Page Table of Contents

• Several core Sociology courses are being redesigned. These changes also go into effect at the beginning
  of Summer 2003):
  • SOCI 201, Foundations of Sociology will replace SOC 101, Introduction to Sociology.

  • SOCI 303, Introduction to Research Design and SOCI 304, Introduction to Research Analysis are
    also undergoing some curricular modifications.

  • Major requirements: completion of the three required 300-level courses is now a prerequisite to enrolling
    in 600-level courses.

  • Minor requirements revised (effective beginning Spring 2003 semester):

  • New "4+1" or combined five-year BA+MA degrees program to begin fall semester 2003. Details will be
    posted on the
    "Graduate Program" page.

  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  RATIONALE FOR CURRICULUM REVISION OF MAJOR & MINOR IN SOCIOLOGY

• The primary objective is to strengthen the quality of the major & minor studies with deliberate, sequential, and
  coordinated learning objectives from introductory to advanced course work.

• Under the old system, students took either Introductory Sociology (old SOCI 101) or an entry-level 200-level topics
  course in a specific sub-area to fulfill their social science distribution requirement.

  Under the new system, the entry-level topics courses have been have been renumbered as 100-level courses and
  now serve as a prerequisite for the new SOCI 201, Foundations of Sociology course as well as some other 200-level
  courses. These courses will still be open to students interested in either simply learning something about a particular
  topical area and/or wishing to fulfill the social science distribution requirement.

  New SOCI 201, Foundations of Sociology is designed to meet the needs of students who intend on taking more
  than one or two topical forays into the subject. Substantive course content is not appreciably altered but the
  development of specific skill proficiencies becomes a critical part of the course. In order to accomplish this goal,
  course sections will be more standardized with respect to objectives and core topics, and will be smaller in size
  to facilitate more direct and extended student-teacher interaction and activities.

  _______________________________________________________________________________________________

  REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR OR A MINOR IN SOCIOLOGY

  Major Requirements - Nine three-credit courses per the following:

  	New Number	Old Number	Prerequisite
  1.	One 100-level course	One course	None
  2.	201	101	One 100-level course
  3.	303	303	201
  4.	304	304	303
  5.	322	322	201
  6-8.	Three 600-level courses	Three 600-level courses	304 and 322
  9.	One additional course 100-299, 501-699	One additional course

  Note: The total number of credits for the new major is the same as for the old major.

  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  Minor Requirements - Five three-credit courses per the following:

  	New Number	Old Number	Prerequisite
  1.	One 100-level course	One course	None
  2.	201	101	One 100-level course
  3.	303	----	201
  4.	322	322	201
  5.	One additional course 100-299, 501-699	2-600 level courses, plus one additional course

  Note: The total number of credits for the new minor is the same as for the old minor. Under the old system,
  students did not take any 300-level core courses, but took two 600-level seminars. Under the new system,
  minors must complete social theory and research methods.

  ________________________________________________________________________________________________

  CORE COURSE OBJECTIVES & SKILL PROFICIENCIES

• SOCI 201 (Foundations of Sociology)

  Course Objective: To provide substantive exposure to basic sociological concepts, theories, methods, and tools at a
  rudimentary level.

  • Information Acquisition
    
    • Identify, access, and use relevant electronic and print resources including library catalog, indexes
      and abstracts, and journal databases (e.g., Sociological Abstracts, Social Science Citation Index).
    
    
    • Create an annotated bibliography.
  • Numeracy
    
    • Understand concepts of distribution and measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and
      relative strengths and weaknesses thereof.
    
    
    • Understand basic mathematical concepts necessary for table mastery (e.g., standardization, proportion,
      percentage, index).
    
    
    • Be able to read simple data tables, graphs, and figures.
    
    
    • Read cross-tabulations with 2 and 3 variables.
  • Critical Literacy
    
    • Comprehend and evaluate introductory level sociological essays and research.
    
    
    • Interpretive Writing
      • Define, explain, and apply basic sociological concepts.
      • Interpret simple table and figures.
      • Demonstrate mastery of A.S.A. writing style (e.g., citations, references per ASA Style Guide).
    • Computer Literacy
      
      • Demonstrate "Blackboard" competency.
      • Achieve office products proficiency (i.e., Word, Excel, & PowerPoint).
    • Oral Competency
      
      • Present ideas to group (e.g., theoretical explanations, research findings, policy proposals, etc.).

  
  
  

• SOCI 303 (Introduction to Research Design)

  Course Objective: To provide a practical and an experiential understanding of the planning and conducting of
  social research.

  • Understand the epistemology of the general role of methods in building sociological knowledge, and explain
    the purposes of social research.
  • Gain familiarity with the function and procedures of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) as it pertains
    to professional ethics and the protection of research participants.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of measurement issues, including, but not limited to, levels of measurement and
    operationalization.
  • Describe a variety of sampling procedures.
  • Explain a variety of research designs and approaches to gathering data:
    
    • Including, but not limited to, survey, experiment, ethnographic field methods.
    
    
    • Other optional methods depending on instructor preference and expertise (e.g., program evaluation,
      content analysis).
    
    
    • Apply knowledge through hands-on exercises:
      • Stages of the research process from planning the design to gathering data.
      • Exposure to a variety of methodologies.
      • Technical writing:
        • Summarize, explain, and evaluate methodological procedures.

  
  
  

• SOCI 304 (Introduction to Research Analysis)

  Course Objective: To provide basic training in how to organize data, test empirical hypotheses, evaluate evidence,
  and present findings.

