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The anthropology program is part of the Social Sciences, Policy, and Culture Department. Anthropology’s diverse subject matter of “human beings in all times and places” reflects the discipline’s interest in human culture dating from the Paleolithic past to contemporary times; from exotic, distant societies to the myriad subcultures of the Western world; from the biological bases of human behavior to our most elaborate cultural creations; and in the interaction of diverse peoples from colonial to modern contexts. Grounded in the practical realities of daily life and direct ethnographic research, anthropological methods are applicable cross-culturally. Perhaps anthropology’s greatest strength, however, is the perspective it promotes: an understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity, human universals, and the dynamic potential of human culture.

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Department of Art and Art History degree programs embrace tradional, as well as contemporary practices of the discipline. Our curriculum develops creativity and lifelong learning in our students, preparing them for careers and graduate degrees in the visual arts and related fields.

The Department of Art and Art History offers courses in ceramics, digital art, drawing, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, art history, and art education.

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Biologists work on a broad spectrum of questions related to living organisms and life processes. They investigate the physical and chemical bases of life, the structure and function of organisms and their parts, the interaction between organisms and their environments, and the evolution of organisms. The biology major not only offers a thorough introduction to the principal areas of biology, but it also gives students the freedom to specialize.

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The chemistry program is part of the Department of Chemistry, Physics, Materials, and Engineering (CPME). Students majoring in chemistry typically enter positions in private, academic, or government laboratories, or they enroll in graduate or professional schools. There are outstanding opportunities for graduate study in chemistry. A bachelor’s degree in chemistry is also excellent preparation for graduate study in a number of other fields, including business, dentistry, engineering, environmental studies, forensic science, law, medical technology, medicine, oceanography, pharmacology, teaching, and veterinary medicine.

The Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society (ACS) has approved the chemistry program’s curricular offerings, faculty, and facilities. Students who complete the approved program are certified by the American Chemical Society and become eligible for full membership in the society upon graduation. The ACS certified degree options are strongly encouraged for students planning to attend graduate school or seeking employment in industrial or research positions.

The degree option in forensic chemistry is designed on the recommendations of the National Institute of Justice and is excellent preparation for students seeking employment as a forensic laboratory technician. The bachelor of arts in chemistry is specifically designed for students with career aspirations related to health care, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician’s assistant, and veterinary medicine. The required courses are based on the recommendations of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the top health care graduate programs in the United States.

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The Department of Communication provides students opportunities to develop verbal, nonverbal and visual communication knowledge and skills through the exploration of communication studies, film, television and video, journalism and convergent media. Students may select from one of two concentrations for the Communication degree: (a) Communication Studies or (b) Film, Television and Convergent Media.

The Communication Studies Concentration focuses on the understanding of communication practices that occur in the everyday interactions and understandings of social actors in a variety of contexts. Our research and teaching focus on interpersonal communication; small group, organizational and cross-cultural communication; analysis of public rhetoric and discourse; and conflict resolution, mediation and negotiation.

The Film, Television and Convergent Media Concentration combines analysis of the historical, theoretical, and cultural contexts within which television, film, new media, journalism and popular culture are produced, understood, and experienced with hands-on skill building.  Students are engaged in critical analysis, aesthetics and interpretation, as well as media production and reception, and exploration of the relationships between media, power and everyday life. In addition to theoretical understanding of media, students in this concentration are also offered instruction and resources to create t their own productions in a wide variety of forms using facilities such as Rogue Valley Community Television, The Siskiyou (SOU’s student-run newspaper), and the facilities and expertise associated with the Center for Emerging Media and Digital Arts (eMDA).

The Communication Department emphasizes connections between conceptual understanding, critical thinking and message construction.  Faculty bring a broad range of academic and professional training and accomplishments to the classroom, and the department’s student-centered program emphasizes skill-building, critical thinking, research and writing.

Students may earn credit for on-campus practical experiences with University media outlets, public relations and marketing, as well as teaching and research assistance to faculty. Communication majors intern throughout and beyond the local community at newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, social service organizations, government agencies, advertising and public relations firms, and many businesses and non-profit organizations.

