|
|
|
|
Master
of Science - Sociology Dr.
Lee Bidwell, Chair 434.395.2699,
bidwelllm@longwood.edu Dr.
Kenneth B. Perkins, Program Coordinator 434.395.2243,
perkinskb@longwood.edu GRADUATE
SOCIOLOGY AT LONGWOOD: APPLYING THE SCIENCE OF SOCIETY The
Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice Studies offers a program leading to the degree
of Master of Science - Sociology, with a concentration in Criminal Justice.
The mission of graduate sociology is an extension of the general mission
of Longwood University. The goal of graduate sociology is to develop in our
students qualities of the citizen-leader by providing graduate-level education
that emphasizes the applied use of sociological theories and methods. Students have
the opportunity to learn how to apply sociology through practica, real life
experience in their professional fields. With a program designed to serve
students who are already in a service profession related to sociology and those
seeking positions in these fields, we offer the kind of education that will
encourage professional growth and enhance leadership ability. The student
interested in the many fields of criminal justice will benefit from our
program's well-developed ties to various criminal justice and related
institutions throughout the region.
The program is unique in four ways. First, it is oriented to the
application of sociological theories and methods to social life. This includes
issues related to crime, juvenile delinquency, poverty, family violence, service
delivery, and human resources. Second, the program utilizes a balance of
on-campus and off-campus course offerings and a blend of traditional and
innovative time formats. These arrangements make the program especially
attractive for in-service professionals. Third, because it is grounded in the
liberal arts discipline of sociology, it is an appropriate degree program for
students in a variety of vocations. Fourth, the program is well-integrated into
local and regional criminal justice and social service agencies and is supported
by an advisory panel of distinguished professionals.
Graduate sociology at Longwood is offered on and off-campus. Currently,
our courses are offered off-campus at the Central Virginia Criminal Justice
Academy in Lynchburg. Courses are offered in several time formats, including
weekly meetings and four-weekends. COMPLETION
OF THE PROGRAM There
are two ways to complete the program. A student can pass a comprehensive
examination or write and defend a graduate thesis. The student electing to take
the comprehensive examination, must be enrolled in or have completed the 36th
credit hour. The student electing to write a thesis must complete a minimum of
27 hours of instruction prior to enrolling for thesis research credit hours.
Each student is assigned an academic advisor by the program coordinator. COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMINATION A
comprehensive examination is, as the name suggests, intended to assess a
student's overall grasp of sociology and its application to problems of social
life. It allows for a capstone type of integration of material and is an
important final check on the student's competency.
After the student has completed 24 credit hours, the student must secure
the agreement of three graduate faculty members from the department to serve on
his or her Comprehensive Examination Committee.
The student must ask one of these faculty members to chair the committee. The
Constitution of the Comprehensive Examination Committee form, for recording the
membership of the committee, may be found in the Student Handbook for Graduate
Sociology and is available from the graduate coordinator. The completed form
should be given to the graduate coordinator.
A student who has elected to take the comprehensive examination must be
completing the 36th hour of course work in the semester or summer session in
which he or she takes the examination or have completed the 36th hour the
previous semester.
No fewer than 90 days prior to taking the examination, the student must
complete the Intent to Take a Comprehensive Exam form (available in the
departmental office) signifying his or her
intention to take the examination during a specific semester or summer session.
This form must be signed by the chairperson of the student's Comprehensive
Examination Committee, and a copy must be submitted to the coordinator of graduate
sociology.
The student must then enroll in SOCL 699 – Comprehensive Examination
no later than the last day to add a course in the semester or summer session in
which they wish to take the exam.
The
student's Comprehensive Examination Committee will be responsible for the
preparation, administration, and evaluation of the comprehensive examination.
These general rules will apply to the administration of the examination:
1. The exam shall be designed
to evaluate the student's written expression, ability to reason sociologically,
and skill in applying sociological theories, methods, and knowledge in one
content area of sociology.
