Letter from the Chair
The fascination of Sociology lies in the fact
that its perspective makes us see in a new light
the very world in which we have lived all our lives.
~ Peter Berger
An Invitation to Sociology
On behalf of the department faculty and staff, I welcome you to the department of sociology and anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for this upcoming academic year 2011-1012. Our department includes 11 (with our 2 full-time) faculty members with wide ranging interests, from macro-social comparative studies covering different countries ranging from the Middle East to Korea, and from Latin America to South East Asia to micro-level studies which also range from qualitative research about gender and race to quantitative research about homeless shelters and racial profiling of Blacks, Arabs, and Latinos. The diverse faculty provides rigorous training in methods and statistics as well as diverse theoretical approaches.
Our former graduate students are found in a variety of jobs, government agencies, and research institutes. Our two Bachelor degrees in Sociology or Anthropology has the objectives of preparing students for careers in various fields and to pursue advance degrees. Our undergraduate program benefits from a small student-to-faculty ratio. This upcoming year we expect to have some challenges but we look forward to plenty of successes as well. We strive to make this department a home for our students. We trust that our classes remain full, our students continue to excel, and our research productivity continues unabated.
In an attempt to preserve a scholarly community we stress debate, dialogue, and collaboration. I encourage you to stay involved and help shape the department's future, join one of our clubs or contribute to the newsletter. I encourage you to contact the faculty directly to get assistance before you approach those who are uninformed about the subject matter and to please save your papers and work because you will need them in your portfolio for the senior seminar. I invite you to preserve this scholarly community and make use of your time while you are here at the department. We now have comfortable corner in Greenquist 318 with nice couches and hope to have a weekly social hour so you meet our faculty members, other students, and engage in intellectual discussions-hopefully while coffee is being brewed. Thank you for your interest in our department.
Seif Da'na
Associate Professor and Chair
