Dr. Jerry W. Hollingsworth
Department of Sociology
McM Station, Box 606
Abilene, Texas 79697
(325) 793-4645
DEGREES
Ed.D (Child and Youth Studies), Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. 2004.
M.S.S.W. (Social Work), University of Texas at Arlington. 1997.
B.A. (Sociology), McMurry University. 1994.
A.A. (Criminal Justice) University of Hawaii. 1977.
DOCTORAL DISSERTATION
Implementing a problem-solving therapy and social skills training program in a foster care setting for adolescents with conduct disorder.
CLASSES TAUGHT
AREAS OF INTEREST
I have worked in the mental health field for the past 13 years, mostly with children and adolescents who have suffered from conduct disorders and psychiatric difficulties. I began teaching at McMurry as an adjunct professor in 1998, and was hired as a visiting professor in 2003. I became an assistant professor in 2004, as I was concluding my doctoral studies.
I still have keen interests in the mental health field, and have maintained scholarly interests in how juvenile delinquency is linked with the juvenile justice system by its mental health components: the foster care system, residential treatment, and in psychiatric institutes. I am also very interested in how criminal activity differs according to gender. I am especially interested in bringing the areas of sociology, social work, and criminology together in an eclectic approach to social problems such as crime.
Recent research interests have included conducting comparative research in the criminology of