Recent faculty publications give solid information concerning the subject interests and programmatic emphasis of the department. The Library maintains a list of dissertations completed by the graduate students. Investigating the topics covered in these dissertations often will indicate the relative strength of the various departmental programs. Sponsored Research files are public record, once a grant is awarded. You can search the files under the faculty names to determine if any one of them has received a grant.
Sponsored research is a good indication of faculty research interest.
The sponsored research file is online and selectors can search the file by faculty name to locate grant titles applied for and received. The University Archives will possibly hold historical information regarding a department. Role and Scope reports, especially the 1972 report, are available in the Archives. The Alligator Index maintained by Humanities and Social Science Reference and the University Archives may provide access to information. In many cases the department office will have excellent information which can be shared.