HANDBOOK- INTRODUCTION

Disclaimer

If you are anticipating a course of study in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology you are hereby advised that the current Missouri State Undergraduate Catalog contains essential information concerning requirements for graduation as well as requirements for completing any chosen degree(s) in the university.

The Sociology Student Handbook is not intended as a substitute for either the Missouri State Undergraduate Catalog or for the advice of a qualified academic advisor in our department. You are encouraged to use all three resources in reaching decisions about your academic career at Missouri State.

Since graduation and other requirements change from time to time, this Handbook may become outdated - so always check to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.

Welcome!

Welcome to the Sociology Student Handbook! We're happy that you are interested in our programs of study -- and we have several from which you may choose. Your desire to know more about sociology is not surprising. Since sociology is the study of the social causes and consequences of human behavior, most people have a great deal of interest in the subject matter of our field. Most of us want to know more about ourselves, each other and the society in which we live and the study of sociology provides an opportunity to do this.

Sociologists, people who use the sociological perspective, bring a great deal of value to today's fast-paced and global environment. They have a special sensitivity to the role of the individual in society and the impact society has on the individual.

They are as aware of the differences between people in a given culture and between cultures as they are of the similarities. The special knowledge sociologists have is used in both the private (business) and public (government) sectors of the economy to the benefit of all those they serve ... from the family counselor with a background in sociology to sociologists using applied research skills in a marketing firm.

A more complete description of the careers in which students with sociology degrees find themselves is provided in Section VI of the Handbook.

About the Handbook

This Handbook was written by Dr. Mike Carlie (a member of the Missouri State Sociology Program). He wrote it in order to answer questions students may have about choosing a major and a minor, how to get the most out of the university's General Education Requirements, the Sociology Major (B.S. or B.A.), the Sociology Minor (B.S. or B.A.), internship and practicum opportunities in sociology, career opportunities in sociology, and opportunities for graduate study in this field. All of this information and more may be found in these pages.

For the remainder of the Handbook the Department of Sociology and Anthropology will simply be referred to as "the Department."

Advisement

Students wishing to major in Sociology should come to the department office (PACB 451) and request an Application to a Degree Program form from the secretarial staff. The student fills out Part A, meets with the Department Head to be assigned an advisor, meets with his/her advisor, and returns the completed Application to the Degree Program Office (3rd floor, Carrington Hall).

When a student declares a major in Sociology, that student is provided with a Sociology faculty member as his or her academic advisor. Students minoring in Sociology will not have a formal advisor in Sociology (their advisors will be in their major departments), but are welcome and expected to confer with Sociology faculty whenever needed.

Some students majoring in Sociology and minoring in Crime and Society (CAS) may not have a CAS faculty member as their advisor. Should this happen, those students are encouraged to meet informally with any of the CAS faculty to obtain advice on courses, careers, graduate study, or any other matter related to the field of criminal justice.

Alpha Kappa Delta

Alpha Kappa Delta is a national honorary sociology fraternity. Membership is by initiation only. To be eligible you must be enrolled at Missouri State, be a junior, have completed 12 hours in Sociology, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

It's an honor to be a member of this organization since many of our faculty and sociology faculty across the nation are members. Each Spring, just before commencement, the department holds an entertaining induction ceremony for all new members. If you have the right stuff, be sure to apply! It doesn't cost much and it's a good professional move. Contact the department Head for more information. You can learn more about Alpha Kappa Delta by clicking here.

Scholarships and Proctoring in Sociology

Students interested in competing for scholarships in Sociology are advised to check with the Office of Financial Aids or with the Department. In addition to several possible sources of financial aid at the university level, the Department offers a scholarship program for its students.

The Walter O. Cralle Scholarship honors Dr. Cralle, who was instrumental in establishing sociology as a viable discipline at Missouri State. The scholarship is awarded to one or two deserving students each semester and covers the cost of tuition.

In addition to the Cralle Scholarship the department has several paid positions available for student proctors. Proctors are students who assist faculty with grading and other matters related to the large sections of SOC 150 (Introduction to Society). Some proctors administer labs for statistics classes and/or provide other services as deemed appropriate by the faculty to whom they are assigned.

If you are interested in applying for the position of student proctor or want more information about the scholarships, speak with our departmental secretary in PACB 451 on a weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or drop her an email.

All department programs and activities are open to persons without regard to race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin or disability. Individuals with disabilities may request any needed accommodations as provided by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).