Department Mission

Department Mission

The Department of Sociology seeks to foster the goals of a liberal education by developing in students the ability to understand and apply the sociological perspective.

In order to make this mission more specific, the Department has identified ten outcomes for the students to achieve.

Outcomes of the Sociology Major

1. An understanding of the discipline of sociology and its role in contributing to our understanding of social reality, such that the student will be able to: a) describe how sociology differs from and is similar to other social sciences and give examples of these differences, b) describe how sociology contributes to the liberal arts, and c) apply the sociological imagination and sociological concept and principles to her/his own life.

2. An understanding of the role of theory in sociology, such that the student will be able to: a) define theory and describe and illustrate its role in building sociological knowledge, b) compare and contrast basic theoretical orientations, c) show how theories reflect the historical and social contexts of the times and cultures in which they were developed, and d) describe and apply some basic theories or theoretical orientations in at least one area of social reality

3. An understanding of the role of evidence and qualitative and quantitative methods in sociology, such that the student will be able to: a) identify basic methodological approaches and describe the general role of methods in building sociological knowledge, b) compare and contrast the basic methodological approaches for gathering data, c) design a research study in an area of choice and explain why various choices were made, and d) critically assess a published research report and explain how the study could have been improved.

4. An understanding of the basic concepts in sociology and their fundamental theoretical interrelations, such that the student will be able to define, give examples, and show interrelationships among the following: a) culture, b) social change, c) socialization, d) stratification, e) social structure, f) institutions, g) differentiation by race/ethnicity, gender, and age, h) social interaction, and i) the self.

5. An in-depth understanding of at least one area within sociology, such that the student will be able to: a) summarize basic questions and issues in the area, b) compare and contrast basic theoretical orientations in the area, c) show how sociology helps understand the area, d) summarize current research in the area, and e) develop specific policy implications of research and theories in the area.

6. Capability of obtaining sociology-related employment.

7. Capability of engaging in graduate study.

8. Ability to think critically, such that the student will be able to: a) move easily from memorization to analysis and application to synthesis and evaluation, b) identify underlying assumptions in particular theoretical orientations or arguments, c) identify underlying assumptions in particular methodological approaches to an issue, d) show how patterns of thought and knowledge are directly influenced by political economic social structures, and e) present opposing viewpoints and alternative hypotheses on various issues.

9. Ability to write effectively.

10. Ability to speak effectively to a group.