Sociology and Criminal Justice
Mission Statement
Adrian College’s affiliation with the United Methodist Church informs the values, principles, and behavior of the College, its students, and the programs in Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Women and Gender Studies. Methodism’s founder, John Wesley, advocated a Christian faith that emphasized a social consciousness. Adrian College’s founder, the abolitionist Asa Mahan, emphasized the “power of action” and the “intrinsic value” of all human beings. Together, these ideals form the foundation of our programs to encourage an active concern for peace and justice toward the diversity of humanity, particularly among those who are historically under-represented.
The mission of the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology program is to rigorously prepare students with an understanding of the concepts, research methods, and theory foundations necessary for graduate school or career placement. The program emphasizes social activism, applying sociology to hands-on experiences in academic service learning, community-based research, and internships in community agencies. This practical focus develops critical thinking skills and empirical data analysis to aid students in fields as diverse as criminal justice, politics, social work, corporate consulting, education, and community services. Consistent with the mission and principles of Adrian College, students will deepen their ability to be thoughtful, caring, inclusive, and active persons committed to human rights and social justice, while trained in the liberal arts tradition.
The mission of the Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice program is to ensure that students are knowledgeable professionals in the field of criminal justice, with generalist expertise and a specific focus on either law enforcement, corrections, or legal principles. The program emphasizes equitable functioning of the criminal justice system, focusing on rigorous data collection and analysis, theories regarding the behavior both of criminals and of the system itself, and field placement in competitive internships. This practical focus develops critical thinking skills and empirical data analysis to aid students in their work as probation officers, corrections officers, law enforcement officers, lawyers, legal administrators, and juvenile court specialists. Consistent with the mission and principles of Adrian College, students will deepen their ability to be thoughtful, caring, inclusive, and active persons committed to social justice, human rights, and constitutional remedies to errors or abuses of power, while trained in the liberal arts tradition.
The mission of the Women and Gender Studies program is to present an interdisciplinary reflection of the role of gender (and gender difference) in shaping society, culture, history, intellectual traditions, and the arts. The program emphasizes the experience of women and the construction of gender roles, identities, and stereotypes in a variety of contexts, particularly with respect to their intersection with race, ethnicity, and social class. Students are introduced to the often-neglected contributions of women in such areas as the sciences, medicine, the humanities, social science, and the arts. Consistent with the mission and principles of Adrian College, students will deepen their ability to be thoughtful, sensitive, and effective individuals across a breadth of academic and professional settings, while trained in the liberal arts tradition.
These programs continue the tradition of commitment to the values of social action, peace and justice, and inclusion. Students from all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to thoughtfully and critically assess their values and behavior, now and in the future. Students are also challenged to develop intellectual and interpersonal skills to actuate these principles.