News & Events
- Please welcome our three outstanding new faculty members!
Dr. Darcy Leach
Assistant Professor of SociologyDr. Marwin Spiller
Assistant Professor of SociologyDr. Jill Wightman
Assistant Professor of Anthropology
About Sociology
Sociology is a dynamic and powerful tool to understand the way people organize themselves into families, groups, communities, cities and organizations, and societies.
Our courses offer a range of methodologies and research techniques that can be applied in a variety of fields such as administration, criminal justice, the provision of medical care, guidance and counseling, and public policy. In addition, exposure to theoretical and methodological issues as well as to comparative, historical, and critical analyses provides those students who want to pursue graduate work with a very strong academic background.
The Sociology Program makes a special effort to initiate students into a scholarly community which brings together a distinguished faculty, interested citizens, and community leaders. The Department sponsors lectures, organizes conferences, and participates in panel discussions on subjects of wide interest. Students also have an opportunity to participate in the Sociology Club, a forum that addresses pressing contemporary issues and provides opportunities for social activities and interaction.
Sociology, as part of the Social Sciences, has been an integral part of Bradley education since the 1920’s. The sociologist Wesley Schroder, who headed the department before the establishment of the College of Liberal Arts in the 1950s, taught the first sociology courses in Social Thought, Social Institutions, Social Welfare, and Family at Bradley. Sociology and Political Science were combined for 20 years under his leadership. They became two independent departments in 1948. In 1946 Dr. Romeo Garrett, the first African-American faculty member at Bradley, joined the Sociology Department. Dr. Garrett, who taught at Bradley for 29 years until his retirement, introduced the university’s first course on Race Relations. The entire Bradley Community acknowledges his impact on the discipline, the Department, the University and Students. Dr. Garrett occupies a position of honor in the history of Bradley University (see “History of the Department of Sociology,” in Warren Dwyer, Liberal Arts and Sciences at Bradley 1897-1997. Henry, IL: M @ D Printing, 1998.) A street in Peoria and a building on campus are named after him. The Garrett Cultural Center, located at 824 N. Duryea, currently houses the university’s Office of Multicultural Student Services.