Functions of a Sociology Department in a State University

Abstract

1. The service of Sociology to the state. 2. How a Sociology Department in a State University Differ, or Should Differ, from Any Other Sociology Department. 3. More Descriptive Sociology Needed for the Advancement of the Science. The value of sociology as a science will be enhaced by the working out of a larger number of intensive studies of particular communities, conditions, and problems. A State university sociology department owes it both to the science and to the state to make a real contribution toward the understanding of living conditions, racial problems, and class strife, within the borders of that state. Illustrative material for the regular undergraduate courses should be largely drawn from actual conditions within the state. The sociology department of a state university should be able to furnish authoritative information on conditions and problems of human relationships in that state. It is an unsatisfacoty situation when an investigating governmental commission can get no assistance from the sociology department of the university of the state concerned. An Appropiate function is the co-operating with other departments for the carrying on of a specific piece of research work. An example of this is the work of the Child Welfare Research Station at the State University of Iowa.