Certificates and Letters
Certificates
Criminal Justice Certificate
For more than three decades, the nationally-ranked Sociology Department at UMass Amherst, through its Criminal Justice Certificate Program, has taken pride in providing the best and broadest traditional liberal arts education to students in the New England region planning careers in criminal justice. Because of recent innovations in higher education technology, we now offer new alternatives to traditional, often overcrowded classroom courses. In partnership with Continuing and Professional Education, the program offers distance learning courses that can be taken online anywhere in the world and all year round. Our students therefore have a wider choice of courses than ever before. Our courses are taught by experienced UMass Amherst and adjunct faculty--many of whom are nationally and internationally recognized experts engaged in cutting-edge research. This group currently includes a wide range of individuals from a retired chief of police with over 25 years of experience as an officer, sergeant, detective, and narcotics investigator to a university professor and behavioral scientist for the RAND corporation . Contact Assistant Director, Sarah O'Keefe, 732 Thompson Hall, 413 545-4075, cj@soc.umass.edu.
Population Studies Certificate
The certificate in Population Studies prepares undergraduate students for careers requiring demographic skills or for entering graduate programs in related areas. The certificate program is not a major in itself. It requires 15 semester hours of coursework, some of which may satisfy other University and major requirements. Applications of demographic analysis to the problems of human ecology are illustrated in the preparation of population estimates and forecasts, family planning, aging, migration, marriage and family structure, labor markets, gender, and environmental impact analysis, as well as the academic study of commnities. Contact Prof. Sanjiv Gupta 577-1773, Machmer W36D, sangupta@soc.umass.edu or the Undergraduate Advising Office 545- 4056, Thompson 724, advice@soc.umass.edu . For further detailed requirement information.
Letter in Social Welfare/Social Work
The Sociology Department offers a letter in Social Welfare/Social Work to students interested in studies leading to graduate work in social work or social policy, or preparation for employment in social welfare programs or social work agencies upon graduation.
Participating FacultySuzanne Model |
Race and Ethnicity, Social Inequality, Social Service |
Thompson 724 |
|
Richard Tessler |
Mental Health, Medical Sociology, Social Psychology |
Machmer W35B |
|
Lucille Halgin |
Childhood Psychopathology |
Tobin 403 |
Students who wish to learn about the Social Welfare/Social Work program may consult with either of the participating faculty members listed above. Formal application is made at the Sociology Undergraduate Office, Thompson Hall, Room 722. Students are advised to consult with participating faculty before proceeding with course planning. Upon receipt of evidence from the Undergraduate Registrar of satisfactory completion of the required work, the Chair of the Sociology Department will issue a letter of accomplishment to the student after their graduation. A copy of this letter will be kept in the Sociology department’s file.
Requirements:
Students must take six of the following social welfare/social work courses:Sociology
244 Sociology of Immigration
340 Race Relations
341 Social Welfare
383 Gender and Society
442 Sociology of Medicine
391W Introduction to Social Work
481 Sociol. of Mental Health
Political Science
181 Controversies in Public Policy
214 Urban Governmt. & Politics
220 Public Administration
280 Public Policy
380 Social Welfare Policy
381 Heath, Education & Arts Policy
Psychology
350 Child Psychology
355 Adolescent Psychology
360 Social Psychology
365 Psychology of Aging
370 Personality
380 Abnormal Psychology
Two of these courses must be Sociology courses.
One course must be a Political Science Course.
One course must be a Psychology Course.
The remaining two courses may be any two from the list above.
Contact the Undergrad. Advising Office (545-4056, Thompson 724) advice@soc.umass.edu or the Undergraduate Program Office Manager, Juliet Carvajal (545-4059, Thompson 722) jcarvajal@soc.umass.edu for an information sheet.
Letter in Social Research Analysis
The Sociology Department offers an Undergraduate Traineeship in Social Research Analysis (UTSRA). Its purpose is to master basic skills in gathering and analyzing data. Students completing the letter can expect to obtain entry level jobs in environments where research is conducted. The letter also provides a strong foundation for students wishing to pursue a Master’s Degree in fields like survey research, public health, program evaluation, market research, public policy and public administration,
Recipients need not be Sociology majors but formal application is made at the Sociology Undergraduate Office, Thompson 722. In selecting courses, students should consult the Program Co-ordinator, Professor Sanjiv Gupta (sangupta@soc.umass.edu) 577-1773.
Requirements
Students take three required courses, one approved elective course and 6 credits of graded internship. To receive the letter, a cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required in the 18 credits associated with the undertaking.
Courses
Sociol 212 Statistics
(an introductory statistics course in another department may be substituted for Sociol 212)
Sociol 213 Data Collection and Analysis
Sociol 314 Field Research Methods
Elective Course
To be certain of receiving credit, students must consult the Program Co-ordinator when choosing their elective. Possibilities include advanced courses in research methods in the Sociology Department as well as in other departments. Potentially acceptable choices include
Sociol 313 Survey Design and Analysis
Psych 241 Methods of Inquiry in Psychology
Res-Econ 313 Quantitative Methods in Applied Economics
Geo-Sci 352 Computer Mapping
PubHlth 390A Epidemiology in Public Health
Comm 355 Behavioral Research in Communication
Internship
To be certain of receiving credit, students’ internships must be approved by the Program Co-ordinator. In ordinary circumstances, students will enroll in two three-credit internships spread across two consecutive semesters, under the same sponsor. The Program Co-ordinator can help students locate sponsors. Possible sponsors include faculty members in the Sociology Department, faculty and professional staff registered with the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (1001 DuBois Library), or agencies registered with the Field Experience Office (Goodell 511). Graded internships appear on students’ records as Sociol 398.
