Department of Sociology,
Anthropology, and Social Work

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Undergraduate ProgramGraduate ProgramCourse DescriptionsFaculty

 

About the Program

This department supervises the following degree programs:

• Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
• Master of Arts in Anthropology
• Master of Arts in Sociology

In addition, the department participates in the Latin American and Iberian Studies program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree. The department also participates in the women’s studies, urban studies, ethnic studies, environmental studies, family life studies, religion studies, Asian studies, and substance abuse studies minor programs. The minimum number of hours required for majors in all baccalaureate programs in the department is a total of 120 hours.Back to Top

Undergraduate Program

Sociology Program

The sociology program includes most of the major substantive areas of the discipline, ranging from interpersonal relations in families and elsewhere to the growth of cities and complex organizations to international relations. The department also offers a criminology concentration for sociology majors who wish to specialize in this area. Areas of faculty expertise include criminology and delinquency, marriage and the family, minority relations, gender, gerontology, social psychology, international development, medical sociology, sociology of religion, social research methods, and social theory. A major or minor in sociology is beneficial to students planning careers in a variety of areas, including business, law and law enforcement, international development, medicine, and social work. Courses in sociology fulfill Core Curriculum requirements in the social and behavioral sciences in Arts and Sciences and the university.

A student majoring in sociology must complete 30 hours in sociology; 18 hours should be advanced. A maximum of 9 hours of transfer credit may be accepted for the major. Specific course requirements are as follows:

1. SOC 1301, 3391, 3392, and 4395.
2. Either SOC 3393 or 3394. Students expecting admission to graduate work in sociology should take both of these courses.

Criminology Concentration. Sociology majors who wish to specialize in the study of criminology and receive the notation “Criminology Concentration” on their transcripts are required to complete five three-hour courses (15 hours) with a grade of C or better from two groups of courses as specified below.

1. Two core courses as follows, all of which must be taken: SOC 3327 and 4325
2. Three alternate courses to be chosen from among the following: ANTH 2305, 4343; PSY 4384; SOC 3335, 3368, 3383, and 4327

The sociology major with a concentration in criminology requires a total of 36 hours.

A student minoring in sociology must complete 18 hours of sociology, including SOC 1301. No more than 6 hours of transfer credit will be accepted for the minor.

Students must receive a grade of C or better in each sociology course if they wish it to count toward a major or minor in sociology or in the criminology concentration.

The minimum prerequisite that is recommended for all advanced courses is SOC 1301 or consent of instructor, unless otherwise indicated in the course description. Freshmen and sophomores who wish to take an advanced course are required to obtain the consent of the instructor in writing. All sociology courses except SOC 3391 provide credit in the individual or group behavior category of the university’s social and behavioral sciences Core Curriculum requirements.

Teacher Education. Consult the College of Education section of this catalog for teacher certification requirements.

 

Anthropology Program

The Anthropology Program reflects the broad scope of the discipline, including the four areas of sociocultural and physical anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics. Well-equipped laboratories support research in archaeology and physical anthropology. The Summer Field School in Archaeology and field trips in Texas and the surrounding region are highlights of the curriculum. Sociocultural anthropology includes special emphasis on the multicultural United States, Latin America, Caribbean, and Southeast Asia.

A student majoring in anthropology must complete 31 semester hours in anthropology, including ANTH 2100, 2300, 2301, 2302, /4305, 3305, 3310 or 3311, and one alternate course to be chosen from the following: ANTH 3342, 3343, 3344, 3345, 3347, and 3348. A maximum of 9 hours of transfer credit may be accepted for the major. With prior departmental approval, 3 advanced hours in related disciplines may be counted toward the major. A minor in anthropology consists of 18 hours, with at least 6 hours in upper-level courses. No more than 6 hours of transfer credit will be accepted for the minor. A grade of C or better must be received in each anthropology course by those working for a major or minor in the subject. No more than 6 hours of individual studies or field courses may be credited to the major.

Anthropology courses provide distribution credit in three areas of Arts and Sciences: humanities, natural science, and social and behavioral sciences. Courses so indicated give humanities or natural science credit; some others give social and behavioral sciences credit. In addition, anthropology courses fulfill a variety of humanities and social science requirements in other colleges of the university. Students in these colleges should check with advisors in their major departments to learn which anthropology courses fulfill their college and Core Curriculum requirements.

 

Social Work Program

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work degree (B.S.W.) at Texas Tech is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Those who graduate with a social work major from this program are eligible to sit for the Baccalaureate Level Social Work Licensure Exam in Texas and in many other states. The curriculum is based on the generalist social work model that is intended to prepare graduates to work in a wide variety of social work settings with diverse populations. A graduate of the program should be prepared for several types of entry-level social work positions in public, private, and voluntary social agencies. Certain professional concentrations in social work require completion of social work graduate training. For those interested in pursuing their social work education at the master’s level (M.S.W.), the B.S.W. curriculum provides an important foundation. This foundation enhances an application for advanced standing in most graduate schools of social work that typically reduces the number of hours required at the graduate level. The Texas Tech social work program also offers a minor in social work.

