Concentrations

Requirements for Concentrations

Students may choose to acquire specialized skills and knowledge by pursuing a concentration. The Sociology Department at Roanoke College offers three different concentrations available to sociology majors and other students. Listed below are the requirements of these three concentrations. Sociology majors may pursue any concentration offered in any department.

Health Care Delivery; Coordinator: Dr. Gregory Weiss

The Health Care Delivery track is designed for students interested in a career involving the delivery of health care services. It is anticipated that these students will pursue their education in medical school, nursing school, pharmacy school, a school of public health, or a school of allied health, or will pursue a career (with an undergraduate degree) in a health setting such as a medical clinic, counseling center, a voluntary health agency, nursing home, or insurance company.

The concentration in health care delivery requires completion of the following six courses (and their prerequisites): Psychology 230 (Abnormal Psychology); Sociology 223 (Ethics and Medicine); Sociology 227 (Medical Sociology); either Psychology 210 (Child Development) or 211 (Adolescent Development), or 212 (Adult Development and Aging); either Economics 227 (Health Care Economics) or Psychology 260 (Human Sexuality) or Sociology 241 (Introduction to Social Welfare); or Interdisciplinary 116 (Perspectives on Death and Dying); and an internship in a health-related setting. Students interested in this concentration should see Dr. Weiss for additional information and to declare the concentration.

Information Analysis; Coordinator: Dr. Gil Dunn

The concept of the information analyst blends traditional liberal arts education with specific skills in the acquisition, analysis, and dissemination of information. It provides coursework in areas related to the collection, analysis, and communication of information.

The concentration in information analysis requires the following six courses (and their prerequisites): Sociology 351 (Research Methods); Sociology 352 (Data Analysis); CPSC (Introduction to Computers); Sociology 421 (The Information Society); Philosophy 122 (Logic); either English 219 (Journalism) or 222 (Advanced Composition); and either COMR 410 (Community Research Practicum) or Sociology 406 (Independent Study). Students interested in this concentration should see Dr. Dunn for additional information and to declare the concentration.

Social Work; Coordinator: Prof. Eberle Smith

The Social Work concentration is interdisciplinary in its approach drawing from sociology, psychology, and social work. During the senior year, students apply that knowledge and skills through a placement with a social service agency. Opportunities are varied and include placements in the juvenile justice system, health care agencies, the mental health system, child welfare agencies, and organizations for the aged.

The concentration in social work requires the completion of the Sociology major (two Social Work courses can count toward the 11 required units) and the following seven courses: Social Work 241 (Introduction to Social Welfare); Social Work 341 (Social Work Practice); 441 (Field Integrating Seminar); and 442 (Field Instruction in Social Work); Psychology 230 (Abnormal Psychology); and either Psychology 210 (Child Development) or 211 (Adolescent Development) or 212 (Adult Development and Aging). Sociology 239 (Aging and Society) can be substituted for Psychology 212. Students interested in this concentration should see Professor Smith for additional information and to declare the concentration.

Students with majors in other disciplines may take the Social Work sequence (with the Coordinator's permission), but the concentration will not be included on the transcript.

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