2. A reading list shall be
provided to the student at the beginning of the semester in which he or she is
to take the comprehensive exam.
3. The exam shall consist of
no fewer than three and no more than five essay questions.
4. The examination will be
administered in either a one-day sitting or over a two-day period (as in a
weekend) as agreed to by the student and the committee.
5. The examination will be
taken at a site agreed upon by the Examination Committee and the student.
6. The grading of the exam
will be pass/fail. The student's Examination Committee must reach a consensus
for a "pass" grade.
7. The chair of the
Examination Committee will communicate, in writing, the outcome of the
examination's assessment to the student, the Dean of Graduate Studies and to
the Registrar. THESIS A
thesis is a manuscript that documents systematic inquiry into a research
question. It, like a comprehensive examination, allows for a capstone type of
integration of material.
A student should register for SOCL 600 – Thesis Research after earning
27 credits. The student will earn six credits for the thesis research course
upon successful completion of an oral defense of the thesis. Successful course
work, thesis preparation and defense will result in a total of 33 credit hours.
A student interested in the thesis option should begin exploring thesis
possibilities with instructors soon after entering the program. The graduate
faculty will assist students in the choice of a thesis director and committee
members. The committee must consist of a thesis director and two other graduate
sociology and anthropology faculty who are qualified to serve as committee
members and readers of the thesis. As soon as the student has secured members of
the thesis committee, he or she must develop an acceptable thesis proposal. This
proposal must be approved and signed by the committee and the department chair.
After the thesis committee has approved the proposal, the student may be asked
to defend orally the proposal.
The student must conduct research and report the results in the
appropriate sociological format. The thesis should demonstrate originality and
understanding of the chosen topic.
The student must pass an oral examination on the subject of the thesis
and related questions. The official examiners will consist of the three
committee members. An Oral Examination scheduling form (available in the Office
of Graduate Studies) must also be filed with the
program coordinator and the Office of Graduate Studies at least four weeks prior
to the oral examination (defense) date.
The completed thesis, when approved and defended, will carry the
signatures of the members of the thesis committee. The student will supply three
copies of the thesis, two of which will be placed in the Longwood Library and
another in the department library (see the Academic Regulations section of this
catalog for general requirements for writing the thesis). The student will
provide an abstract of the thesis of not more than 400 words to be filed in the
Office of Graduate Studies. CRIMINAL
JUSTICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE The
Criminal Justice Research Institute was established in 1997 to promote research
on criminal justice issues. The purpose of the Institute is to contribute to the
examination of criminal justice policy by providing a setting in which academics
and criminal justice system personnel can join together to apply scholarly
research to policy development and analysis. The institute initiates original
research projects and responds to requests from policy and private agencies
within the community.
Recent institute projects include evaluations of police community
relations in several local communities. Current and future research projects
will continue to explore police community linkages, as well as specialized topics,
such as domestic violence and juvenile justice.
For more information, contact the institute coordinator, Dr. Debra S.
Kelley, (434.395.2692 or kelleyds@longwood.edu). CERTIFICATE
IN SOCIAL POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION The
graduate Sociology program offers a twelve-credit hour (four courses)
Certificate in Social Policy and Administration. Social policy can be understood
to encompass federal and state legislation and administrative policy in specific
agencies. This policy is aimed at public issues stemming from our society’s
attempt to adapt to social, demographic, environmental and technological change
and the attendant social problems. The purpose of this certificate would be to
enhance the career of in-service professionals in sociology-related fields.
These professionals would benefit by understanding the origin of social policy
initiatives, the content of policy, and current approaches to leadership,
administration, and finance. Course work in the certificate program could apply
towards the sociology Master of Science degree should an individual decide to
pursue the degree while enrolled in the certificate program.
Certificate course requirements include Socl 503-Research and Evaluation
Techniques I, Socl 516-Administration and Leadership in Organizations, Socl
518-Contemporary Social Problems and Policies, and Socl 525-Policy Formulation
and Implementation.
