At Evansville, students choose from five major areas of study within the sociology major: anthropology, criminal justice, general sociology, gerontology, and preprofessional social work. While each specialization has its own focused course work, the following courses are required of all sociology students. These classes provide basic information that is necessary to understand human behavior.

Anthropology
Anthropologists study both prehistoric and contemporary cultures. The discipline is subdivided into cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics and physical anthropology. In addition, several specific applications of anthropology have developed in recent years, such as medical anthropology and forensic anthropology. Our department focuses on non-Western societies and a major or minor is recommended for international business majors or students planning to pursue graduate work in anthropology.

Criminal Justice
Our comprehensive criminal justice curriculum provides students with a thorough understanding of how the criminal justice system operates in society. This specialization prepares students for careers and graduate study in criminal justice. Students interested in practicing criminal law may choose criminal justice as an appropriate pre-law major. For students interested in graduate study, careers are available in teaching, policy, and research.

General Sociology
Our general sociology program is designed for students who want to explore and learn about human behavior and who seek a learning environment that will challenge them to make the most of their abilities. Sociology requires mastering a broad range of analytical and theoretical skills.

Gerontology
While the discipline of gerontology dates back to the mid 1950s, it is one of the newer behavioral sciences. As the population ages, professional gerontology positions are expected to increase. Many students who are interested in pursuing studies in gerontology earn a graduate degree in an area such as social work or health care administration.

Preprofessional Social Work
Social workers use their knowledge and skills to help others solve problems. Social work is often divided into four levels of practice: basic professional, specialized professional, independent professional, and advanced professional. While our social work students are prepared for direct entry into the job market, our basic emphasis is on preparing students for graduate study in social work. Most professional social work jobs in the mental health field and in social administration require at least a master’s degree.