Sociology

 

  • Mission Statment

    As an undergraduate-only program, we are focused on training students in skills that can be marketable in a variety of occupations and careers. This training takes place both inside and outside the traditional classroom as students engage in online education, serve the community through community engaged learning (CEL) courses, conduct primary research, do internships in local companies and organizations, and participate in Study Abroad programs. It's our goal that students who graduate with a Sociology major or minor degree will have acquired discipline-specific content knowledge (concepts, theories, methods, research findings) and had an opportunity to apply sociological analysis and ways of thinking - e.g., the so-called "sociological imagination" - in practice. Regardless of students' future career paths, these skills are both relevant and valuable in the labor market. The program also served the university's Liberal Arts tradition by contributing to the General Education curriculum and thus preparing students as engaged and responsible citizens who can navigate the unique social, political, and economic challenges of the 21st Century.

    Mission goals:

    • Equip students with a broad sociological perspective (or the “sociological imagination”) by teaching them how social structures, individuals, and groups interact in society.
    • Provide knowledge and skills, both sociological (theory, research methods, data analysis) and general (critical thinking, writing), to pursue a broad range of careers and graduate degrees (e.g., in Sociology, Law, Public Administration).
    • Prepare students to recognize a plurality of perspectives, including their own, to navigate today’s multicultural and global society.
    • Build a stimulating learning environment by using a variety of pedagogies, including collaboration, collective learning, and community engagement.