Undergraduate
Program in Sociology and Criminal Justice
The Health Services concentration serves students who seek careers in the medical and health related fields. This is an excellent area of focus for students interested in becoming a physician, nursing, public health, medical social work, PT, OT, PA, elder care, healthcare administration, and various other careers. The concentration provides students with a broader understanding health care policy, interactions in the healthcare setting, the experience of illness, the provision of care, health disparities, and particular patient populations. Students enrolled in the Health Services concentration meet all requirements for the sociology major. However, two of their sociology courses (SOCI311 and one other), their related course work in other departments, and their practicum experience connect with their interests in the health.
One of the pillars of the concentration is the practicum (SOCI410) that gives students on-the-job experience in their junior or senior year. Placements are carefully customized to help students evaluate careers they are considering and to provide engaging environments for students to connect with contacts in those particular fields. Placements have be made with (but are not limited to) such outstanding organizations as: Christiana Care Health System, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Alfred I. DuPont Children's Hospital, Cokesbury Village, the Rockford Center, Delaware Hospice, Elsmere Veterans Hospital, Planned Parenthood, and many others.
Students interested in learning more about and enrolling in the Health Services concentration should contact Dr. Barret Michalec (bmichal@udel.edu).
Students work closely with Dr. Gerry Turkel in creating a plan of study. The plan includes courses in Sociology, course work in related disciplines, and an internship. The internship enables students to gain field experience in such law related sites as law firms, courts, and legal agencies. In the past, students have interned in major law firms, family court, Superior Court, and the Public Defender's Office. This job-related experience has been very valuable in helping students with their career planning.
Students work closely with the Concentration Coordinator, Dr. Jeffrey Davidson, in developing a customized play of study. The plan includes courses in sociology and related disciplines and culminates with a full-time, five week long internship (SOCI 441, Welfare Practicum), usually during the Winter Session of the student's senior year. This practicum counts for 4 credits of the 15 credits of related work that all students enrolled in the College of Arts and Science must complete. In recent years, students in the Social Welfare Practicum have completed internships with the State of Delaware Department of Family Services, the Mental Health Association of Delaware, the Battered Women's Shelter, the State of Delaware Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, various group homes run by Catholic Charities, Cecil County (Maryland) Division of Social Services, Sojourner's Place (homeless shelter), Independent Living, Inc., and the counseling departments of several public schools. Students' placements are determined in an interview process with Dr. Davidson in order to find a situation that best suits each student's educational and career goals. The practicum experience, as well as other credited and non-credited, volunteer internships provide invaluable job-related experience and can improve students' employment opportunities and chances of admission to graduate programs in human services.