Department Website | Catalog Link

Computer science is an exciting and growing field with career opportunities ranging from running a small business to working in industry, government, or education. The computer science major emphasizes the current trend toward networking, computer security, and the Internet. The capstone experience prepares students for the job market by providing real-world work experience.

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The Criminology and Criminal Justice Department’s four major objectives are to:

1. prepare students for successful service in the criminal justice system at local, state, and federal levels;
2. provide University Studies experiences for all students with an interest in the criminal justice system;
3. provide services and serve as a resource for organizations and agencies in the criminal justice system; and
4. contribute to the field through academic and applied research.

Department Website | Catalog Link

Economics is part of the Social Sciences, Policy, and Culture Department. The logical, ordered way of examining problems and issues taught in the economics program benefits individuals in all lines of work. The program draws from history, psychology, mathematics, philosophy, and other disciplines to prepare individuals for responsibilities ranging from household management to business decision making. Economics courses explore how to reduce unemployment, control inflation, analyze tax policies, and confront problems as diverse as productivity and environmental decay.

Studying economics is an ideal way to prepare for work on a master of business administration degree or for entrance into law school.

Private business firms, banks, and other financial institutions employ economists to undertake specialized economic analysis and to evaluate their market positions and profit possibilities, government domestic economic policies and the implications for their business, and international economic events affecting the operation of their institutions.

Firms also employ economics graduates to perform nonspecialized work in sales and management. Economists are involved in community, state, and regional planning and various other jobs in government and nonprofit organizations. Many economists find employment in planning positions in foreign countries, where they work for the State Department, the Department of Commerce, the Treasury Department, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and similar agencies. Economists are also employed as professors and administrators in colleges and universities.

Finally, economists engage in private research and act as consultants to individuals, corporations, and government agencies. The logical, encompassing approach of economics leads to a wide range of career opportunities, enabling students to analyze many diverse topics, both in a professional capacity and in their day-to-day lives.

Students may obtain a minor in economics or even a double major (e.g., economics teamed with business, political science, or international studies) with very little extra coursework, particularly if they begin planning early.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The minor in Emerging Media & Digital Arts prepares students from any departmental major with the skills to develop, produce, and evaluate original projects in digital media.  Students engage in all stages of the production process and conduct critical investigations into people’s roles as participants in and products of technologically mediated culture. Students must meet all applicable requirements listed in the Minors section of this catalog, including the Minor residence requirement.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The English and Writing Program offers courses ranging from Shakespeare to Rhetoric, from Creative Writing to Advanced Composition, from Native American Myths to Linguistics. We hope students leave the program with a well-rounded education that not only broadens their knowledge but their worldview as well.

We also feature classes that encourage students to engage the community, including courses such as Technical Writing and Grant Writing. There is also the Supervised Practicum, which helps students gain practical experience in fields they might consider pursuing after graduation.

Plotting your major path is essential to obtaining an English and Writing degree in a timely fashion, so don't forget to pick up a copy of each term's course offerings from the main office. These forms will help you plan your academic path towards earning an English and Writing degree.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The Environmental Studies (ES) major provides an integrated natural and social sciences approach to environmental decision-making, ecological issues, and human use of natural resources. The ES curriculum promotes interdisciplinary perspectives, providing analytical skills and problem-solving opportunities in each course. ES graduates are prepared to work effectively in environmentally related careers requiring both science and policy expertise and to pursue advanced degrees in specialty areas. ES majors take a common core of classes and choose a concentration from below. ES majors are encouraged to complete an internship to provide valuable practical experience.

The ES curriculum continues to evolve, and all students should work closely with an ES advisor to plan their program of study. Students without an advisor should contact the chair as soon as possible to select an advisor. Transfer students should consult their advisors to select appropriate courses based on their Advanced Standing Reports and expected areas of concentration within ES.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The Foreign Languages and Literatures Program is part of the Department of Language, Literature, and Philosophy. Foreign Languages and Literatures offers majors in French and Spanish; minors in French, German, and Spanish; and beginning and intermediate courses in Chinese and Japanese. Foreign language courses range from beginning language instruction to the study of literature, linguistics, and culture at the graduate level.

