VCU | Department of Sociology | Graduate Program | Certificate Home

The Department of Sociology offers a Master of Science degree in Sociology. The department's substantive strengths include deviance, sexuality, gender, violence, health, and family, as well as applied social research. As a means of bringing an applied emphasis to the graduate program, the faculty recently instituted a Practicum track that involves departmental research partnerships with local and state agencies. Participatory action research is conducted that simultaneously trains graduate students and addresses community problems. Interdisciplinary partnerships will bring a range of applied skills to the program that build on core disciplinary training.

The newly-created L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs' Nonprofit Management Program provides graduate students with administrative skills and knowledge about the nonprofit sector. Students gain professional contacts with agency officials, legislators, and leaders of associations and nonprofit organizations. The faculty is made up of practitioners and academics who are committed to enhancing the nonprofit field through academic excellence, research, and training. Students gain the knowledge and skills in nonprofit governance, management, fundraising, program development, and evaluation needed to become leaders and change agents.

The School of Social Work provides graduate students with skills essential to practioner-related positions within violence intervention agencies. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report, the School of Social Work is ranked 14th among the nation's top social work schools. The School of Social Work offers a unique combination of classroom and field experiences, emphasizing critical thinking, self-awareness, evidence-based decision-making and ethical integrity. The Masters of Social Work program has identified CGVI a certificate option for their majors and a member of its facutly serves in an advisory role for the Sociology Certificate program.

The Women's Studies Program, while it does not provide graduate-level courses, does offer an undergraduate course on Violence Against Women that includes a service-learning component. This course serves as a recruitment tool for the CGVI as well as introduces a number of the relevant topics. The Women's Studies Program identifies and implements ways in which academic inquiry and community interest in women's issues can be mutually supportive. In addition to its commitment to innovational instructional techniques and inclusive curriculum with the university, the Program seeks to integrate university members with their larger community in programs that meet the needs of women in the larger community, particularly programs that benefit poor women and programs that educate the community about women's issues. The Director of Women's Studies, Diana Scully, teaches one of the required courses and one elective for the CGVI.

VCU's Institute for Women's Health, a DHHS designated National Center of Excellence, has endorsed this program and a representative of the center serves in an advisory role for the certificate. The institute also serves as an internship site for the CGVI.

Virginia Commonwealth University | Department of Sociology
Date last modified: September 13, 2005