马修。沃斯
社会学教授
社会学
2000年以来的教员名单
大多数学生认为社会学与咨询或社会工作有关。 他们是正确的，但问题远不止于此。 You might call sociology the science of everyday life. 社会学 professors try to help students to see how the groups they are a part of (large groups like the United States, and small groups like a family) shape their behavior and their thinking. To that end, sociologists study a number of theories and frameworks for understanding how society shapes us, even while we shape society. We also explore the sociology of the everyday, learning about concepts like norms (for example, the custom of men opening doors for women), class stratification, deviance, and socialization, to name just a few. In addition to these more theoretical matters, we have courses in practical areas like counseling and interpersonal communication, where students are particularly encouraged to practice in life what is absorbed in the classroom.
为什么要去基督教学院学习这些东西呢？ In the 社会学 Department at Covenant we take seriously the scriptural idea that Christians should strive to be in, not of, the world. A Christian approach to sociology has much to say about living in and engaging our culture, while remaining keenly aware of its traps and distorting influences. As Christians we hope to influence the larger culture around us, but we are often unaware of just how much culture influences us. In some ways the calling of a Christian sociologist is like the calling of an Old Testament prophet -- to provide perspective on God’s Word and to call people to see through the traps of culture and live more godly lives. We do this by drawing attention to some very ordinary, “everyday” experiences that most people take for granted. My colleague Dr. Robinson likes to say that we all look straight ahead as we walk down the path of life. 社会学 encourages you to keep doing that, but also to shift your gaze just a little so you can begin to see things from other perspectives. In short, a Christian approach to sociology can help you understand ways you can resist society’s control as you work out your calling before God.
社会学的训练为学生在许多领域的服务做准备。 You’ll be surprised to learn where our graduates have made use of their degrees. Some of our graduates are social workers or counselors. Others are doing work in criminology, community development, the media, sports and health fields (for example, some have become child-life specialists and work with children in hospitals), journalism, and art therapy. 社会学 is an excellent springboard into law school, Master of Social Work (MSW) programs, and a number of other fields of graduate study. If you are interested in exploring the wide variety of sociology careers, you can look at the website for the American Sociological Association (www.asanet.org), or contact me directly and I’ll tell you about them.
教育
- 诺克斯维尔田纳西大学社会学博士
- 美国田纳西大学查塔努加分校行政与监督硕士
- 威尼斯人平台音乐学士
兴趣/专业
- 体育社会学
- 社会学理论
- 宗教社会学
选择的专业工作
- 沃斯，m.s.（2023年2月10日）。 “One Square Inch We Won’t Concede: Super Bowl Christians and the God Outside the Stadium.” 评论：公共神学的共同利益。
- 沃斯，m.s.（2022）。 “从陌生人和替罪羊到邻居和朋友” By Faith, 76, 56-60. https://byfaithonline.com/from-strangers-and-scapegoats-to-neighbors-and-friends/
- 沃斯，M.（2022）。 Strangers and Scapegoats: Extending God’s Welcome to Those on the Margins. 密歇根州大急流城：贝克学院。
- Vos, m.s.和Chiareli， A.（2021年8月）。 Race and Ethnic Stratification (Ch. 8), in 社会学: A Christian Approach for Changing the World, 3d edition.
- （2021年4月）。 “‘Thugs’ in Context: Why Dividing People into ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ is a Bad Idea.” 社会学与基督教学报，11,No. 1, 70-75。
了解你的教授
问：如果你能参加一项奥运会比赛，你会选择什么项目，为什么？
答：我不会！ I teach sociology of sport, and rather than competing, I would work
to address the corruption that is so pervasive in the Olympics. But, after I'd cleared
up all the corruption, I would petition for slalom waterskiing to be added as an Olympic
sport, and compete in that.
问：最喜欢的电影？
A.鲍勃怎么样？
问：有什么事情能让你的一天变得更好？
A. Two things: Coffee, and then going out to my barn to feed my horses.
问：如果你可以教其他专业，你会教什么专业？
答：艺术，因为我发现艺术和社会学有很多共同点。 Both
disciplines work to help people see old things in new ways.
Q. Personal Interests/Hobbies
A. I slalom waterski, ride a motorcycle, and have two rescue horses.