Through special arrangements, students may pursue courses in Native American languages working directly with tribal linguists.

Students may choose to major in Language and Culture with options in French or Spanish.  French, German, and Spanish each offer coursework leading to a minor.  The French or Spanish language and culture majors are also available through the Accelerated Baccalaureate program.

After earning a bachelor’s degree, students may earn a basic teaching license in French, German, or Spanish at the secondary level through the School of Education’s Master of Arts in Teaching. Graduate and undergraduate coursework supporting this interdisciplinary master’s degree in education is offered in French and Spanish.

In Spanish, the SOU Summer Language Institute offers an intensive graduate program for high school teachers leading to a master of arts in Spanish Language Teaching.  The program allows teachers to complete the master’s degree over the course of three summers.  The Spanish Summer Language Institute takes place in Guanajuato, Mexico.  A Master of Arts in French Language Teaching is offered through the SOU Summer Language Institute at the Université Catholique de l’Ouest in Angers, France.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies program is part of the Department of Social Sciences, Policy, and Culture. Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at Southern Oregon University is an interdisciplinary program emphasizing the teaching and study of women and gender in society, culture, and history. We focus on women as a diverse, heterogeneous group; courses in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies examine the numerous ways in which gender intersects with multiple social forces and shapes human experience.

Students learn about themselves and the world through critical thinking and personal and social empowerment. Integrating various disciplines, Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies provides a supportive and challenging liberal arts education for students of any gender. Women’s studies also provides its own interpretive framework and emphasizes the relationship of classroom learning to social awareness and community involvement. The Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies program provides general education or service courses and offers a minor. The minor is supported by courses from other departments and programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, in addition to courses offered by the program under the GSWS prefix.

Students may also enroll in the Independent Interdisciplinary Major (IIM) with Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies as either a primary or secondary area. For more information about the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies minor or IIM, contact the program coordinator.

Department Website | Catalog Link

Studying geography fosters an understanding of the relationship between human activities and the physical and cultural environments on global, regional, and local scales. Geography systhesizes concepts and information from other natural and social sciences, acting as a bridge between the various natural and social science discipines.  Fundamental geographic methodology asks “What is it? Where is it? Why is it there?”

Geography courses explore subjects as varied as global climate change, the mosaic of human settlement in Asia, regional voting patterns in the United States, which grapes grow best where, and the depletion of natural resources in developing countries.

Teacher Licensing

Students who would like to teach social studies at the middle or high school level in Oregon public schools must complete at least one course in geography before aplying to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program at SOU. Interested students should consult the department chair for an appropriate advisor and the School of Education regarding admission requirements for the MAT program.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The health and physical education program is part of the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Leadership. The health and physical education program is an integral part of the College of Arts and Sciences. Its function is to prepare professionals for careers in physical therapy, health promotion, fitness management, or outdoor recreation. Selected health and physical education courses are open to all SOU students. The program also offers a service program with activity courses for students in any major.

The Department of Health, Physical Education, and Leadership includes programs of study in health and physical education, outdoor adventure leadership, pre-physical therapy, and military science. For more information about these programs, see the health and physical education program or the military science program.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The history program is part of the History and Political Science Department. The mission of the history program is twofold: to support SOU’s University Studies program and to teach advanced courses for students desiring to make history the major focus of their baccalaureate program.

To this end, the history program offers courses that help fulfill SOU University Studies requirements, elective requirements for many other programs, and requirements for a major or minor in history.

