Department of Sociology/Anthropology
Mission Statement

We see our special contribution to a liberal education to be the increase of our students' awareness of society and culture as contests which shape the quality of human life.  Sociology and anthropology provide the benefits that other Arts and Sciences major do: broad knowledge of the world, the ability to be lifelong learners, to critically analyze problems, and to communicate effectively.  In addition, we believe that sociology and anthropology provide perspectives and skills that are unique: knowledge about human cultures and social systems; and, techniques for studying and analyzing them.  We want to enhance students' awareness and understanding of variety in the world.  We hope to reduce the parochialism of all without undermining the faith of any.  We believe that we have a particular responsibility to assist students to prepare for a variety of career options and possibilities.

What we do has educational, occupational, and personal relevance.  We want to demonstrate that relevance in the classroom, in our advising, and in our personal relationships with students.  Despite our different interests and styles, as faculty members we have a common commitment to becoming the best teacher-scholars that we can.  We strive to share with our students the value and excitement of disciplined intellectual inquiry, and to integrate our scholarship with our teaching.  We encourage and support one another and our students in scholarly, educational, and personal endeavors.  We work to create an environment of collegiality among ourselves as faculty and between ourselves and our students.  We believe that this process is enhanced by minimizing social distance between students and faculty.  It is important to us to help persons to discover their own potential.  Quite simply, we want to be the best undergraduate department that we can be.

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