Additional information and applications can be obtained from the Graduate Sociology
Program Coordinator or the Sociology Department. SOCIOLOGY/CRIMINAL
JUSTICE, THESIS PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS
REQUIRED
Courses.
(18) SOCL
501
Sociological Theory (3) SOCL
502
Criminological Thought (3)
SOCL
503
Research and Evaluation Techniques I (3) SOCL
504
Research and Evaluation Techniques II (3)
SOCL
600
Thesis Research (6) REQUIRED
ELECTIVE
COURSES. (15) Select five* courses from the following: SOCL
505
Issues in Criminal Justice (3) SOCL
506
Sociology of Policing (3) SOCL
507
Corrections (3) SOCL
508
Urban and Rural Culture (3) SOCL
509
Comparative Family Systems (3) SOCL
510
Sociology of Criminal Law and Civil Liberties (3) SOCL
511
Ethnic and Racial Groups in the United States (3) SOCL
512
Corrections for Special Populations (3) SOCL
513
Demography (3) SOCL
514
Police and the Community (3) SOCL
515
Juvenile Delinquency (3) SOCL
516
Administration and Leadership in Organizations (3) SOCL
517
Small Group Dynamics (3) SOCL
518
Contemporary Social Problems and Policies (3) SOCL
519
Revolution and Terrorism (3) SOCL
520
Victimization (3) SOCL
521
White Collar Crime (3) SOCL
522
Field Practicum (3, 3) SOCL
523
Women and Crime (3) SOCL
524
Family Violence and the Criminal Justice System (3) SOCL
595
Special Topics/Topics vary (3) *OUTSIDE
OF DEPARTMENT ELECTIVE COURSES. EDUC
521
Human Growth and Development (3) EDUC
605
Theories and Techniques for Counseling (3) PSYC
540
Applied Behavior Analysis (3) PAD601
Principles of Public Administration (3) VCU Course PAD607
Public Human Resource Management (3) VCU Course PAD609
Financial Management in Government (3) VCU Course TOTAL
HOURS REQUIRED
33 SOCIOLOGY/CRIMINAL
JUSTICE, COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS REQUIREd
Courses.
(12) SOCL
501
Sociological Theory (3) SOCL
502
Criminological Thought (3)
SOCL
503
Research and Evaluation Techniques I (3) SOCL
504
Research and Evaluation Techniques II (3) SOCL
699
Comprehensive Examination (0)
REQUIRED
ELECTIVE
COURSES. (24) Select eight* courses from the following: SOCL
505
Issues in Criminal Justice (3) SOCL
506
Sociology of Policing (3) SOCL
507
Corrections (3) SOCL
508
Urban and Rural Culture (3) SOCL
509
Comparative Family Systems (3) SOCL
510
Sociology of Criminal Law and Civil Liberties (3) SOCL
511
Ethnic and Racial Groups in the United States (3) SOCL
512
Corrections for Special Populations (3) SOCL
513
Demography (3) SOCL
514
Police and the Community (3) SOCL
515
Juvenile Delinquency (3) SOCL
516
Administration and Leadership in Organizations (3) SOCL
517
Small Group Dynamics (3) SOCL
518
Contemporary Social Problems and Policies (3) SOCL
519
Revolution and Terrorism (3) SOCL
520
Victimization (3) SOCL
521
White Collar Crime (3) SOCL
522
Field Practicum (3, 3) SOCL
523
Women and Crime (3) SOCL
524
Family Violence and the Criminal Justice System (3) SOCL
595
Special Topics/Topics vary (3) *OUTSIDE
OF DEPARTMENT ELECTIVE COURSES. EDUC
521
Human Growth and Development (3) EDUC
605
Theories and Techniques for Counseling (3) PSYC
540
Applied Behavior Analysis (3) PAD
601
Principles of Public Administration (3) VCU Course PAD
607
Public Human Resource Management (3) VCU Course PAD
609
Financial Management in Government (3) VCU Course TOTAL
HOURS REQUIRED
36 |
