2014-2015 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Social Sciences
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 Return to: Departments and Programs
Shaheen S. Munir, Chair
Criminology/Criminal Justice
Brian McQueen
New concentration within sociology major beginning Fall 2015.
Political Science
Bret L. Billet, Dani B. Thomas, Fredric A. Waldstein
The political science program, part of the Social Sciences Department, believes that knowledge of political science is a requisite for responsible citizenship and a necessity for anyone expecting to enter a career in law, public administration, law enforcement, civil service, or teaching.
Unique features of the program include American Legislature and Judiciary, a May Term course that offers study of national government for several days on location in Washington, D.C. An international political intern program with the German parliament, Deutsche Bundestag, is supervised by an arrangement with the University of Bonn in Germany.
Program goals:
- To instill a basic understanding of what constitutes “political questions,” whether of a normative or empirical character.
- To develop a foundation of substantive knowledge with respect to basic concepts, institutions, and processes within American, comparative, and international relations.
- To foster the ability to think and act critically about substantive public policy issues.
- To develop, through application, the ability to formulate and undertake research on problems of political significance.
- To promote an awareness of political science as an academic discipline defined by diverse (competing) paradigms, strategies, and techniques of analysis.
Department Recommendations
Students planning graduate work in political science are advised to complete a foreign language through the intermediate level, PS 321 Research Methods and Data Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences , and PS 421 Advanced Research Methods and Data Analysis .
Programs
American Government Teaching
For additional information on teaching majors and endorsements, see Education Department listings.
Psychology
Cynthia M. H. Bane, Andrea Eslick, Shaheen S. Munir, Todd C. Reiher
The psychology program, part of the Social Sciences Department, approaches psychology as an academic discipline, a profession, and a science. Faculty present the field of psychology as one that is diverse and exciting. All faculty members hold a Ph.D. degree in a specialized area of psychology and actively pursue professional and research interests. Students can collaborate with faculty members on a variety of projects and programs. Students may work with professional service providers in an off-campus field experience, gaining job-relevant skills and knowledge in a clinical, educational, or human services setting.
Program goals:
- Demonstrate command of theory, concepts, and methods in the core content areas of psychology (learning/memory, developmental, abnormal, clinical/counseling, and social/organizational).
- Compete successfully in entering B.A.-level human services-related jobs or graduate programs in psychology.
- Use critical thinking skills in evaluating psychological theory, research, and practice and apply accepted methods and principles of research in developing, conducting, and reporting an original psychology research project.
- Appreciate the role of psychology as a science and practice aimed at improving human welfare and understand the professional/ethical responsibilities that accompany this role.
- Demonstrate effective interpersonal relationship skills and a sense of professionalism in interactions with others (such as peers, clients, research participants, professionals, administrators).
- Communicate written and oral information in accordance with professional and scholarly standards.
Department Recommendations
Students majoring in psychology benefit from a concentration of courses in one or more related disciplines, such as business, computer science, economics, philosophy, political science, social work, or community sociology. A course sequence fitting students’ career objectives should be planned in consultation with a psychology faculty member.
Programs
Psychology Teaching
For additional information on teaching majors and endorsements, see Education Department listings.
Sociology
Daniel Sundblad
The discipline of sociology is the social scientific study of human groups and societies. The sociology major at Wartburg College focuses on developing conceptual and practical knowledge and skills in the discipline of sociology. We are an active interdisciplinary major in the department of social sciences that offers multiple opportunities for field research, domestic and international travel, and applied work and service learning opportunities to demonstrate and understand the relevance of sociology through experiential learning. There are many opportunities to collaborate with faculty in various projects and programs. The sociology major prepares students for a diverse range of careers in both public and private sectors and continued education toward a postgraduate degree. Program goals for students in the sociology major are:
- Use critical thinking to examine and evaluate a wide range of social phenomenon and organizations.
- Demonstrate command of theory, methods, and empirical examinations of society in a manner that furthers the discipline of sociology.
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills consistent with the professional expectations of the discipline.
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of the social, historical, political, and economic contexts of human groups, organization, and interactions.
- Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills, professional responsibilities, and ethical sensibilities in research and applied work.
- Compete successfully in being admitted to graduate programs in sociology and/or obtaining a professional position utilizing applied sociological expertise.
Programs
Sociology Teaching
Goal for students completing the teaching major in sociology (secondary education) is:
- To use effective and reflective teaching strategies designed to help secondary students learn basic concepts and principles in general sociology.
For additional information on teaching majors and endorsements, see Education Department listings.
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