Sociology changes colleges, not location
Tyler Owens / Managing Editor
The UNT Department of Sociology moved from the College of Public Affairs and Community Service to the College of Arts and Sciences this fall.
The process began in early September and the move was finalized a few days ago.
Sociology Department Chair Dan Rodeheaver said that the change had been considered for some time now and that the department is better suited for Arts and Sciences.
“It belonged in Arts and Sciences more than PACS because PACS is more oriented toward professional clients and those types of things, whereas sociology is sort of a generalist degree,” he said.
Sociology senior Precious Femi-Ogunyemi said that she didn’t know her department was moving until she saw an email in her inbox on Wednesday morning.
“Initially I was confused and shocked,” she said. “In the email, it stated that the department was already talking about it since Sept. 12, but as a student this feels like the news came out of left field. I feel like sociology is similar to majors already in PACS, so it makes more sense there. Now I’m in a college with [radio, television and film] and political science – something that isn’t as similar.”
CAS now houses 19 university departments after the addition of sociology.
Rodeheaver said the Department of Sociology’s main office will stay in Chilton Hall suite 300, but the advising office has already moved from PACS to the CAS advising office in suite 220 of the General Academic Building.
Sociology junior Anna D’Alfonso said she was surprised when she heard of the department change.
“I had no idea my major would change to Arts and Sciences until after the fact,” D’Alfonso said. “I wish I would have been notified beforehand. I loved being in PACS, but this shouldn’t highly affect my degree. It’s just so random.”
Rodeheaver said that, as he understands it, the change will not affect any current students’ degree plans. Students coming in on the fall 2014 catalog may need to take some classes they would not have had to take before to meet CAS’s requirements, such as foreign language classes.
Students graduating with degrees in sociology will graduate with CAS beginning in December.
Rodeheaver said the move should ultimately increase the department’s staff.
“It’s an exciting time for us because it’s new opportunities and new interactions,” Rodeheaver said. “Sometimes change is good.”
College of Arts and Sciences logo. Graphic courtesy of UNT
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