Welcome to the School Psychology, Special Education, and Sociology Department

Are you a “people watcher” and curious about human behavior? If you enjoy finding out how and why people do the things they do, you will enjoy sociology.

Sociologists theorize and use systematic observations and analysis to study people interacting in social groups, to make their behavior understandable. Sociologists also change the world and make a difference through sociological practice.

The Department of School Psychology, Special Education, and Sociology offers students a broad liberal arts education and encourages them to think critically about the social world. We provide excellent preparation for a wide variety of careers, in areas such as (but not limited to) human services, counseling, administration and planning, probation and corrections, community organizing, teaching, and research. The department also prepares students for graduate studies in sociology, social work, and other fields, and professional studies such as law school.

We welcome you to explore what our department has to offer!

News

Scholarship Established at IUP by United Commercial Travelers, Honors Late Local Man

A community organization dedicated to helping people with developmental disabilities has donated more than $75,000 to Indiana University of Pennsylvania to continue its legacy and to honor one of its long-time members, the late Donald B. Townsend of Indiana County.

IUP Develops Program to Inspire Next Generation of Educators of Special Education Professionals

Indiana University of Pennsylvania has received $20,000 in funding from the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) for a new initiative to inspire the next generation of special education teachers.

Shinberg Presents on Disability Demography

Associate Professor Diane Shinberg presented a paper at the annual meeting of the Population Association of America in Columbus, OH, on April 18, 2024.

Vaccaro Co-authors Book with PhD Alumna on Use of Humor in Child Welfare Casework

Christian Vaccaro, professor in the Department of Sociology, co-authored "Exploring Humor in Child Welfare Casework: Laugh to Get Through It or Cry Forever" with Lisa Landram, alumna of the Administration and Leadership Studies in Nonprofit and Public Sectors program (PhD ’20). Landram is an incoming assistant professor of social work at Mary Baldwin University.

IUP Young Alumni Achievement Award Sociologist to Present “The Importance of Sociologists in Medicine”

Phillip Schnarrs, an Indiana University of Pennsylvania Young Alumni Achievement Award recipient who is an associate professor and associate chair for research in the Department of Population Health at Dell Medical School, University of Texas–Austin, will present “The Importance of Sociologists in Medicine” at IUP on April 17.