Social Sciences
Welcome to the Department of Social Sciences!
Saady Dubois, Senior
Major: Sociology- Social Work
BE A SOCIAL WORKER!
“I always knew I wanted to help people. Majoring in Sociology at Nicholls has provided me with all the skills I need to understand why we act the way we do and how our past influences our future.”
OUR PROGRAMS
Political Science
The Political Science program is designed to give the students of the bayou region a comprehensive understanding of the essential aspects of politics. We offer courses in all subfields of the discipline, with offerings in American government, political theory, comparative politics, and international relations. We give students the analytical and critical tools necessary to evaluate political events and more importantly, to become actively engaged citizens. Law school has been our most common placement and often times, our students receive scholarship offers to attend. However, a degree in political science opens a variety of career paths and we have placed students in law enforcement, journalism, graduate school,the military, business, education, and government.
Sociology
The Sociology program is designed to provide a sound education in sociological content, theory, and methodology in order to prepare students for employment or for further study. Sociology is the study of the organization, dynamics and consequences of social life. Sociologists study social interaction and relationships, organizations and institutions, communities and whole societies. Our work yields powerful insights into the social processes shaping lives, problems and possibilities in contemporary society. Our students are actively involved in the community and log dozens of service hours as part of the program. We have been especially effective in promoting undergraduate research and placing students in graduate school and social work.
Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice program is designed to address the bayou/coastal region’s current and future needs in the area of law enforcement and security. The program emphasizes coastal and maritime issues and is custom-made for the Associate Degree transfer student to complete the four-year B.S. degree by entering studies at the junior level. Students beginning the college experience as freshmen may complete foundation courses in general education and criminal justice in preparation for the main program ahead.
Inside Out
The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is a International program that creates a dynamic partnership between institutions of higher learning and correctional systems. The course focuses on conversations that transform our approaches to the understanding of crime, justice, freedom, inequality and other issues of social concern. Nicholls State University is the first in Louisiana to offer the course.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
“Nicholls State University has presented me with the opportunity to meet and work alongside a remarkable group of faculty, staff, students, and members of the community. One of the most amazing things about being a faculty member in the Department of Social Sciences is that we cater to the needs of our students, and focuses on real-world issues that are prominent in our society.
We offer courses that cover a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, race and ethnicity, sexuality, criminology, deviance, coastal and maritime, politics, methods, sports, the media, etc. Our courses and innovative teaching styles help students develop skills and knowledge that can be applied to any field or career, which is fundamental for life-long learning. I am excited to be a part of such a hospitable institution that focuses on providing an academically stimulating environment for diverse students.”
Melinda Jackson-Jefferson, Ph.D
Criminal Justice Program Coordinator
Assistant Professor of Sociology
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The Department of Social Sciences offers a wide array of extracurricular opportunities that provide Majors and Minor with hands-on experience in their respective field of study, scholarly enrichment, and interaction with colleagues and professors. These organizations and honor societies demonstrate a commitment on the part of the department to make the Nicholls experience a rewarding one.
List of Clubs & Honor Societies
- College Republicans
- Pi Sigma Alpha
- Law Club
- Sociology Club
- Young Democrats
Sociology Club
The Sociology Club is currently advised by Dr. Melinda Jefferson
Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha is a national political science honorary founded at the University of Texas in 1920 and the Alpha Gamma Alpha Chapter of Nicholls State University was founded more recently in 2004 for the purpose of bringing together students and faculty interested in the study of government and politics. Membership in Pi Sigma Alpha is open to all Government majors and minors who place within the top-third of their class, have a 3.5 GPA in Government courses, and have completed twelve hours in Government (at least three at the 300 level).
The website for the national organization can be found at: http://www.apsanet.org/.
