Welcome to the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work

The Department is pleased to welcome three new faculty members this coming academic year. Dr. Danilea Werner (cv) will join the Social Work program as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Arianne Gaetano (pictured on right) will join Anthropology and Women's Studies as an Assistant professor and Dr. Angela Ware will join Sociology and Women's Studies as an Assistant Professor. Please check soon for more information on their work as new members of the Department!

The Sociology program is accepting applications for new students. For admission into the Sociology program, a student must meet the following criteria:

1. Have completed a minimum of thirty (30) hours of college credits, including hours transferred from other institutions;
2. Have completed SOCY 1000, SOCY 1007, or equivalent course with a grade of C or higher;
3. Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale.

Students must submit the following documentation:

1. Application Cover Sheet
2. Copy of Unofficial Transcript(s)

For full consideration, application materials should be submitted by 01 April 2009. Completed applications may be turned in at the Sociology department (7030 Haley Center). Students who submit incomplete applications or who provide false or misleading information will not be considered. Admission decisions (for Fall 2009) will be announced no later than 15 April 2009.

The use of cumulative grade point average (GPA) for admission into the Sociology is subject to review by program faculty, provided that minimum requirements are met. Applicants not accepted for a given semester may re-apply. The maximum number of applicants admitted will be based on the criteria listed above in conjunction with departmental resources.

The mission of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work is to provide quality undergraduate and graduate teaching in the social sciences and services. This teaching furnishes students with insight and understanding of the dynamics of their societies, cultures, and environments and prepares them to participate in a complex and diverse social world. The Department seeks to serve the local community, state, nation and global networks by conducting research, extension and outreach programs. The Department serves the University by offering two courses in the core curriculum, Introduction to Sociology and Introduction to Anthropology.

The Department aims to prepare students with the intellectual, social and ethical tools they will need to reach their professional and personal goals and aspirations. In their instruction, faculty members direct students to develop critical thinking skills, specific expertise in a social science or social service, outreach capabilities, and the ability to understand and appreciate diversity across societies and cultures.

The Department offers three undergraduate degree programs with corresponding minors in Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work; all three contribute to a holistic education in the social sciences and services. The Department offers MA and MS degrees in Sociology. The Department also plans to initiate feasibility studies for a Masters of Social Work degree program and a Masters in Applied Anthropology degree program over the next two years.

Faculty members in the Department teach, conduct research and participate in outreach in areas of violence and substance abuse, family and child welfare, homelessness, community organizations, medical sociology/anthropology, archaeology, cultural resource management, environmental anthropology, and the culture of sports.

  Course work in all three degree programs explores these substantive areas within the United States and across the globe, giving specific attention to the southeastern US, Africa and the African diaspora, South Asia, Latin America and the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica.  Four concentrations unite the Department's three programs and these are “Social Issues and Marginalized Populations,” “Human Behavior,” “Social Organizations and Institutions,” and “Health and Environment.”

John Gullatte's paper titled, Spontaneous Order and Structural Change in Salem, Alabama (1907-1939, won the top undergraduate paper prize in the Anthropology section of the Alabama Academy of Science's 87th Annual Meeting.

Dr. Carole Zugazaga was awarded a College of Liberal Arts Engaged Scholar Professorship. This brings her a $5000 per year stipend for three years and is based on exemplary professional citizenship and participation in promoting the college's commitment to civic engagement.

Dr. Denise Davis-Maye and Dr. John Cottier ran two outreach programs for students in Alabama. Dr. Davis-Maye's project was connected with KEMET ACADEMY and offered a broad array of science courses on campus. Dr. Cottier's course gave hands-on archaeological experience to students at the university's field site near Gees bend.

College of Liberal Arts Social Work professor named "Social Worker of the Year"

The Alabama Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) named Myers as "Social Worker of the Year" for 2008. NASW is the foremost professional organization for the social work profession. They garner nominations from the eight chapters in Alabama and the nominees are sent to the State Office for consideration. Myers received her award recently at the state NASW meeting in Tuscaloosa.

Myers, MSW, LCSW is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Social Work Program since 1995. She earned her MSW from Louisiana State University and BSW from the University of Southern Maine. She teaches and conducts clinical research in aging, adoptions, HIV/AIDS, addictions and community practice. Her outreach efforts include: serving on the East Alabama Services for the Elderly board, is a founding member of East Alabama AIDS Outreach, and participates in several outreach efforts with East Alabama Medical Center . As a private independent practitioner of social work, she conducts adoption home studies and co-facilitates an adoption support group through the Alabama Post Adoptions Connections.

Her University service includes serving on the President's Diversity Leadership Council, the Title XI Committee and Women's Studies Committee. She is the local chapter advisor for Alpha Delta Mu, a National Social Work Honor Society.

This year's first place video, and winner of $500 in prize money, is "Auburn Social Work Students" submitted by Ashley Nunn, Amanda Taylor, and Beyondai Hall. "Reading is Fun," submitted by John Anderson, secured second place and a prize of $250, and "Ummm...," submitted by Amanda Morris, won the third place prize and $150. All three of the videos are available for viewing at: http://media.cla.auburn.edu/cla/youTube_contest.cfm.

Sponsored by Auburn University's College of Liberal Arts, the 2009 YouTube contest invited contestants to grab a video camera and document instances of Auburn students demonstrating their commitment to civic responsibility by transforming public education into public good. The videos were judged on creativity, originality, relevance to the contest theme, potential to provoke discussion regarding civic engagement at Auburn University, and the number of votes received from Auburn University students and staff.

Of all the entries, the judges thought that the three winning videos offered the most creative, compelling, and thought-provoking glimpses of how community and civic engagement is a prominent part of learning and living at Auburn University and beyond.

The judges said that they were looking for videos that would prompt the Auburn community to reflect on, talk about, and even take a critical perspective of civic responsibility as a key feature of what the College of Liberal Arts and its students do. The judges were pleased that the three winning videos clearly met those criteria.

Nunn, Taylor, and Hall's "Auburn Social Work Students" proved to be the best of the best. Featuring students and faculty in Auburn University's Social Work program describing the numerous contributions they make to local, national, and global communities, the video boldly underscores the need for civic engagement as a cornerstone of higher education.