Social Work Major. To become a social work major, students must simply declare social work as their major through the College of Arts and Sciences. In addition to the Core Curriculum requirements of the university and enhancements by the College of Arts and Sciences, social work majors are expected to complete these courses in this order:

First take:

• SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology
• SW 2301 Introduction to Social Work (with or after SOC 1301)
• SW 3311 Human Behavior and the Social Environment:
  Systems (with or after SW 2301)
• Human Biology (before or with SW 3312)
  Choose either BIOL 1402 Biology of Animals,
  or ANTH 2300/2100 Physical Anthropology. A combination of BIOL 1403 and 1404 may be substituted for BIOL 1402.
• SW 3312 Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Lifespan
  (with or after SW 2301, with or after human biology)
• SW 3331 Social Work with Diverse Populations
• Statistics (or introductory research methods)
  Acceptable: MATH 2300, SOC 3391, PSY 3400

After successful completion of the above courses, social work majors will apply for candidacy in the Social Work Program.

After acceptance to candidacy, take together:

• SW 3332 Social Work Practice: Interaction Skills
• SW 3333 Social Work Practice: Macro Systems

Then take:

• SW 3334 Social Work Practice: Micro Systems
• SW 3339 Social Work Research and Evaluation (must be taken after statistics)

Finally, take:

• SW 4311 Social Policy and Social Welfare Legislation
• SW 4340 Field Placement Integrative Seminar
• SW 4611 Field Experience

SW 4311, 4340, and 4611 should be taken together. Note: Due to potential scheduling conflicts, students should not attempt to take other degree-required courses in their field placement semester.

Advising. Since most social work classes are sequential (building on previous classes), new social work majors are strongly encouraged to visit with the program director for advising as soon possible. In addition to the above 36 social work hours and their prerequisites, all social work majors are required to declare an 18-hour minor in another field at the time their degree plan is filed. Social work majors frequently minor in sociology, anthropology or psychology. Other fields considered as minors include specific foreign languages or American Sign Language, one of the human sciences, business, or education. The department recommends that social work majors discuss their options for a minor with the social work program director in an advising session.

Good Standing. Students may continue as a social work major as long as they remain in good standing in the program. To remain in good standing, the student must:

• Demonstrate compatibility with the social work profession. Compatibility is reflected in respect for social work ethical standards and values.
• Demonstrate potential for success in the social work profession.
  Potential for success is reflected in the ability to retain social work knowledge and perform social work skills at a level appropriate for progress in the program.
• Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in social work (SW) courses. Dropping below a 2.5 GPA in social work courses at any point is sufficient cause for a student to be placed on probation in the Social Work Program.

Candidacy in the Social Work Program. Any student at Texas Tech University may declare social work as a major. However, a student must apply and be approved for candidacy to enter and complete the practice courses, SW 3332 and SW 3333, which are necessary for the social work degree. Applications for candidacy will be reviewed by the faculty to ensure that the student is in good standing (refer to the above section) and to ensure that the student has successfully completed SW 2301, 3311, 3312 and 3331 with a grade of C or better in each while maintaining at least a 2.5 GPA in these social work classes. Depending on the circumstances, if candidacy is not approved, the student may be placed on probation and given one long semester to remedy the cause of the probation. The student will be notified by Texas Tech e-mail if probation is required.

Field Placement.The field experience allows students to demonstrate their abilities to assess client system situations and to apply generalist skills and the social work code of ethics with populations at risk across micro, mezzo and macro systems. It is a 400-hour closely supervised individual experience using social work knowledge, methods, skills, and ethics in a social agency selected and certified by the Social Work Program.

An Application for Field Experience must be completed early in the long semester prior to the field placement, usually while students are enrolled in SW 3334. The placement process can take several weeks to complete. An untimely delay in completion of the application and interviews may mean the postponement of the field placement by an additional semester. Some of the approved field sites require background checks before placement. Early in their social work education, social work majors should read, ask questions about, and sign the Field Expectations form (referred to as the green form). The field experience must be taken pass-fail. Only social work majors may participate. Professional liability insurance is required and payment is the responsibility of the student

Transfer Credit. Under the Texas Common Course Numbering System, the College of Arts and Sciences and the program typically will accept the equivalent of SW 2301, 3311 and 3312 for transfer, especially if these are from a CSWE accredited program, but will not accept transfer credit for SW 3331, 4311, 4340 or 4611. Requests for transfer credit for all other social work courses will be considered based on a faculty review of course syllabi to ensure course compatibility with the program goals and objectives and with the curriculum expected within the degree program. It is the intention of the social work program to avoid repetition of foundational courses taken through CSWE approved programs, if at all possible. The program will typically accept up to 9 hours of transfer credit for social work courses.

No Credit for Life Experience. The Social Work Program does not give credit for work or other life experiences.

