Sociology
The mission of the Department of Sociology is to equip the next generation of scholar-practitioners to be professionally competent social scientists who are devoted to the public good.
We are a community of learners dedicated to comprehending the cultural and social dimensions of human existence. The program is based on a collaborative learning model wherein faculty and students work together to systematically study human cultural diversity and to analyze the complex relationship that exists between human beings and the social processes and the institutions they create.
We offer students rigorous preparation in social science theory and method and provide regular opportunities for field research with the aim of developing their capacity to apply social science to problem-solving in diverse professional contexts. Our faculty work closely with their students to help them discover their vocation and strengthen their engagement with and in Jesus’ kingdom. Finally, we strive to cultivate in our students a moral vision of professional life so that they remain committed to advancing public good in the vocations they pursue as Vanguard alumni.
Sociology Major
The sociology major seeks to equip student scholars with the theoretical, methodological, substantive and practical tools necessary to investigate, understand and engage contemporary and future social life.
Criminal Justice
The criminal justice major equips students to address the social problem of crime from a Christian perspective across various criminal justice professions and in non-profit and community settings. It will engage the spectrum of criminal justice issues from legal to social to ethical, preparing students for multiple careers within the field.
Criminology and Criminal Justice Minor
This minor presents students with the fundamental theories of criminology and the criminal justice system’s major elements: law enforcement, the courts and corrections. Students examine the social conditions that contribute to the development and spread of crime and consider various societal approaches to crime control.
Public Health Minor
The minor in Public Health teaches students about the social issues affecting health and wellness. Topics include social inequalities in health, culture change and social impact on mental and physical health. Health care leaders and policy makers increasingly recognize that understanding this subject is essential for professionals working toward a healthier society.
Social Work Minor
The Social Work minor introduces students to the profession of social work, examining its fields of practice and societal role. Students learn the various roles, functions and tasks that social workers perform across a variety of settings; and examine social workers’ duty to engage in social and economic justice on behalf of vulnerable and oppressed populations.
Sociology Minor
The minor in Sociology prepares students to be professionally-competent social scientists who are devoted to the public good. The minor requires that at least half of all units be taken at Vanguard University.
WHY CHOOSE A Sociology Major?