"Welcome to the Department of Sociology web site. On behalf of our faculty and students, I welcome you to learn about our discipline and our department.If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me. I wish you success in your future careers and hope to see you in our department." Dr. Chad Richardson, Interim Dept Chair, Sociology Department.

Our Discipline:

Sociology is a vibrant and exciting discipline. Underlying sociology is the idea that our personal attributes, while important, cannot adequately explain why we behave as we do. For sociologists, human behavior is powerfully influenced by our different social situations and the understandings or meanings we share (our culture). These social situations and shared meanings are “social forces” that exert pressure on us to behave in ways that may even run counter to our personalities. As we better understand these social forces, we can explain such things as why crime rates, divorce rates, and dropout rates go up or down, or why they are higher for some social groups than for others. Over the past 100 or so years, sociological research has produced an extensive body of knowledge, much of which is taught in other disciplines such as business, education, criminal justice, counseling, and medicine. Sociologists have also been at the forefront in developing scientific methods of research, including survey research, opinion polls, participant observation, and focus groups. For more information about the degree plans, you may contact Dr. Dejun Su (Graduate Student Advisor), Mr. Juan Bustamante (Undergraduate Advisor) or Jesse Medina (Secretary).

"What could I do with a bachelor’s degree in sociology?"
A BA in sociology is an excellent preparation for positions in business, social service, and government. Employers in these fields appreciate the skills and the knowledge that sociology provides. Sociology also offers valuable preparation for careers in journalism, politics, public relations, criminal justice, business, or public administration. A bachelor’s degree can also lead to a post-graduate degree and to becoming a professor, a researcher, or an applied sociologist. Many students choose sociology because it provides a broad liberal arts base for professions such as law, education, medicine, social work, and counseling. [For more information, see: http://www.asanet.org/cs/root/leftnav/careers_and_jobs/]

"What could I do with a Master’s degree in sociology?"
With a Master’s degree, you could teach in a community college. You could also enter corporate, non-profit, and government jobs as a director of research, a policy analyst, a consultant, a human resource manager, or a program manager. In addition, you could become a research analyst, a survey researcher, a statistician, an urban planner, a community developer, a criminologist, or a demographer. With additional specialized training, you could become a counselor, a therapist, or a program director in a social service agency. Some holders of a Master’s degree in sociology work closely with economists, political scientists, anthropologists, psychologists, social workers, and others who appreciate sociology's contributions to interdisciplinary analysis and action.

A Heartfelt Farewell

As he enters retirement, the Sociology Department would like to thank Dr. Kelly F. Himmel for his 15 years of service to the University of Texas Pan American, and most importantly to the department. He will be surely missed by not only the faculty and staff but by his students as well. Dr. Himmel is a man of few words, but he is also a man of the right words. The Sociology Department, including all of his students, would also like to wish Dr. Himmel the best of luck in the next chapter of his life.

Contact Information
Phone : (956)-381-3321
Fax :(956)-381-2343
Location: SBSC 344