Our mission is to provide high-quality programs of teaching, research, scholarship, and service within the disciplines of sociology and anthropology, thereby contributing to the advancement of the larger missions of our college and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The department draws on the diverse strengths and expertise of a highly dedicated faculty, with Ph.D. degrees from prestigious and nationally recognized universities throughout the nation.
Our core values include a commitment to the following:
- Multicultural diversity
- Academic freedom
- Respect for the intellectual diversity of faculty and students
- A work environment characterized by mutual respect, trust, and collegiality
- Excellence in teaching through high quality instruction
- Respect for and commitment to student needs and success
- Excellence in research and scholarship through presentations at regional, national, and international forums, publication in respected venues, and high quality primary research
Courses offered by the program are designed to help students acquire an analytical understanding of basic social processes, statuses, and roles in institutions. This understanding is designed to help them achieve a liberal education as well as prepare them for career opportunities in sociology and anthropology while providing a sound foundation for those who plan to undertake graduate studies in these fields.
Learning Outcomes for the Sociology major
By graduation, Sociology majors should be able to:
- use sociological theory to explain how the experiences of individuals are shaped by their relationships with others and by the groups and institutions to which they belong.
- employ ethical social science methods to obtain, analyze, and interpret data to test hypotheses, draw evidence-based conclusions, and present findings in written and oral form.
- develop cultural competency by understanding how multiple dimensions of identity in societies, including race, gender, class, sexuality, and citizenship status, intersect with individuals’ lives and create human diversity and inequality.
- use sociological knowledge and skills to engage with and impact the world around them.
