Department of Sociology & Criminology

Professor: Sechrist, Department Chair
Professors: Wallace, Hollingsworth
Assistant Professor: Wahl

Mission and Goals:

The Department of Sociology and Criminology combines two disciplines that complement each other. In both areas, the mission is for students to encounter academic content that integrates sociological and criminological theory, research, and practice. The goals of the Department are oriented toward preparing students to:

demonstrate critical thinking to address complex and real-world issues;
demonstrate effective communication to address complex and real-world issues;
demonstrate critical thinking concerning knowledge of the discipline;
demonstrate being able to orally communicate on a professional level; and
obtain a career-oriented job or gain graduate school admission.

Special Programs and Opportunities:

ASA Department Affiliate. The professional society for sociologists is the American Sociological Association. Since the Department is an affiliate of ASA, it keeps students abreast of what the profession is doing. ASA publications like Embarking Upon a Career with an Undergraduate Degree in Sociology and Guide to Graduate Programs are received each year.

ASC Membership. Faculty in the department hold memberships in the American Society of Criminology. The ASC is a professional organization oriented around fostering criminological research and education.

Southwestern Sociological Association. The Department is quite active with the regional professional society, Southwestern Sociological Association. Students have attended and presented sociology and criminology papers at the SSA annual conference. Annually the SSA sponsors an undergraduate paper competition.

ICPSR. The University is a member of the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. Through this association, students are granted access to social science datasets. The ICPSR sponsors a paper competition for undergraduate students each year.

Sociology and Criminology Club. The McMurry Sociology Club was organized in the fall of 1982. The group renamed, Sociology & Criminology Club, in 2017. The purpose of the Club is to promote the study of society, to enhance the understanding of careers and professionalization, and to encourage fellowship among students interested in sociology and/or criminology.

Alpha Kappa Delta. The Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, an international sociology honor society, was chartered at McMurry in 1990. The objective of AKD is to promote an interest in the study of sociology and the research of social problems. AKD sponsors a paper competition that inductees can participate in each year.

Departmental Awards for Sociology. Each spring, awards are presented to distinguished students. The Lawrence Britton Coll Award is given to the outstanding first year student in sociology. The Robert Dean Bouldin Scholarship is awarded to the outstanding sophomore. A junior student will receive the Everett and Orabeth Woods Scholarship. An outstanding senior major is given the Dan Dodson Award. Other sociology majors could receive the Esma Morris Cash Scholarship, the Arthur and Andrea Woods Scholarship, or the Morris Baker Award.

Departmental Awards for Criminology. Each spring the outstanding student in criminology receives the Edwin Sutherland Award.

Departmental Honors. Please see the description of the McMurry University Honors Program under the Special Program section earlier in the catalog.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Minor

Courses

Criminal Justice

Criminology

Sociology