Student Learning Outcomes

Sociology Major

Upon completion of a Sociology major, students will:

comprehend the power dynamics that produce stratification and inequality across time and space through the social and cultural processes that inform human interaction, including the extent to which institutions could shape these processes;
describe key sociological theories and concepts, explain the development of these theories and concepts in their specific historical contexts, and apply them in explaining past and current social phenomena;
design a research project that is theoretically grounded and based on a thorough literature review, and to apply key qualitative or quantitative methods of data collection and analysis used in sociology complete that project, and to critically evaluate these approaches’ strengths and limitations, and ethical and political implications;
demonstrate mastery of skills in writing (including proper citation), reading, speaking, and utilizing multiple media grounded in the discipline of Sociology.

Upon completion of a Sociology minor, students will:

have knowledge of the power dynamics that produce stratification and inequality and be able to examine how time and space shape these processes
describe key sociological theories and concepts, explain the development of these theories and concepts in their specific historical contexts, and apply them in explaining past and current social phenomena
design a research project that is theoretically grounded and based on a thorough literature review, and to critically evaluate the project’s methodological strengths and limitations, and ethical and political implications
demonstrate skills in writing (including proper citation), reading, speaking, and utilizing multiple media grounded in the discipline of Sociology.

Understand theory as a s set of interrelated propositions that provide a coherent explanation of observed reality and suggest a set of questions for further observation.
See how assumptions, concepts and propositions work together to present a coherent, logical explanation of social phenomena.
Understand that theory develops in a social context by building on and critiquing the ideas of others.
Recognize that sociology is a multi-paradigm discipline by developing a basic understanding of several prominent paradigms (including conflict, functionalist, symbolic interactionist, feminist and postmodern theories).
Demonstrate the ability to apply several theoretical approaches to the same sociological question or issue and to evaluate their relative usefulness.
Develop some in-depth familiarity with the theoretical work of at least two notable classical and contemporary theorists.
Understand that theory and research are complementary and mutually reinforcing. A good theory requires empirical grounding and theory is necessary for the interpretation of data.
Be able to identify the empirical observations that a theory implies and be able to identify the theoretical idea which data imply even if the theory is not stated explicitly.

Ask critical questions about the ideas presented as "fact" in contemporary life.
Be able to use the knowledge of research methods to ask meaningful questions about research published in professional journals.
Be familiar with a range of research designs, such as experiment, survey, ethnographic interviews, participant observation and know which designs are most appropriate to use for studying particular questions.
Be able to develop social science research designs including generating a research question, selecting a sample, identifying and measuring variables, and interpreting results.
Show proficiency in using on-line techniques to develop a bibliography on a research question.
Be able to appropriately cite sociological and anthropological sources.
Be able to read and interpret data presented in tables and graphs.