Liberal Arts

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Service Learning

The Social Service Field Work course (SOC 4860, 4865) offers service learning opportunities to students who major or minor in sociology. The course provides students a unique chance to experience possible career interests, to learn from those already working in the field, to consider the need for further education, and to establish valuable contacts that may be helpful in acquiring full-time employment. Working in the field, and using and applying the sociological perspective, are integral and vital activities in the sociological tradition.

Students who take the course select from a range of possible supervised field work opportunities within community, human services, criminal justice and health-related agencies. In return for their contribution to the activities of the agency, students receive direct professional supervision, valuable field experience, and four credits toward graduation.

Students volunteer at the placement agency between 12 and 15 hours each week. Students arrange with the supervisor at their placement an agreed upon work schedule, specific responsibilities that will be assigned to the student, and tasks expected to be accomplished by the student over the course of the placement. These agreements are stipulated in a Memorandum of Understanding document which is signed by the student, the agency and the Department of Sociology.

In addition to the responsibilities the students assume as part of their placement, the academic component requires that each student meet on a periodic basis with the Chair of the Department of Sociology to discuss Social Service Field Work experiences and progress toward applying the sociological perspective to these experiences. The details of this expectation are found in the Course Requirements document.

The course grade, therefore, is based on two components

  • A Placement Evaluation of Student Performance
  • A Course Project where the student applies some type of sociological analysis to the field work experiences.

Study Abroad

There is a growing interest among students at Merrimack College to participate in various Study Abroad programs. While the Department of Sociology seeks to maintain a relatively liberal policy in regards to courses that it will accept as open sociology electives so as not to constrain students in what courses they take and transfer back to Merrimack, the department also seeks a policy that is not simply an open door approach.

Students who are considering participation in a Study Abroad Program are advised to visit the Merrimack College’s Study Abroad web page where policies governing the program are identified. A link to that page is found to the right under Related Links.

One of the Study Abroad policies is that students are required to have a minimum GPA of 2.8, and in some instances, institutions may require a higher GPA. In addition, it is required that students provide an academic rationale to support their request to study abroad. Specifically, students are required to demonstrate the following:

  • A coherence of the proposed courses with those already taken at Merrimack
  • A proven level of preparation for the study abroad experience
  • The extent to which the program offers solid courses that are not available at Merrimack but are compatible with Merrimack College’s liberal arts curriculum
  • The contribution of the study abroad program to the strength of your proposed major(s)

The Study Abroad Program at Merrimack identifies approved programs by country or affiliated organizations on their web site. A link to the Study Abroad’s web page is found to the right under Related Links.

If a student wishes to study abroad at another institution, a PETITION must be submitted to their academic advisor and to the Study Abroad Office.

In some instances, study abroad institutions do not have Sociology Departments or programs. John Cabot University in Rome, Italy and Bond University in Australia, for example, do not have Sociology Departments or programs. However, Bond University does offer courses in Criminology, some of which the department accepts as transfer courses. It is important that BEFORE students leave Merrimack to study abroad they receive approval of courses they will be taking at the host institution.

The Department of Sociology at Merrimack College will generally accept courses in sociology, anthropology, criminology, social policy, or social work from Study Abroad Programs that are sponsored by reputable and accredited institutions.

As a general rule, when there is a Sociology Department at the university or college where the Study Abroad Program is sponsored, students are urged to select courses in sociology to transfer back to Merrimack College. The Chair of the Department of Sociology at Merrimack College will consider on an individual basis courses that are related to sociology.

Where possible, a syllabus of the course should be submitted with the student’s request for transfer approval. If a syllabus is unavailable, students are asked to submit a course description and any other additional information about the course that is available which will serve as a basis for deciding on the transfer credit request.

In the event that there is no Sociology Department at the Study Abroad Program, then students are restricted to courses that are academically related to the discipline of sociology. For instance, though Bond University in Australia does not have a program in Sociology, it does have a Law and Criminology program. Four of these courses would be acceptable as transfer courses back to Merrimack College:

  • CRIM 11-100 Crime and Deviance in Australia. Prerequisite: None
    This subject adopts a critical perspective on contemporary issues (pornography, stalking, prostitution, illicit drug use, capital punishment), examines the role of the justice system and some more recent alternatives (sentencing circles and family group conferencing), and explores profiles of offenders and offending (domestic violence, cults, white collar crime, Aboriginal violence).
  • CRIM 12-205 Alcohol, Drugs and Crime. Prerequisite: None
    The empirical evidence confirms that alcohol and drugs play a central role in the commission of certain crimes. This subject will take a criminological and sociological look at the factors that contribute to crime and criminality where alcohol and drug use is an issue. This will include an examination of data on what is currently known about the link between illicit and licit drugs and specific offence categories. The subject will also address recent criminal justice innovations like supervised orders from drug courts and rehabilitation programs available in corrections settings. It will also touch upon matters of law and law reform with respect to drug usage.
  • CRIM 12-209 Theories of Crime. Prerequisite: None
    This subject introduces most of the major theories of crime within their social and historical contexts. It also compares the various ideological perspectives of criminological theories and demonstrates some contemporary applications of crime theories. The subject provides a critical appraisal and foundational knowledge for crime and criminology, for if we do not have an appreciation of the 'causes' of crimes then we are unable to formulate policies to prevent or control them.
  • Law13-121 Contemporary Issues in Law & Society. Prerequisite: None
    Contemporary Issues in Law & Society is not a technical law subject. It has been designed for students from all Schools as part of the University's CORE program. It explores some of the political controversies which surround law, such as euthanasia; abortion; pornography; the new reproductive technologies; native title; government regulation of corporations; criminal investigations and trials; discrimination and affirmative action. The plan of topics may be varied if new controversial issues emerge during the course of the semester. All Bond Bachelor degree students must complete either this subject or CORE11-120 Cultural and Ethical Values.