The goals of the history baccalaureate degree are to:

1. increase students’ understanding of themselves and their society by introducing them to scholarship on the historical foundations of world societies;
2. prepare students for public life by familiarizing them with the current professional views of history;
3. augment the intellectual capacities of students by encouraging critical thinking and analysis from multiple perspectives, preparing them for whatever path they may choose;
4. improve students’ abilities to search for, locate, and appropriately use valid sources of information and knowledge as historical evidence through both printed and electronic media;
5. build student familiarity with the appropriate use of computers and computer networks in the fields of history, social science, and humanities;
6. enhance the writing skills of students by offering them opportunities to write and receive professional feedback on what they have written; and
7. acquaint students with the realities, standards, and expectations of the professional world.

Studying history is excellent preparation for teaching and advanced study in the humanities and social sciences, law and library schools, and seminaries. The history major also provides a solid foundation for government service, business administration, public history and museum work, and various other areas of communication, journalism, and writing. History courses are an integral part of many other degree programs at Southern Oregon University.

In addition, the department offers minors in designated fields of historical study.

Department Website | Catalog Link

Interdisciplinary Options

SOU offers several established interdisciplinary majors and minors, as well as the option to create an independent interdisciplinary major. Students may select from a list of established interdisciplinary majors, such as business-chemistry, business-mathematics, business-physics, environmental studies, human service, international studies, mathematics-computer science, and music-business. Established interdisciplinary minors are available in applied multimedia, Native American studies, Shakespeare studies, and women’s studies.

Students may also propose independent interdisciplinary majors from two or more majors, programs, or schools. Independent interdisciplinary majors must be planned with the assistance of a faculty advisor.

Independent Interdisciplinary Major

Independent interdisciplinary majors provide considerable flexibility for combining the study of several academic disciplines to create a single major. The independent interdisciplinary major enables the student to reflect and act on how such a combination of the chosen disciplines enhances one’s educational and professional goals. Almost all of the academic disciplines available at the University may be used in this interdisciplinary degree structure, but departments and programs retain the authority to determine which courses may be used to shape these interdisciplinary majors.

The independent interdisciplinary degree typically includes coursework from two or more academic departments/programs. Students must choose two of these as departments/programs of emphasis. Students then work with an advisor to draft a letter outlining the courses they will take to complete their interdisciplinary major. This letter of agreement is kept on file by the registrar.

Department Website | Catalog Link

Part of the Social Sciences, Policy, and Culture Department, International Studies explores global events and the origins of contemporary conditions from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students develop critical thinking skills and an understanding of contemporary international economic and political affairs grounded in a cultural, historical, and social context. A combination of academic and experiential learning is encouraged, especially participation in Study  Abroad and international internships. Students are encouraged to select a regional emphasis that reflects their interests and provides a focus for applying theory and concepts. The program requirement of second-language skills further expands students’ worldviews and enriches their cultural understanding.

A major in International Studies prepares students for creative work in an increasingly globalized world, including careers in government service, business, law, journalism, social services, teaching, and international development and non-governmental organizations. International Studies also provides a broad foundation for graduate study in a variety of social science, interdisciplinary, and regional studies programs.

Majors must work closely with the program coordinator to develop language proficiencies, select courses to meet major requirements, and plan study abroad and internship experiences and minors or second majors. Students should note that most upper division courses have prerequisites, and many are taught on a rotating schedule.  International Studies majors can efficiently, with early planning and advising, complete second majors in anthropology, economics or a foreign language, or may complete minors in anthropology, economics, a foreign language, geography, history, political science, Latin American studies, or sociology.

Department Website | Catalog Link

All mathematics courses are designed to improve students’ abilities to think, analyze, and communicate, and, in particular, to use mathematics to express, define, and answer questions about the world. The bachelor’s degree program nurtures these abilities while building a solid base in mathematics—a combination highly valued by business, government, industry, and graduate programs in a variety of fields.

The department’s primary concern is the development of each student’s confidence in using mathematical ideas, approaches, and exposition. Key coursework hones the learner’s abilities to critically understand and use mathematics. One of the program goals is to make direct connections between mathematics and the contemporary environment.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The military science program is part of the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Leadership. The Military Science program offers both an Army ROTC program leading to a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, and a minor in military science.

