AUGUST 28, 2023 — The UTSA Departments of Demography and Sociology will officially merge into one department on September 1. The move will allow the departments to pool resources, enhance research collaborations across faculty, strengthen the ability to attract external research funding and provide students with an even stronger skillset upon graduation.
Both programs are housed in the UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP). Demography and sociology share a strong foundation and many similarities in their undergraduate and graduate programs of study.
Students with undergraduate degrees in sociology will often pursue graduate studies in demography, building on their strong foundation in statistics, research and population studies. Merging the departments will make that track more seamless and allow students to continue learning from the university’s demography faculty.
“This merger and creation of the Department of Sociology and Demography will enhance student success in all of our programs,” said Ray Swisher, chair of the new department. “Students will have expanded access to faculty, expanded course offerings, the ability to develop a more diverse methodological toolkit and enhanced opportunities to pursue multiple pathways from the classroom to careers.”
In addition, the sociology graduate program is quite active, with more than 60 students each year in residence. Combining these two academic departments will allow for greater collaboration between students in each discipline.
“The merging of these programs is appropriate because all of our demographers are also sociologists. A merger is also important because it will minimize barriers for students and faculty to work together across the two programs,” added HCAP Dean Lynne Cossman. “Over the coming years, we hope to see more students transition from our undergraduate programs into our master’s degrees in sociology and demography and the doctoral program in demography—and also the college-wide doctoral program in applied community research that is expected to launch in fall 2025.”
The new department will offer the university’s B.S. in health, aging and society; B.A. in sociology; M.S. in applied demography; M.S. in sociology; and Ph.D. in applied demography. Graduates from these programs have pursued careers in research for such organizations as the City of San Antonio and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Graduates have also found careers as post-secondary teachers, survey researchers, medical and health service managers and more.
The disciplines of sociology and demography produce graduates who are embedded in community organizations. The community-based nature of these programs provide students with many opportunities for experiential learning, including undergraduate research and presentations at the Spring Research Colloquium, internships and leadership opportunities with the Sociology Honors organization.
Additional internship opportunities are available through connections to multiple governmental, nonprofit and for-profit organizations in the local community including the San Antonio R&D League, San Antonio Department of Human Services, Methodist Healthcare Ministries, USAA, UT Health San Antonio and the San Antonio Fire Department Community Risk Reduction program.
UTSA is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving institution that is committed to tackling society’s grand challenges through world-class education and research programs. By combining these two strong research-based programs, HCAP will continue its mission to advance human health and affect change for complex social issues.
To learn more about the new department, please visit our website.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Archaeology 101 will introduce campers to archaeology and build on learned skills through experimental activities (like cave painting, weaving, and garbology).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusJoin UTSA Professional and Continuing Education for an inspiring journey into the artistic universe of Dee Clements, where threads intertwine with creativity, sustainability and cultural exploration. This thought-provoking lecture delves into her past work, exploring the intricate threads that connect tradition, innovation and social impact.
Russell Hill Rogers Lecture Hall, Santikos Building, Southwest CampusThis academically rigorous mathematics-based summer enrichment program prepares middle and high school students for advanced studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Participants learn about problem-solving systems, develop greater awareness of STEM careers, strengthen their research and study skills, and participate in special events.
UTSA Main CampusArchaeology 201 will briefly go over the foundations of archaeology and related skills, followed by a different topic over the course of this week (like skeletal analysis, global cultures, and more).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusThis one-week virtual camp introduces students to the world of white-hat hacking and penetration testing — two methods that cybersecurity researchers use to identify security vulnerabilities in an organization’s network.
Online via ZoomArchaeology 101 will introduce campers to archaeology and build on learned skills through experimental activities (like cave painting, weaving, and garbology).
Center for Archaeological Research, UTSA Main CampusThe camp exposes rising high school juniors, rising seniors and incoming college freshman to the many facets of the criminal justice system. Students will have opportunities to learn the functions of police in society, apply scientific theories to criminal investigations by examining a mock crime scene, and visit the Federal and County Courthouses, Bexar County Emergency Management Office and SAPD Public Safety headquarters.
UTSA Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.