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
Our Mission and Vision
Mission Statement
The Department of Sociology at Bradley University is committed to a Liberal Arts education. It seeks to broaden students’ knowledge of the world and to develop their awareness of the dynamic social forces that shape the quality of human life. By combining rich theoretical and humanistic instruction, and the results of empirical research, students gain an understanding of the dynamics of societies and cultures and develop an appreciation of diversity in our contemporary society and the world.
We provide our students with a solid foundation in sociological inquiry, which includes social theory, research methodology and effective communication strategies. We train students in the development of the research and analytical skills needed as preparation for graduate work or successful careers in law, counseling, government, community organization, policy analysis and many other professions.
Our courses focus on issues pertaining to gender, class, race and ethnicity, cultural diversity and minority relations on a local, national, and global scale. We are an integral part of the University’s General Education program, Women’s Studies, the Criminal Justice program, and the Social Work program.
Our Vision
Our mission, goals and program objectives are closely tied to the needs of Bradley University and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, but they flow from a vision and intellectual tradition which has guided our department through the years. Because we are committed to teaching the Liberal Arts, we have a responsibility to teach both our majors and all Bradley students. Our discipline studies the human condition in order to improve it. Hence, we are committed to diversity and intellectual pluralism; we seek to create a learning environment that challenges students to liberate themselves from prejudice and ignorance and become socially active and responsible individuals. Within this intellectual context, we have developed a curriculum that is loosely structured and open enough to accommodate the needs of inquiring students from various academic programs. At the same time, we are committed to providing our majors with a rigorous approach to knowledge and analysis that encompasses the empirical, analytical, comparative, historical and critical dimensions of our discipline and will prepare them for a variety of professional, administrative and policy–oriented occupations or graduate education.