A. GOALS RELATED TO SKILLS

The numbers following each outcome measure refer to the program objectives in the adjacent area that they are relevant to.

1.) To be able to think critically.

1.1) Be able to present opposing viewpoints and alternative hypotheses on various issues.

1.2) Be able to identify basic premises in particular arguments.

1.3) Be able to recognize underlying assumptions in theoretical orientations or arguments.

1.4) Be able to move easily from remembering through analysis and application to synthesis and evaluation.

1.5) Be able to examine one’s own cultural practices, beliefs, and values.

Senior exit interview (1.1-1.5).

Alumni surveys (1.1-1.5).

Employer surveys(1.1-1.5).

Senior paper (1.1-1.5)

Capstone course (1.1-1.5).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (1.1-1.5).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (1.1-1.5).

Portfolio analysis (1.1-1.5)

Sample Portfolio analysis (1.1-1.5)

2.) To be able to have basic computer skills necessary to find, communicate, create, and apply sociological knowledge and information.

2.1) Be able to use computerized and on-line data bases to find published research.

2.2) Be able to use the internet, e-mail, and Web pages to communicate to others and to find information.

2.3) Be able to use standard software packages, such as SPSS, to analyze data.

Senior exit interview (2.1-2.3).

Alumni surveys (2.1-2.3).

Employer surveys (2.1-2.3).

Senior paper (2.1-2.3)

Capstone course (2.1-2.3).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (2.1-2.3).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (2.1-2.3).

Portfolio analysis (2.1-2.3).

Sample portfolio analysis (2.1-2.3).

3) To be able to a)write and b) speak, effectively in order to communicate effectively with persons whom they encounter in their work, civil obligation, and personal life.

3a.1) Be able to write a clear and concise report of the findings from sociological data analysis.

3a.2) Be able to write a clear and concise sociological analysis and account of a social event, topic, issue, or problem.

3b.1) To be able to discuss the results of a sociological research process in an articulate manner.

Senior exit interview (3a.1-3a.2; 3b.1).

Alumni surveys (3a.1-3a.2).

Employer surveys (3a.1-3a.2).

Senior paper (3a.1-3.2)

Capstone course (3a.1-3a.2; 3b.1).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (3a.1-3a.2).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (3a.1-3a.2).

Portfolio analysis (3a.1-3a.2).

Sample portfolio analysis (3a.1-3a.2).

Pre and Post (pre = when student chooses the major; post = graduation from the major) video-tape of student discussing what college means to them (3b.1).

Oral defense of senior paper (3b.1).

B. GOALS RELATED TO UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

4) To have an appreciation for the discipline of sociology and its role in contributing to our understanding of social reality.

4.1) Be able to describe how sociology differs from and is similar to other social sciences and give examples of these differences.

4.2) To be aware of the effects of domestic and global forces on social institutions on one’s life, and on the lives of other individuals and groups.

4.3) To be able to identify what is meant by social institutions and be recognize their impact on human nature or groups.

4.4) To be able to distinguish between data and ideology.

Present student with a series of vignettes and ask student to identify which social science perspective is illustrated by each vignette (4.1)

Senior exit interview (4.1-4.4).

Alumni surveys (4.1-4.4).

Senior paper (4.1-4.4)

Capstone course (4.1-4.4).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (4.1-4.4).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (4.1-4.4).

Portfolio analysis (4.1-4.4).

Sample portfolio analysis (4.1-4.4).

5) Have an appreciation for what C. Wright Mills called "The Sociological Imagination."

5.1) To be able to know how one’s biography relates to the time in history in which one lives, and well as to the social structure in which one finds him/her self.

5.2) To be able to see who has vested interests in a particular social order.

Have student write essay which requires him/her to discuss his/her biography in relation to the time in which he or she is living and the position in the social structure that he or she is part of (5.1).

Give student a vignette and ask to student to identify which person(s) has vested interests in that situation and why (5.2).

6) Have an appreciation for how social structures operate.

6.1) To be able to demonstrate how institutions interact in their effects on each other and on individuals.

6.2) To be able to demonstrate how factors such as population or urbanization affects social structures and individuals.

6.3) To be able to demonstrate how culture and social structure vary across time and place.

6.4) To be familiar with the processes by which prejudice and discrimination are created and perpetuated.

Senior exit interview (6.1-6.4).

Alumni surveys (6.1-6.4).

Senior paper (6.1-4.4)

Capstone course (6.1-6.4).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (6.1-6.4).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (6.1-6.4).

Portfolio analysis (6.1-6.4).

Sample portfolio analysis (6.1-6.4).

7) Have an appreciation for the reciprocal relationships between individuals and society.

7.1) To be able to explain how the self develops sociologically.

7.2) To be able to explain how societal and structural factors influence individual behavior and the self’s development.

7.3) To be able to explain how social interaction and the self influences society and social structure.

7.4) To be able to distinguish sociological approaches to analyzing the self from psychological, economic, and other approaches.

Senior exit interview (7.1-7.4).

Senior paper (7.1-7.4)

Capstone course (7.1-7.4).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (7.1-7.4).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (471-7.4).

Portfolio analysis (7.1-7.4).

Sample portfolio analysis (7.1-7.4).

C. GOALS RELATED TO UNDERSTANDING SOCIOLOGICAL CORE CONCEPTS AND THEORIES

8) To be able to know the basic concepts in sociology and their fundamental theoretical interrelations.

8.1) To be able to define, give examples, and demonstrate the relevance of culture, socialization, stratification, social structure, institutions, and differentiations by race/ethnicity, gender, age, and social class.

Senior exit interview (8.1).

Alumni surveys (8.1).

Senior paper (8.1).

