Sociology Discipline
UNIT MISSION/GOAL(S)
1. The sociology curriculum (with support from anthropology
courses) is designed to acquaint students with the concerns, theories, and
methods of the science that deals with social groups, culture, and interpersonal
relations of human beings.
2. In addition to gaining familiarity with--and competency
in--sociology as a science, students are expected to understand how human
values relate broadly to the theories, methods, and data of the field.
3. The courses are designed to meet the GER and other needs of
liberal arts students, as well as sociology majors and students preparing for
graduate schools.
Unit Mission/goal(s) and the Institutional Mission Relation
The Morris campus has, among its mission goals,
1. providing a quality liberal arts education
2. education students to appraise values
3. and a General Education Requirement including proficiency in
writing, a knowledge of different cultures (E3), social institutions (E4), and
non-Western societies.
Concerning #1, sociology (and anthropology) requires students to
know basic data, theoretical perspectives, and methods for interpreting and
evaluation the concerns, theories, and methods of the field; the development of
analytical skills is central to our mission. As to item #2, our program
repeatedly explores the values of our own and other societies or cultures, the
social consequences of these values, and the degree to which declared values
are actually enacted or, in fact, evaded. Simultaneously, we teach students to
examine how values influence the alternative theoretical perspectives in
sociology and anthropology, as well as how studentsŐ personal values affect
their reception to the data and perspectives of our discipline(s). As to item
#3, with every course incorporating materials on social institutions, and/or
different cultures and non-Western cultures, these central concerns of the
general education program are integral to the sociology and anthropology
disciplines as well as to a liberal arts education. We place considerable
emphasis on writing in all of our courses, including (to a lesser degree,
generally) the largest ones.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES, EXPECTED
OUTCOMES, ASSESSMENT METHODS & TOOLS, TIMELINE
Learning Objective 1
Awareness of the range of knowledge (data, theories, and
methods) in sociology (and anthropology) discipline(s).
Expected Outcome 1
Successful completion of the major, which is designed to include
several courses in specific subject areas of sociology (and anthropology), at
least one course each on methodology and theory, and an individual project
which serves as a capstone experience in requiring each student to utilize and
evaluate the theories and methodologies appropriate to analyzing a particular
social or cultural problem.
Method(s), Measure(s), and Instrument(s) for Expected Outcome 1
Evaluations procedures in each course, and the capstone
Independent project.
Timeline for the Outcome 1
Starting Date for the Implementation: In Progress
Anticipated Date for the First Results: In Progress
Learning Objective 2
Prepare interested students for graduate school in sociology,
anthropology, and other areas such as public administration, social services,
law enforcement, etc.
Expected Outcome 2
Admission to and successful functioning in and completion of
graduate programs.
Method(s), Measure(s), and Instrument(s) for Expected Outcome 2
Admission to and success in graduate programs; prior to that,
evaluation of student's performance, as in #1.
Timeline for the Outcome 2
Starting Date for the Implementation: In Progress
Anticipated Date for the First Results: In Progress
Learning Objective 3
Competence in utilizing sociological and/or anthropological
theories and methods in analyzing specific problems.
Expected Outcome 3
Independent project and successful integration of graduates in
rapidly changing and diverse society.
Method(s), Measure(s), and Instrument(s) for Expected Outcome 3
Evaluation of performance in individual courses (through
examination, papers, discussion in class, individual discussions), and
evaluation of ongoing progress in independent project and or completed project.
Timeline for the Outcome 3
Starting Date for the Implementation: In Progress
Anticipated Date for the First Results: In Progress
Learning Objective 4
An understanding of the relationship between values and ethics
of sociological and anthropological knowledge.
Expected Outcome 4
Ability to make informed, careful, and reasoned decisions in
complex human situations.
Method(s), Measure(s), and Instrument(s) for Expected Outcome 4
Successful completion of each course in the program, including
research methods, which incorporates a unit on ethics, with a focus in the use
of human subjects in research.
Timeline for the Outcome 4
Starting Date for the Implementation: In Progress
Anticipated Date for the First Results: In Progress