Department of Sociology

A Brief History

The first course in Sociology ever given in Texas Christian University (1910-1911) represented the days of Ellsworth Faris, a product of the University, who later served as chairman for many years of the Department of Sociology in the University of Chicago.  The first departmental designation of sociology came in 1924-25 as a division of the Department of Economics and Sociology, with Professor C.R. Howd as the chairman.  A major and a minor were provided, and at that time six hours of sociology were required for a major in economics.  Paul Baker and Carl D. Wills taught courses in the field at this time.

The first sociologist trained at the doctoral level came to the University in 1930 for a period of two years--William C. Smith (Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1920).  The depression of those years, however, proved to be the end of sociology except as a stepchild of other departments.  For a time in the 1930's Dr. John H. Lord was listed in catalogues as head of the Department of Sociology, although his field was government and he was chairman of the Department of Government; Dr. William J. Hammond, Chairman of the History Department, also taught courses in sociology during this period.

Dean Colby D. Hall, who had been a serious student of the sociological pioneer, Dr. Franklin H. Giddings of Columbia University, insisted that it was important for the school to have a department in the field.  Hence, he invited Austin L. Porterfield (Ph.D., Duke University, 1936) to head a reorganized department in 1937 and encouraged many students to major in the field.

The number of graduating majors in sociology was necessarily small through 1945; but 90 seniors graduated with a major in sociology during the period 1946-1950, with 28 having sociology as a major in 1950.  The next year, 1951, there were twenty graduating with majors in sociology.

The sociologist is quick to point out that changes in the social structure make a difference in the fortune of its parts; for beginning with the fifties, two things occurred that made it hard on sociology in the University:  (1) the AddRan core requirements for graduation grew to 18 hours in other social sciences (six semester hours in social science, six in U.S. History, and six in U.S. Government); and (2) an undergraduate major in religion was established with a "Christian service" subsidy for students.  As a result, there was an average of only eight students graduating with a major in sociology throughout the rest of the fifties.  In 1962 the AddRan social science requirements were changed to:  three hours of social science ("Development of Civilization"), three of U.S. Government, six of U.S. History, and six semester hours of specified courses in the departments of Economics, Geography, Government, and Sociology,  Since 1962, enrollment in sociology classes, number of majors, and number of majors graduating has gradually increased.

It is a matter of no small pride that Chancellor James M. Moudy had sociology as one field of major intent as a student in Texas Christian University.  Several members of the present faculty had undergraduate sociology majors.  Floyd Leggett, William D. Emery, and James T. Farrar were sociology majors, with Leggett the Emery earning Master of Arts degrees in sociology here.  Many ministers, well-known in the brotherhood, were undergraduate sociology majors, including D.A. Holt, Eules Hill, Bill Wright, Dale Medeares, and Don VerDuin.  Ora Shelton was one of the prize students in the department.

Curriculum

During the past seventy years, sociology as an academic discipline has undergone drastic change and revision.  Course offerings in the department at TCU have also changed.  For a time we provided several courses in social welfare at the undergraduate level, but in 1960 decided that we could not do this program justice with a small staff.  In 1961 we were officially designated as the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and remained so until 1960.  Here again, although there was considerable interest in anthropology, we concluded that we did not have the staff resources to develop an adequate program in both sociology and anthropology.  During the years new courses were added and course emphasis changed, in part to adjust to new developments in the field but also because of changing staff interests.  As our course emphasis and staff have changed, we have changed the requirements for majors and minors.  From 1950-1965, departmental requirements were 24 semester hours, including Introductory Sociology and Social Change and Social Problems.  In 1965 Introductory Cultural Anthropology was added to the requirements.  In 1970 the requirements were changed to:  Introductory Sociology, Research Methods in Sociology, and Senior Seminar:  Principles of Sociology.  We felt these three courses provided a basic foundation for the sociology major to understand the field.  The requirement of research methods is designed to represent the sharp shift in sociology as a discipline.  The senior seminar was designed to give an overview of the changes and developments in the field.

Current Status

Currently, the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Anthropology is affected by increased interest in the field by the general public and by the students.  As a result of this increased interest, plus a staff increase, the Department ranks above the average in AddRan College in total class enrollments, number of majors, and majors graduating.