuously developing knowledge base. The complexity of social issues and social problems that confront the modern-day social worker require this broad theoretical perspective. Social workers are involved in areas that are influenced by political, economic, social, psychological, and cultural factors. To that end, the program stresses an understanding of social science theories and methods. The curriculum provides a foundation for understanding the interaction of individual, family, and community systems, as the basis for generalist practice. Students learn a multi-method approach to social work practice that enables them to address a wide range of individual, family, group, and community needs. Students enhance their commitment to informed action to remove inequities based on race, ethnicity, culture, gender, social class, sexual orientation, disability, and age.
The social work faculty place a high value on the integration of academic and experiential learning. The program provides fieldwork experience in community settings. Social work majors have access to a rich variety of social service agencies in Tacoma and Pierce County that provide field-learning sites. Students work with experienced, caring supervisors who help make these placements valuable learning experiences. Students are prepared to work in a variety of settings, including child welfare, health, mental health, corrections, aging, and community-based agencies.
Social work majors should consult with a departmental advisor to
plan their course of study. The faculty encourage students to take
advantage of learning opportunities that emphasize multicultural
awareness and diversity, including study abroad.
The social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Admission to the Social Work Program: Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work must first apply and be accepted into the program. The social work program welcomes diversity and invites interest and applications from persons who seek to participate in a profession committed to helping people, now and in the future. Students may begin taking social work courses before being admitted to the program, but only admitted students are allowed to take 400-level courses.
Students will be admitted to the Social Work Program for fall semester only. The priority date for applications is April 10, though applications will be accepted until available positions are filled. Enrollment is competitive based on intended graduation date.
Admission is determined by faculty evaluation of student applications on the basis of the following criteria:
Any falsification in the application for admission is grounds for
dismissal from the program. Applicants who are not admitted to
candidacy for the degree may reapply without prejudice.
Application materials are available directly from the Social Work
Program in Xavier Hall, may be requested by calling 253.535.7294 or are available on the Social Work home page at the PLU website.
To remain in the program, a student must: 1) maintain a 2.75 grade point average in social work courses and a 2.50 overall grade point average; and 2) demonstrate behavior which is consistent with the NASW Code of Ethics and University Code of Conduct.