Learning Goals

Sociology courses deal with the structure and functioning of societies, the nature of social interaction, the relationship between the individual and society, and the nature of change in human societies. 

Learning Goals 

A student who graduates with a major in Sociology or Sociology-Environmental Studies major will be able to: 

• Understand the discipline of sociology, including foundational concepts such as the sociological imagination, social inequality, stratification, social change, culture, structure, institutions, identity, interactions, and the importance of place and natural environment in social relations.
• Describe, effectively apply, and engage basic theories or theoretical orientations in at least one area of sociological inquiry.
• Employ various sociological research methods, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, to ethically investigate sociological questions.
• Identify underlying assumptions, effectively apply, and critically engage sociological work that uses different theoretical and methodological approaches.
• Connect sociological questions with appropriate theories and methods in research.
• Critically and effectively communicate verbally and in written form according to professional standards in sociology.
• Understand both the importance of public and applied sociology and the individual student’s role in civic engagement using a sociological lens. 

For Sociology-Environmental Studies majors, these additional learning goals apply:

Students will be able to:

• Articulate an understanding of relevant concepts that underlie environmental processes, thought and governance in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.
• Integrate and apply sophisticated perspectives from multiple disciplinary approaches that address complex environmental problems
• Design and conduct research on environmental topics. Research could include a variety of methods (quantitative, qualitative, artistic, rhetorical, spatial, etc.) as well as in a variety of contexts (senior thesis, summer research, course assignments, study abroad, etc.).
• Communicate effectively in both written and oral formats to academic and non-academic audiences