Students are not required to be enrolled in the Army ROTC program to take military science courses and may pursue a military science minor without military obligation. The Military Science program offers a varied class schedule that is open to all students. The Military Science program also offers a series of optional adventure outings and on-campus activities during the school year. These include orienteering, rappelling, sports programs and social activities

Department Website | Catalog Link

The Department of Performing Arts: Music offers music majors and minors an integrated curriculum designed to teach the varied skills necessary for a professional career in music and to develop the student’s understanding and appreciation for the art of music. Coursework combines class and individual instruction by nationally and internationally renowned artists with innovative, computer-aided instruction. Curricular offerings are designed to enable highly motivated students with diverse musical backgrounds to become skilled musicians capable of making artistic musical contributions to society as performers, educators, composers, scholars, music-business professionals, and active supporters and appreciators of music.

SOU has been designated by the Oregon University System as a Center of Excellence in the Fine and Performing Arts. The Department of Music is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The faculty is dedicated to promoting a positive, student-centered environment in which students—by performance, creative activity, research, scholarship, and teaching opportunities—develop the skills, independence of thought, and discipline to fulfill their musical aspirations.

Department Website | Catalog Link

Native American studies is an interdisciplinary academic program in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Native American studies program aims to educate all students about the Native experience and the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples of Oregon and North America.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The outdoor adventure leadership major is designed from an integrative perspective offering comprehensive coursework in outdoor leadership, outdoor recreation management, adventure planning, tourism, risk management, stewardship, conservation, and preservation. The curriculum helps prepare students for a variety of certification opportunities in the outdoor recreation profession, including Avalanche I (Forest Service); Leave No Trace Instructor and Swift Water Rescue (ACA); Open Responder (WSI); Safe Serve, Challenge Course Facilitator, and the National Recreation and Parks Association Certified Parks and Recreation professional certification.

Graduates from this program are prepared to pursue studies in higher education and/or vocational pursuits in the areas of adventure services, parks and recreation services, outdoor recreation leadership and management, tourism, camp management, parks and recreation services, guide services, adult and youth recreation, and adventure programming.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The philosophy program is part of the Department of Language, Literature, and Philosophy. Philosophy offers minors in philosophy, rhetoric and reason, and ethics. Philosophy courses also support interdisciplinary programs and degrees such as gender, sexuality and women’s studies, environmental studies, and honors. Several courses fulfill University Studies requirements. The program offers classes for all students who would like to clarify their thinking and explore the great questions, such as the meaning of life, the nature of reality, right and wrong, knowledge, and language.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The physics program is part of the Department of Chemistry, Physics, Materials, and Engineering. The physics major prepares students for careers in physics, including astronomy; astrophysics; cosmology; electronics; elementary particles and high-energy physics; environmental and atmospheric physics; forensics; health; high school teaching; materials science and nanotechnology; medical and nuclear physics; and theoretical, computational, and mathematical physics. A BS or BA in physics is also excellent preparation for a career in law, medicine, or engineering (see the Applied Physics Option and the Physics-Engineering Dual Degree Option sections). Through hands-on training, students acquire valuable technical and research skills. Our graduates have strong placement records at industries in the state of Oregon and at graduate and professional schools nationwide.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The political science program is part of the History and Political Science Department. The mission of the political science program is to promote in our students an appreciation for the rich history and dynamics of political thought and life. Political science at SOU encourages an awareness of our students’ obligations as citizens, their potential as active participants in public life, and their connections through political and cultural institutions to the rest of the world.

The political science program provides a solid liberal arts curriculum that prepares students for active engagement in public and private settings with a keen understanding of political institutions and processes. The curriculum, with its emphasis on political behavior, law, public opinion research, and political thought, is designed to interface with a variety of other majors. In particular, the department strives to engender in students a balance between the theoretical and philosophical “politics of ideas” and the pragmatic applied processes and behaviors of “politics on the street.” Through service-learning and internship programs, the program offers students experiences in politics, government, law, and social research. The political science faculty provides active mentorship to students seeking academic challenge and community involvement.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The Department of Psychology program prepares students to:

1. achieve a broad understanding and appreciation of human behavior, which serves as the foundation for a liberal arts education;
2. enter paraprofessional work in applied behavioral sciences and social service fields; and
3. pursue graduate and professional study in psychology or related fields.