Capstone course (8.1).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (8.1).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (8.1).

Portfolio analysis (8.1).

Sample portfolio analysis (8.1).

9) To understand a) the role of theory in sociology, and b) how to apply key concepts of sociological inquiry in social analysis.

9a.1) To be able to define theory and describe its role in building sociological knowledge.

9a.2) To be able to recognize the historical basis for systems of thought or understanding, i.e., to show the connection between classical and contemporary theory.

9a.3) To be able to compare and contrast basic theoretical orientations (conflict; structural-functionalist; interactionist; etc.).

9a.4) To be able to show how theories reflect the context in which they are developed.

9a.5) To be able to describe and apply basic theories or theoretical orientations.

9b.1) For some given social phenomena, students will be able to construct a reasoned argument based on a theoretical perspective.

9b.2) For some given social phenomena, students will be able to articulate the broader theoretical perspective, the social origins and limitations of that perspective, as well as alternative perspectives.

9b.3) For some given social phenomena, students will be able to utilize this theoretical perspective to illuminate the social arrangements and lived experiences of people.

Senior exit interview (9a.1-9a.5; 9b.1-9b.3).

Senior paper (9a.1-9a.5; 9b.1-9b.3).

Capstone course (9a.1-9a.5; 9b.1-9b.3).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (9a.1-9a.5; 9b.1-9b.3).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (9a.1-9a.5; 9b.109b.3).

Portfolio analysis (9a.1-9a.5; 9b.1-9b.3).

Sample portfolio analysis (9a.1-9a.5; 9b.1-9b.3).

D. GOALS RELATED TO THE METHODOLOGIES EMPLOYED IN SOCIOLOGY AND ETHICAL ISSUES REGARDING RESEARCH

10) To be able to understand the role of evidence and quantitative and qualitative research methods in sociology and to be aware of ethical issues in research.

10.1) To be able to recognize how one uses the scientific method in social science.

10.2) To be know the difference between a dependent and independent variable.

10.3) To be able to identify basic methodological approaches and describe the general role of methods in building sociological knowledge.

10.4) To be able to compare and contrast basic methodological approaches for gathering data.

10.5) To be able to design and complete a research study.

10.6) To be able to critically assess a published research report.

10.7) To be able to link method and theory.

10.8) To be able to evaluate research designs utilized by others.

10.9) To be able to understand and apply basic statistical tests sociologists often use.

10.10) To be able choose and interpret the percentages and bivariate statistics is a simple bivariate crosstabulation.

10.11) To be able to interpret the results of a mulitvariate model.

10.12) To be cognizant of ethical issues in sociological research.

Senior exit interview (10.1-10.12).

Alumni surveys (10.1-10.12).

Senior paper (10.1-10.12).

Capstone course (10.1-10.12).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (10.1-10.12).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (10.1-10.12).

Portfolio analysis (10.1-10.12).

Sample portfolio analysis (10.1-10.12).

The student will communicate the meaning of the correct percentages and bivariate statistics from an SPSS crosstabulation printout, for both an lay and professional audience (10.10).

The student will be able to take a printout with results of a multivariate model and indicate a) which is the dependent variable, b) which are the independent variables, c) which of the independent variables are significantly related (and at what level) to the dependent variable, d) what is the relative power of the various independent variables in the model, and e) what is the overall variance explained in the model (10.11).

E. GOALS RELATED TO UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY AND GLOBAL ISSUES

11) To have an appreciation for the internal diversity of American society.

11.1) To be able to describe the significance of variations by race, class, gender and age.

11.2) To be able to understand appropriately how to generalize or resist generalization across groups.

11.3) To be able to understand cultural diversity within American society.

Senior exit interview (11.1-11.3).

Alumni surveys (11.1-11.3).

Employer surveys (11.1-11.3).

Senior paper (11.1-11.3)

Capstone course (11.1-11.3).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (11.1-11.3).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (11.1-11.3).

Portfolio analysis (11.1-11.3).

Sample portfolio analysis (11.1-11.3).

12) To have an appreciation for the place of American society in the global world and community.

12.1) To be able to understand that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and that one’s life and the lives of others are to an increasing degree being affected by events and processes everywhere, that one is experiencing an emerging global form of social life.

12.2) To be able to understand and critique the Eurocentric-U.S. pattern and conception of globalization and development.

12.3) To be able to understand that politics, economy, law, labor, culture, communications, and social movements have become globalized.

12.4) To be able to understand that one lives in an interdependent and unequal society and world.

Senior exit interview (12.1-12.4).

Alumni surveys (12.1-12.4).

Employer surveys (12.1-12.4).

Senior paper (12.1-12.4)

Capstone course (12.1-12.4).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (12.1-12.4).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (12.1-12.4).

Portfolio analysis (12.1-12.4).

Sample portfolio analysis (12.1-12.4).

F. GOALS RELATED TO GOOD CITIZENSHIP

13) To be able to use the sociological paradigm to make the world a better place.

13.1) To have an environmental awareness through which one can sense the greater context and interrelatedness of all life and physical processes.

13.2) To exhibit a spirit of caring, respect and dignity for one’s own and other’s human experience.

13.3) To be able to participate in action to address social problems and community building.

Senior exit interview (13.1-13.3).

Alumni surveys (13.1-13.3).

Employer surveys (13.1-13.3).

Senior paper (13.1-13.3)

Capstone course (13.1-13.3).

Comparison of entering

Sociology major survey with graduating senior survey (13.1-13.3).

Perusal of a sample of anonymous poor, average, and good papers in relevant courses (13.1-13.3).

Portfolio analysis (13.1-13.3).

Sample portfolio analysis (13.1-13.3).