Additional Links

Rockford University Institutional Review Board Policies

NIH Office of Extramural Research Protecting Human Research Participants Course Training (NIH PHRP)

U.S. Census Bureau

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U.S. Department of Labor

Professional Associations

American Anthropological Association

American Sociological Association

Arlene Jackson Pre-Social Work Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 1998 as a memorial to Arlene Jackson, the first instructor in social work at Rockford University. This award goes to a student who has a minimum GPA of 3.25, has declared a pre-social work major, and is chosen by the scholarship committee of the Pre-Social Work Advisory Board. The student must submit a 2-5 page typed statement to be considered.

Bonnie Lynne Keith Albracht Memorial Scholarship

Established in 1990 by Barbara S. and Robert B. Keith, in memory of their daughter who attended Rockford University during the summers in the early 1960’s.  This scholarship is awarded to junior or senior students with financial need who are majoring in the helping professions.

Delman Prize in Anthropology and Sociology

The Delman Prize in Anthropology and Sociology was established to honor faculty emeriti. This award may be given to a student based on academic performance and grade point average criteria who has completed at least 30 credit hours in anthropology and sociology.

Leslie H. Geddes – Rockford Downtown Rotary Club Scholarship

Established in 1993 and based on annual renewal, this scholarship is awarded to outstanding students pursuing a career in the criminal justice field.

Stephen K. Alberts Memorial Scholarship in Criminal Justice

Established through individual and corporate gifts to the Rockford University Criminal Justice Advisory Board, this scholarship is awarded to part-time students who are majoring in anthropology & sociology with a criminal justice emphasis or pursuing the master of business administration degree with emphasis in criminal justice. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit and current full-time employment in the law enforcement field.

For more scholarship information relevant to this department, please visit the Academic Catalog (pdf).

Career Opportunities

Both anthropology and sociology are popular majors and minors for students planning futures in such professions as law, politics, social work, public health, urban planning, community relations and public administration, not to mention medicine and divinity school. Students also will find that numerous courses in criminal justice, management, marketing, business organization, labor relations, communication, journalism, recreation and nursing draw upon the principles, research techniques and findings of both sociology and anthropology.

Employers frequently look for potential employees with specific skills that are acquired in anthropology and sociology courses dealing with survey and research methods, statistics, population research and urban studies. With a number of these courses to their credit, students may find themselves at a competitive advantage as they develop interpersonal, analytical, problem-solving and communication skills essential for success in today’s competitive job market.

A variety of career opportunities exist for our graduates in both the public and private sector. Our graduates have found employment in a variety of law enforcement/criminal and juvenile justice agencies and social service agencies in areas of child welfare, elder services and community mental health services. Others have become teachers at various levels. For students who go on to graduate school, professional positions in teaching, research, museology and public administration are available. In addition, undergraduate study in anthropology and sociology is good preparation for business careers in local, national and international sales and marketing, and careers in law.

Internship Opportunities

Students enrolled in both the criminal justice and the pre-social work tracks are required to take a minimum of one, 4-credit academic internship as part of their major. Other majors may take internships. Department faculty and their advisors assist students with locating appropriate internship placement opportunities. Internships provide students the opportunity to get a “real world” experience in their field of career interest.

Where are they now?

Some of our recent alumni have gone on to graduate work in sociology, social work and law. Others have obtained positions in social service agencies, from child welfare to community mental health. Still others occupy positions of responsibility and leadership in criminal justice agencies. The current Rockford chief of police is a department alumnus as are a number of probation officers and police officers in Rockford and neighboring cities. Another alumnus is a federal prosecutor and many others have gone on to law school. One is even a U.S. marshal.

A Passion for Society

As majors in anthropology and sociology at Rockford University, students may pursue a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree and choose from the of concentrations of criminal justice and pre-social work. In each area, the all-college and divisional requirements ensure a strong liberal arts foundation for a more specialized program of study. Students may have a wide range of academic internship opportunities to work for a semester in an agency or organization in the community and earn credits toward graduation.

Majors and Tracks/Concentrations:

Anthropology/Sociology (B.A., B.S.)

• Criminal Justice
• Pre-Social Work

Course Requirements and Offerings

Rockford University’s Anthropology & Sociology Department offers students the opportunity to major in a number of concentrations, including anthropology (track currently under development), criminal justice and pre-social work. Degree requirements for these programs can be found in the academic catalog.

Department SLOs (Student Learning Outcomes)

SLO 1: Social Organization

Demonstrate knowledge of the properties of social organization, at both micro and macro levels, in different types of societies from preindustrial to postindustrial.

SLO 2: Social Change

Demonstrate knowledge of social change processes at group, institutional, and societal levels at different points of societal development.

SLO 3: Cultural Literacy

Develop an appreciation for the ways in which culture influences patterns of social organization and change in societies, traditional and modern.

SLO 4: Theory and Practice

Develop an understanding of the unity of theory and practice in the conduct of social scientific research and in the professional practice of social work and law enforcement professionals.

SLO 5: Social Science Research

Demonstrate knowledge of social scientific research process and methods.

SLO 6: Communication

Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral forms.

SLO 7: Critical Thinking

Think critically and act responsibly as informed students of social science.

Recent Syllabi

• More information in the Academic Catalog (pdf)

• Search course offerings and descriptions