The current Department of Sociology was created in 1966 as a joint department with Anthropology called the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The department was part of the Division of Social Sciences. The first identifiable Sociology course, titled "The Evolution of Social Science," was offered at the then New York State Normal College in 1904. In 1909, the joint Department of Government and Economics offered sociology courses. In 1934, the department was renamed the Department of Economics and Sociology. In 1953, Sociology was listed independently as a program in the Social Studies department headed by Joseph T. Phinney. A much broader range of courses were now being offered. Sociology continued to be taught within the Social Studies Department until 1964, when that department was enlarged and renamed the Division of Social Sciences headed by Kendall A. Birr. That same year, for the first time, students in the General Program, but not in the Teacher Education Program, could major in Sociology and receive a Bachelor of Arts. In 1966 the joint Department of Sociology and Anthropology was created chaired by Paul F. Wheeler. The department offered the student body 28 Sociology courses. In 1969 the department reported to the new Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences and in 1970 the joint department split into independent departments of Sociology and Anthropology. Master of Arts were first offered by the Department of Sociology in 1966, while a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology was first offered in 1970.
From the description of Department of Sociology records, 1966-1977. (University at Albany). WorldCat record id: 122514721
