Cheyney’s Social Sciences programs are designed around the concept of public service, with special emphasis on real experience acquired in the field. Our graduates aspire to careers in the helping professions, healthcare, public administration, and the many branches of criminal justice and social work. Our faculty are highly committed to their students, and small class sizes provide the opportunity to learn, to be known, and to share. These programs provide a variety of opportunities for active involvement, including presentations, internships and an assortment of activities tailored to help students focus on their program of study.
The Department of Social Sciences offers degree programs in Social Relations, Psychology and Communication, with concentrations in Sociology, Criminal Justice, and American Political Studies offered through the Social Relations program.
The mission of Humanities is to provide a broad liberal arts education that provides the intellectual foundation and practical application for pursuing their professional goals. Fine Arts, Design, English and Liberal Studies combine critical thinking with practical skills in communication technology, as well as oral, written, and artistic expression. Students are guided and mentored by Cheyney faculty and department-sponsored student organizations, and grow in their professional development through a variety of internship opportunities.
The number and variety of majors and minors allow students to combine programs as the foundation for a career or further study in graduate school. In both instances, the Liberal Studies experience serves to enhance the quality of our students’ lives and prepare them to be citizens of the global community.
Department Chairperson: Dr. Tamika Thomas tthomas@cheyney.edu (610)399-2083 Department Secretary: Ms. Claudia Butcher Academic Department Secretary, Social & Behavioral Science cbutcher@cheyney.edu (610)399-2395
Cheyney’s Social Relations program provides a broad liberal arts background that prepares students for graduate training in any number of fields. It also provides a base for pursuing a career in law, law enforcement, justice administration, and other social science-related professions.
The program offers concentrations in Criminal Justice, Sociology and American Political Studies. For each of these concentrations, students are required to follow a common major core of courses.
1 Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice concentration prepares students to pursue entry-level positions in Law Enforcement, Court Administration, Corrections, Probation & Parole, and other related areas. Many of our students use the program as preparation for Law School and other Criminal Justice related graduate programs.
2 Sociology
The Sociology concentration prepares students primarily for the pursuit of graduate training in Sociology, Law, Public Administration, Social Work, and related areas. It also provides solid preparation for entry-level positions in many related areas, such as adult and juvenile group homes and non-profit social service agencies.
3 American Political Studies
The concentration in American Political Studies is designed to ground students in the key concepts, modern empirical research, and theoretical debates concerning the American political system on the international, national, state, and local levels. Students will be especially immersed in the efficacy of the America’s ever-expanding pluralist democracy in relation to African Americans. Through this concentration, students gain valuable preparation for understanding and participating in political systems, with particular emphasis on the African American experience. Students acquire skills in writing, communications, and analysis, all of which prepare them to think critically and independently as they pursue careers in business, law, governmental and non-profit agencies, journalism, political campaigns, interest groups.
The American Political Studies concentration is designed to prepare students for many different careers in public and private sector organizations.
Psychology seeks to understand the internal and external influences that affect each individual in a variety of ways. In addition to a wide range of career opportunities in the field of psychology, this degree can also be an asset in business, health sciences, and any number helping professions. While it’s possible to enter these fields with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Cheyney encourages our students to pursue further graduate studies for an even wider range of exciting psychology-related careers.
Today’s mass media industries demand a diverse set of skills. At Cheyney, students have ample opportunities to grow and sharpen those skills. The Communication Arts program features the Ed Bradley Broadcast Center (a state-of-the-art television production studio with Final Cut Pro non-linear editing), and cable radio station WCUB.
The program offers three tracks that provide the experience students need to be successful in the communications field: Public Relations, Radio, and Television Production.
The Liberal Studies program offers Cheyney students the flexibility to build degree programs around their interests after completing Cheyney’s core curriculum and liberal studies core. Students work with an adviser to combine internship experiences, online portfolios, and other related learning experiences to gain a broad understanding of the liberal arts, and to prepare for the specific skills needed for their chosen careers. The program also focuses on developing successful communication skills that are highly prized by employers.
Six areas of concentration offer an interdisciplinary approach that allows students to gain breadth in the subject along with an understanding of the interconnections among principles of differing disciplines.
- Liberal Studies with a concentration in Education and Learning
The Art Education certificate will prepare students who are interested in careers in art education for graduate school.
The graphic design certificate will enable students to plan and execute the design of visual communication according to the needs of audiences for which communication is intended. The certificate exposes students to the design principles and technology that are being used in today’s graphic communications as well as a historical backdrop of Graphic Design. The Graphic Design Certificate is designed to be a fit for design-oriented students who wish to gain knowledge and skills in print publishing, photography and photo imaging, Web Design, and Animation. The Certificate in Graphic Design will prepare students who are interested in careers in Graphic Design.