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Julie Collins-Dogrul, Sociology
Susan Gotsch, Sociology
Leslie L. Howard, Sociology, Emeritus
David Iyam, Anthropology
sal johnston, Sociology
Becky Overmyer-Velázquez, Sociology
Lisa Ibanez, Interim Director of Field Education, Social Work
Ann M. Kakaliouras, Chair, Anthropology and Sociology
Paula M. Sheridan, Program Director, Social Work

Sociology

Sociology is the study of social relations, associations, and institutions in human societies. It seeks to develop reliable understanding about the nature of social organization. In his work, The Sociological Imagination (1959), C. Wright Mills wrote, “Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both.” In other words, Mills claimed that the discipline of sociology is the study of the connection between individuals and society, between personal troubles and public issues. Understanding both the life of an individual, and the history and structure of a society, requires the sociological imagination. Sociologists, according to Mills, were in the unique position among social scientists of cultivating a sociological imagination that could grasp that individual’s actions, behaviors, histories, and seemingly “personal” troubles could only be understood as effects of social organization: as public issues. Mills’ hope was that through understanding the actual dynamics that shape our lives - individually and collectively - we would also develop the tools and strategies to effect positive social change.

Sociology at Whittier embraces this Millsian tradition and we believe that sociology, at its best, is not merely an academic pursuit, but rather a daily practice, a “thing lived”: a hopeful act of discovery and transformation. With greater Los Angeles as our muse, we invite you to re-envision your social world, and to act in and upon it.

A major in sociology provides graduates with a solid liberal arts background for a broad variety of careers. Our graduates are employed in fields such as professional sociology, urban planning, union organizing, community development, non-profit organizations, health services, education and teaching, juvenile and criminal justice systems, social work, social research and data analysis, public administration, law, politics, racial and minority relations, business, and local, state and federal government.

Anthropology

Anthropology asks the question, “What does it mean to be human?” Anthropologists seek the answers to that question by integrating varied sources of knowledge: How is being human affected by the dynamics between culture, the environment, and biology? What can we learn about the total repertoire of being human by looking at societies very different from middle class American society? How are we to understand the evolution of our uniquely biocultural species? What do archaeological sites reveal about past human societies? How can the reflexive nature of anthropology and anthropological practice better prepare us for living in today’s diverse and globalized world?

The study of anthropology prepares students to:

1. Better understand themselves in their own sociocultural context;
2. Better understand and communicate across cultural boundaries;
3. Prepare for careers involving social interaction and policy; for example, academic and applied anthropology, business, education, environmental protection, government, health, law, religion, social work, etc.; and
4. Prepare for graduate work in anthropology, business, foreign area studies, law, other social sciences and related fields.

Social Work

Social Work is a profession committed to the enhancement of social and human well-being, the alleviation of poverty and oppression, and the promotion of social and economic justice for all. The profession practices in a wide variety of local, national, and global settings including family services, child welfare, gerontology, justice systems, behavioral health and medical centers, military social work, drug and alcohol treatment, community organizations, political and social policy arenas. With awareness of the major social and technological changes taking place in our world, the Whittier College Social Work program prepares students for entry level positions in generalist social work practice where they can effectively address the variety of human welfare needs prevalent in a global society.

The undergraduate program in Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). It provides a professional foundation curriculum that contains the common body of knowledge, values, and skills of the profession. The Program specifies a common base of liberal arts courses to be taken prior to and concurrently with enrollment in the core foundation courses. The foundation courses are sequenced over three years; the program culminates in the senior year with an intensive, professionally supervised field practicum in a community agency, and an integrative seminar that is designed to help students assess their own attainment of social work competencies in the social work curriculum.

The Social Work Program Mission Statement:

The Whittier College undergraduate Social Work Program seeks to prepare diverse students to become self-reflective, compassionate, ethical, knowledgeable, and skilled generalist social workers who are committed to career-long learning. We prepare students to aid in the empowerment of marginalized groups, particularly vulnerable and oppressed communities. In all this, we collectively work for the advancement of human rights in local, national and global environments.

Affirming the historical roots and mission of Whittier College, the Social Work Program provides learning experiences that inspire students to become advocates for peace and social and economic justice. Student learning is a combination of “knowing” and “doing,” grounded in the liberal arts foundation of interdisciplinary, research-based knowledge, and problem-solving methodology. We value generalist skill development that prepares reflective social work practitioners committed to promoting human well-being. Our program is designed to equip the body of professionals who will nurture the profession for the twenty-first century.

Students majoring in other areas such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, history, economics, child development, pre-medicine, pre-physical therapy, environmental studies, business administration, public health, and education may also be interested in selected social work courses. Interested students are urged to consult full-time Social Work faculty for information about academic and professional opportunities.

Programs

• Anthropology Minor
• Anthropology, B.A.
• Anthropology/Sociology Intra-Departmental, B.A.
• Social Work Minor
• Social Work, B.A.
• Sociology Minor
• Sociology, B.A.