Social Work Minor.Students majoring in other fields sometimes choose to enhance their educational programs by selecting a minor in social work. All Texas Tech students are encouraged to consider this option, especially those who may be working with diverse populations or in social service agencies. A minor in social work could be a helpful adjunct for nursing students, education majors, psychology majors, sociology majors, pre-med students, political science majors and students in several areas of human sciences. The purpose of the minor is to provide an understanding of social work knowledge, values, and perspective. It should be noted that a minor in social work does not prepare a student for the role of a professional social worker. In Texas, as in many other states, a social work major in a bachelors degree from a Council on Social Work Education accredited program is required to sit for the social work licensure exam. However, all of the courses required for the minor may be used toward a social work major if students opt to make social work their major at a later time.

Most students minoring in social work need to take the following courses:

• SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology
• SW 2301 Introduction to Social Work (with or after SOC 1301)
• SW 3311 Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Systems (with or after SOC 2301)
• Human Biology (before or with SW 3312). Choose either BIOL 1402 Biology of Animals, or ANTH 2300/2100 Physical Anthropology.. A combination of BIOL 1403 and 1404 may be substituted for BIOL 1402.
• SW 3312 Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Lifespan (with or after SW 2301 with or after human biology)
• SW 3331 Social Work with Diverse Populations

Sociology majors may not count SOC 1301 toward their minor, since it is required for their major. They may substitute either the policy class (SW 4311) or the research class (SW 3339) for SOC 1301. Note: SW 3339 has a prerequisite of statistics.

For further information, contact Helen Morrow, Ph.D., LCSW, Director of the Social Work Program, at helen.morrow@ttu.edu.Back to Top

 

Graduate Program

The graduate degree programs are designed to provide broad training for students who wish to enter a Ph.D. program, prepare for undergraduate or community college teaching, or pursue a nonteaching career for which M.A.-level training in sociology or anthropology is appropriate and useful. Both programs emphasize training in basic theory and methods.

Decisions on the program of study, specific courses, and thesis topics are made through consultation with the graduate advisor in each program and other faculty members as appropriate on the basis of the individual student’s background, interests, and objectives. With departmental approval, requirements may be amended for individuals with exceptional qualifications, or additional courses may be required for applicants with inadequate undergraduate preparation.

Thesis, Nonthesis Options. Students in the sociology program may select the thesis option or nonthesis option. The thesis option is strongly recommended for students who plan to continue their graduate studies by applying to a doctoral program. Students choosing the thesis plan in sociology are required to take 30 hours of coursework (including two required courses in theory and two in methods) plus 6 hours of thesis credit. They are also required to complete a thesis that is acceptable to the student’s departmental thesis committee and demonstrate proficiency in a computer language. Students may petition the Graduate Committee to substitute another organized course from within the department for one of the required theory and/or methods courses. Students choosing the nonthesis plan are required to take 36 hours of coursework (including one course in theory, two courses in methods, and 3 hours of SOC 5331). They are also required to complete a paper on a topic related to their professional interests that is acceptable to the student’s departmental committee.

Coursework. The sociology program allows coursework specialization in such areas as family, criminology and deviance, social psychology, social change, minority relations, demography, urban problems, medical sociology, gerontology, and sociology of religion. Six of the 30 hours required may be taken as a minor outside the department. Selection of a minor requires approval of the graduate committee. In the sociology program, in lieu of a foreign language, each student is required to demonstrate proficiency in computer analysis of data. A grade of B or better is required for graduate credit.

The anthropology core curriculum requires courses in the following four basic subfields: archeology, biological anthropology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology. The minimum requirements are 30 hours of coursework plus 6 hours of thesis credit. Students in the anthropology program are encouraged to use the minor to develop an area of emphasis either within the department (such as linguistics or sociology) or outside (such as biology, Latin American and Iberian studies, or museum science). A grade of B or better is required for graduate credit.

Assessment. In both the sociology program and the anthropology program, a final examination is required. In the sociology program the final examination in the thesis plan involves at least one of the various areas in sociology listed above. In the nonthesis plan the examination includes coursework taken, work experience outside the department, and the topic of the formal paper. In the anthropology program the final examination is related to the general area of the thesis topic.

Admission. General admission requirements are those established by the Graduate School. The best preparation is an undergraduate major in the same field, either sociology or anthropology, or equivalent. However, students from other fields are also encouraged to apply. More specific information regarding admission procedures or other aspects of the graduate programs may be obtained from either the sociology or the anthropology graduate advisor.Back to Top

 

Course Descriptions

• Anthropology (ANTH)
• Social Work (SW)
• Sociology (SOC)

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Faculty

Click here to view alphabetical listing of all TTU faculty and their academic credentials.

Jeffrey P. Williams, Ph.D., Chairperson

Professors: Johnson, Koch, Paine, Roberts, Tsai, Williams
Associate Professors: Dunham, Elbow, Ramirez, Schneider, Smithey, Walter
Assistant Professors: Bradatan, Durband, Houk, Lowe, Morrow, Wasserman
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