Department of Sociology and Social Work

By virtue of Amiri Decree No. 109 of 1998, issued on May 17, 1998, the College of Social Sciences was established. The Minister of Education and Higher Education subsequently issued Decision No. 31 on December 6, 1998, specifying the departments included in the college — among them the Department of Sociology and Social Work. Thus, the department officially became part of the College of Social Sciences.
 

Department Vision

The department aims to achieve excellence as one of the leading centers of university education in the fields of sociology and social work. Its forward-looking vision focuses on employing information skills, applying the latest technological tools in research and critical, objective thinking, and keeping pace with academic accreditation requirements set by international and scientific institutions. This includes developing course content, providing information resources and laboratories, and enhancing scientific research.
 

Department History

The Department of Sociology and Social Work traces its roots back to 1966, when it was part of the College of Arts, which originally included three divisions: Social, Psychological, and Philosophical Studies.

In 1974, the department was reorganized and separated from the Psychology and Philosophy divisions, branching into three majors: Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology. This development elevated the department’s services and expanded its scope. Many graduates went on to hold high-level leadership positions within Kuwaiti society. The department has also successfully prepared well-qualified national professionals who now serve in various ministries, institutions, and state departments with distinction.

Additionally, faculty members have contributed significantly to social knowledge through their research, publications, translations, and collaborations with both public and private institutions. Their efforts focus on improving work methods and delivering social services according to modern, globally recognized scientific and practical standards.

Academic Programs

The department offers two main majors:

1. Sociology – This major aims to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge of contemporary social issues, exploring the characteristics of Gulf, Arab, developing, and advanced societies. It examines social structures, factors of change, and their effects, while equipping students with research skills and experience for analyzing social conditions and problems.

    

2. Social Work – This major prepares social work professionals both theoretically and practically to work in various fields, such as schools, hospitals, social institutions, factories, companies, and community development programs in Gulf and Arab countries.
   The Social Work program includes a Field Training Office, responsible for supervising and guiding students’ practical training, helping them apply theoretical frameworks in real-world settings, and develop their personal and professional skills in client interaction.

Additionally, the department offers a minor in Anthropology, which has its own set of courses closely related to sociology. This minor aims to address cultural dimensions of society in general, and specifically in Gulf and Arab contexts.

The department continually reviews and updates its graduation plans for both majors, ensuring academic improvement and alignment with job market demands or postgraduate study opportunities. The Academic Affairs and Accreditation Committees have recently reviewed and approved the new Sociology and Anthropology program structures.

Recent Development Achievements

Introduction of New Programs and Courses

To remain current with global academic developments, the department’s Planning and Development Committee introduced several new courses to the updated degree plans in Sociology, Social Work, and Anthropology.

These additions reflect the department’s commitment to serving society and addressing contemporary issues.

1. Sociology Major:

Newly added courses include:

• Women and Society
• Social Demography
• Kinship and Marriage
• Culture, Health, and Illness

Additionally, some courses were revised to better meet societal needs, such as:

• Sociology of Development
• Social Movements and Collective Behavior
• Minorities and Ethnic Groups
• Classical Social Theory
• Contemporary Social Theory
• Environmental Sociology

2. Social Work Major:

Three new course clusters were introduced, covering:

• Sociology courses: Social Demography, Social Organization
• Psychology courses: Physiological Psychology, Personality Assessment, Counseling Psychology
• Anthropology courses: Social and Cultural Anthropology, Urban Anthropology, Introduction to Physical Anthropology, Tribe and Society, Culture, Health, and Illness, Kinship and Marriage, Culture and Personality

A new Professional Practice Skills course was also added to strengthen applied training in social work.

In addition, Liberal Arts electives such as Philosophy of Science, Human Rights, and Introduction to Media Studies were added to the optional course list to broaden students’ intellectual horizons.

3. Anthropology Minor:

A new course titled Special Topics in Anthropology was introduced, along with revisions to existing courses such as:

• Culture, Health, and Illness
• Political and Economic Anthropology
• Special Topics in Physical Anthropology
• Tribe and Society

Department Mission

The department’s mission is to prepare qualified specialists in sociology and social work, equipped with modern knowledge, professional skills, information literacy, critical thinking, teamwork, research, and communication abilities.

It also strives to develop and disseminate social knowledge, provide consultation, and deliver social services and training to Kuwaiti society and its institutions.

The mission includes:
 

1. Developing advanced research skills among faculty members in social sciences, particularly sociology and social work, aligned with global academic standards to analyze social issues using the latest research technologies.
2. Enhancing academic and professional programs, and providing students with strong research abilities and practical competence for various social work fields.
3. Supporting faculty development through collaboration with local, Arab, and international institutions to address real-world social phenomena and challenges.
4. Preparing students to actively contribute to Kuwait’s development plans and national progress.
5. Producing graduates with the competencies and skills required by the Kuwaiti labor market.

Department Goals

1. Train and qualify graduates and social workers both theoretically and practically to work in diverse social fields through specialized training programs.
2. Enhance faculty expertise via collaboration with Arab and international universities, research centers, visiting scholars, and participation in conferences and sabbaticals for research and publication.
3. Support the university’s teaching needs by offering sociology and social work courses as minors or electives across various programs.
4. Equip students scientifically and technologically according to societal and labor market needs, utilizing computers and audiovisual tools in teaching.
5. Meet international accreditation standards through continuous curriculum development, resource provision, and research enhancement.

Future Aspirations (Five-Year Plan)

1. Increase the number of faculty members in specialized areas.
2. Hire additional administrative assistants, academic aides, and researchers.
3. Expand technical equipment such as computers, projectors, copiers, and printers.
4. Establish a dedicated departmental library featuring faculty research and publications.
5. Create specialized laboratories for courses in statistics and social research, using programs like SPSS.
6. Increase the number of classrooms, especially for introductory sociology and social work courses.
7. Complete the procedures for launching a Master’s program in Sociology.
8. Develop a Master’s program in Social Work.
9. Develop a Master’s program in Anthropology.
10. Separate the Sociology and Social Work divisions into two independent departments and expand their curricula.
11. Update and author new textbooks reflecting contemporary changes in local and global societies.