Courses

• ANTH 180 - Applied Community Development Workshop
• ANTH 190 - Selected Topics
• ANTH 200 - Biological Anthropology
• ANTH 205 - Archaeological Anthropology
• ANTH 210 - Cultural Anthropology
• ANTH 211 - Peoples and Cultures of Asia
• ANTH 212 - Peoples and Cultures of Africa
• ANTH 213 - Peoples & Cultures of Native America
• ANTH 214 - Peoples & Cultures of Latin America
• ANTH 215 - Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East
• ANTH 250 - Understanding Cultures
• ANTH 290 - Selected Topics
• ANTH 295 - Independent Study
• ANTH 300 - To Denmark and Beyond: Child and Family Well-Being in Workfare and Welfare States
• ANTH 310 - Theory in Anthropology
• ANTH 311 - Field Research: Crossing Cultural Boundaries
• ANTH 312 - Ethnographic Methods
• ANTH 321 - Expressive Arts of Africa
• ANTH 323 - Environmental Anthropology
• ANTH 327 - Sex and Gender in Anthropology
• ANTH 342 - Sound & Religious Experience
• ANTH 350 - Religion, Magic & Witchcraft
• ANTH 360 - History of the Race Concept in Anthropology
• ANTH 374 - The Cultural Contexts of Childhood
• ANTH 390 - Selected Topics
• ANTH 395 - Independent Study
• ANTH 490 - Selected Topics
• ANTH 495 - Independent Study
• SOC 180 - Applied Community Development Workshop
• SOC 190 - Selected Topics
• SOC 205 - Women and U.S. Politics
• SOC 214 - Statistics
• SOC 214L - Statistics - SPSS
• SOC 240 - Social Problems: Comparative & Global Perspectives
• SOC 241 - Self and Society
• SOC 242 - Crime, Justice, and Rebellion
• SOC 243 - Popular Culture
• SOC 244 - Social Class and Inequality
• SOC 245 - Green Politics
• SOC 270 - Death, Dying & Bereavement
• SOC 280 - Le Flanuer I
• SOC 281 - Le Flanuer II
• SOC 287 - Workshop in Urban Studies
• SOC 290 - Selected Topics
• SOC 295 - Independent Study
• SOC 300 - The Sociological Imagination
• SOC 302 - Social Theory in Social Context
• SOC 310 - Approaches to Social Research
• SOC 310L - Approaches to Social Research Lab
• SOC 311 - Field Research: Crossing Cultural Boundaries
• SOC 320 - Social Psychology
• SOC 326 - Diverse Identities
• SOC 328 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment
• SOC 330 - The Cultural Contexts of Childhood
• SOC 343 - Sociology of Health & Medicine
• SOC 346 - Social Power & Social Control
• SOC 348 - Food and Food Systems
• SOC 354 - Political Sociology
• SOC 355 - Migration & Immigrant Communities
• SOC 357 - Sociology of Development
• SOC 358 - Population Problems & Policy
• SOC 360 - Latin American Social Movements
• SOC 370 - Environmental Sociology
• SOC 377 - Comparative Urban Development
• SOC 378 - Work and Occupations
• SOC 386 - Racial and Ethnic Relations
• SOC 390 - Selected Topics
• SOC 395 - Independent Study
• SOC 407 - Senior Seminar A
• SOC 408 - Senior Seminar B
• SOC 412 - Preceptorship
• SOC 490 - Selected Topics
• SOC 495 - Independent Study
• SOWK 190 - Selected Topics
• SOWK 240 - Introduction to Social Work
• SOWK 241 - Introduction to Social Work
• SOWK 245 - Legal Issues in Social Work
• SOWK 270 - Death, Dying & Bereavement
• SOWK 290 - Selected Topics
• SOWK 295 - Independent Study
• SOWK 300 - To Denmark and Beyond: Child and Family Well-Being in Workfare and Welfare States
• SOWK 310 - Approaches to Social Research
• SOWK 310L - Approaches to Social Research Lab
• SOWK 340 - Social Work Practice I: Working with Individuals & Families
• SOWK 343 - Social Work Practice II: Working with Groups
• SOWK 363 - Social Work Practice III: Working with Communities & Organizations
• SOWK 364 - Social Welfare Policy & Services
• SOWK 373 - Human Behavior & the Social Environment
• SOWK 386 - The Welfare of Children
• SOWK 390 - Selected Topics
• SOWK 395 - Independent Study
• SOWK 408 - Integrative Seminar
• SOWK 412 - Social Work Practicum & Seminar I
• SOWK 412L - Social Work Practicum & Seminar I Lab
• SOWK 413 - Social Work Practicum & Seminar II
• SOWK 413L - Social Work Practicum & Seminar II Lab
• SOWK 414 - Social Work Practicum & Seminar III
• SOWK 414L - Social Work Practicum & Seminar III Lab
• SOWK 490 - Selected Topics
• SOWK 495 - Independent Study

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