  • Review univariate distributions & measures of central tendency.
  • Explain dispersion.
  • Understand probability as it pertains to sampling distributions & tests of significance.
  • Demonstrate competency in a variety of statistical procedures:
    
    • Including, but not limited to, tests for difference between means, measures of association,
      chi-square, correlation, OLS regression.
    
    
    • Achieve proficiency in SPSS Windows.
    
    
    • Work with qualitative data in standardized modes (e.g., content analysis, ethnographic or linguistic
      coding) using SPSS or other suitable software packages for qualitative data.
    
    
    • Apply knowledge through hands-on exercises:
      
      • Variety of statistical techniques with SPSS applications.
      • Technical writing:
        
        • Summarize and interpret quantitative information.
        • Communicate research findings to a general audience.

  
  
  

• SOCI 322 (Social Theory)

  Course Objective: To provide an understanding of how to compare and contrast different theoretical orientations,
  build sociological knowledge using theories, and apply theories to explain different areas of social reality.

  • Define theory and describe its role in building sociological knowledge.
  • Compare and contrast different theoretical orientations and analytical levels.
  • Gain familiarity, understanding, and basic analytical competency with critical theoretical frameworks:
    
    • Classical theorists (including but not limited to Durkheim, Marx, and Weber).
      
      
    • Contemporary theorists.
      
      
    • Other optional theorists depending on instructor preference and expertise.
  • Situate theories and theory development in the historical context and socio-cultural conditions in which
    they emerge.
  • Apply basic theoretical orientations, specific theories and theoretical constructs to areas of social reality
    and empirically-based research questions.
  • Analytical Writing:
    
    • Integrate and synthesize diverse theoretical materials.
    
    
    • Critically evaluate theoretical arguments.
      
      • Apply sociological theory.

  
  
  

• 600-level seminars

  Course Objectives: To develop in-depth knowledge of theories and research within a specific area of concentration,
  and to synthesize and apply the analytic skills acquired in 303, 304, 322 within the specialty area.

  • Research component
    
    • Design and carry out original research project or literature review project.
  • Writing component:
    
    • Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate sociological research in a variety of writing exercises
      and/or a research paper.
  • Oral component:
    
    • Develop discussion leadership skills.
      
      • Present research findings.

  ______________________________________________________________________________________________

  THE SOCIOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE -- A LIBERAL ARTS DEGREE WITH A PLUS

  Undergraduate training in sociology opens a variety of doors. Sociologists have a competitive advantage in
  today's information society given their solid base in research design, data analysis, statistics, and critical
  thinking. These skills are in high demand in business, human services, and organizations that conduct social
  science research, policy analysis, and program evaluations. Sociology also provides a useful background for
  students planning to enter law, business, medicine, education, community development, architecture, and politics.
  In many professional schools, sociology courses are an integral part of the required curriculum.

  ______________________________________________________________________________________________

  WHAT CAN I DO WITH DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY?

  Before considering specific job search strategies, it is useful to gain a sense of the kinds of positions
  sociology graduates actually hold. This list of jobs is only illustrative and not exhaustive, but it does provide
  an overview of options available for BAs in sociology. It is compiled from data supplied by Career Placement
  Offices and Sociology Departments at three major institutions of higher learning across the United States.

  Positions for those with M.A. or Ph.D. degrees in the field will find some that include the word sociologist.
  Notice that in the B.A. level, none of the job titles include the word "sociology" nor will you find entries under
  "sociologist" in the Sunday paper's employment ads. However, all of these positions are open to and appropriate
  for sociology graduates. They require the skills and theoretical perspective secured through sociological
  training. Your special interests, experiences, and work setting preference will help you decide which of these
  career paths to select.

  In addition to the positions listed here, sociologists work in many other professional arenas, including positions of
  political and national leadership. For example, former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) has a doctorate in
  sociology and civil rights leaders Jesse Jackson and the late Ralph Abernathy earned BAs in sociology.

  Take this list as a starting point not as an endpoint. Now that you have a better idea of possible job titles, you can
  proceed to strategies that will help you find employment.

  _______________________________________________________________________________________________

  JOBS & OCCUPATIONS AVAILABLE TO PERSONS WITH BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY

  Business And Industry advertising staffer consumer relation's worker sales representative/manager market analyst real estate agent issues manager public relations staffer training assistant insurance agent banker human resources manager production manager labor relations staffer administrative assistant planning assistant quality control manager merchandiser/purchaser computer analyst data entry manager publishing staffer trainer telemarketer control engineer recruiter project manager technical writer

  Community And Social Services fund raising assistant/director childcare worker caseworker/aide environmental organizer community organizer youth outreach worker family planning worker substance abuse counselor occupational/career counselor hospital administrator medical records worker community aide homeless/housing worker case manager child development technician public administration assistant recreation worker public assistance worker resident planning aide group home worker rehabilitation program worker public health supervisor rural health outreach worker housing coordinator

  Justice System corrections officer corrections staffer criminal investigator juvenile court worker parole officer police officer police department staffer special agent correctional counselor state trooper rehabilitation counselor     Education teacher personnel worker affirmative action assistant admissions counselor alumni relations' worker college placement worker extension service specialist public health educator

  Government affirmative action worker employee specialist foreign service officer human rights officer international worker personnel coordinator program supervisor special agent urban planner information officer legislative aide Peace Corps volunteer researcher social research assistant survey research technician data analyst market researcher interviewer public survey worker census research assistant statistician demographer assistant criminology assistant consumer researcher