Nine goals are identified as desired outcomes of completing the psychology major. Students will acquire:

1. a knowledge base
2. critical-thinking skills
3. writing and speaking skills
4. information-gathering and synthesis skills
5. research methods and statistical skills
6. interpersonal skills
7. ethics and values clarification
8. culture and diversity sensitivity
9. application skills

Admission

• Students who intend to be majors must first contact the Office Coordinator (Lagassel@sou.edu) of the Psychology Department.  At that point students will be designated as pre-psych (PSYP) status until they meet the following criteria:
• Complete departmental Biology and Statistics pre-requisite courses (see below for specific courses) PSY 201, 202, and 228 with a grade of C+ or better;
• Upon completion of the above requirements, students, in consultation with their major advisor, will be advanced to PSY major status.
• Certain psychology courses (PSY 341, 344, 351, 353, 498, 499) are designated for majors only. Only individuals who have formally advanced to the standing of psychology major are allowed to register for these courses.
• Immediately after deciding to transfer to Southern Oregon University, transfer students should contact the Psychology Department Office Coordinator (Lagassel@sou.edu) to be designated as a Pre-Psych (PSYP) major status and to be assigned to an advisor.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The sociology program is part of the Social Sciences, Policy, and Culture Department. Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies and examine how people interact within these contexts. Since all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime to religious movements; from the divisions of race, gender, and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture; and from the sociology of work to the sociology of popular culture.

Sociological training helps students bring breadth and depth of understanding to the workplace. A sociology graduate learns to think abstractly, formulate problems, ask appropriate questions, search for answers, analyze situations and data, organize material, write well, and make oral presentations that help others develop insight and make decisions.

Learning the process of critical thinking and how to bring evidence to bear in support of an argument is extremely important in a fast-changing job market. The solid base students receive in understanding social change (as well as in research design, data analysis, statistics, theory, and sociological concepts) enables them to compete for support positions (such as program, administrative, or research assistant) in research, policy analysis, program evaluation, and countless other social science endeavors.

Most people with the terms “sociologist” or “social worker” in their job title have graduate training, but sociology graduates apply the sociological perspective to a wide variety of jobs beyond these traditional categories, including careers in sectors such as business, education, health care, the criminal justice system, social services, and the government. Sociology offers valuable preparation for careers in journalism, law, politics, public relations, or public administration. For students interested in becoming professors, researchers, or applied sociologists, a BA or BS in sociology is excellent preparation for graduate work in sociology.

Department Website | Catalog Link

The Theatre Arts program offers educational and practical experience in all areas of theatre, including acting, directing, costuming, stage scenery, lighting, sound, makeup, management, dramatic literature, and theatre history. Theatre arts majors participate in the department’s active and ambitious production program and experience the close working relationships that develop between faculty and students as they produce live theatre together.

Through its presentation of classic and contemporary dramatic works, the Theatre Arts program contributes significantly to the social and cultural enrichment of SOU and southern Oregon communities. Dedicated to creating opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and skills in practical ways, the program not only supplies performance opportunities for students, but it also mounts productions that are often designed and predominantly executed by students.

The Theatre Arts program maintains a positive formal relationship with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). Adjunct faculty, guest artists, and lecturers from OSF enhance the program’s curriculum. Students of merit may be recommended for internship positions during their junior and senior years.

As an Oregon University System designated Center of Excellence in the Fine and Performing Arts, SOU aims to provide high-quality education within a framework of an intensive program of preprofessional training. Fundamental to this mission is making the living art of theatre an essential element of theatre students’ training. Learning in this program is a collaborative experience that encourages professional standards in the studio, the classroom, and the production experience.