Department Strategic Goals
Goal 1: Introduction to Sociology Content Mastery and Pedagogical Skills
Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate mastery of sociological content and demonstrate awareness of challenges related to the teaching of sociology at the undergraduate level.
Assessment Method:
- Narrated or annotated PowerPoint presentation, with accompanying learning activity, on a course-related topic
- Exam question where students choose and justify the three most important learning goals in an Introduction to Sociology course
- Exam question where students describe challenges to teaching Sociology and to Sociology as a discipline, and propose solutions
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Goal 2: Social Problems Content Mastery and Pedagogical Skills
Learning Outcome: Students will comparatively evaluate competing definitions of social problems, demonstrate the ability to prioritize current social problems, and show potential for teaching social problems at the undergraduate level.
Assessment Method:
- Essay demonstrating understanding of and ability to analyze competing definitions of social problems
- Essay demonstrating ability to comparatively evaluate and prioritize social problems based on empirical evidence
- Assignment involving development of teaching-related artifact.
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Goal 3: Sociology of Family Content Mastery and Pedagogical Skills
Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate and teach relevant research/scholarship in the sociology of families.
Assessment Method:
- Essay demonstrating the ability to critically evaluate scholarship on the sociology of the family
- Narrated or annotated PowerPoint that could be used in teaching a course on families and/or intimate relationships
- Teaching portfolio, including a syllabus, teaching philosophy, lesson plan, active learning exercise, exam questions, and grading rubric.
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Goal 4: Social Stratification Content Mastery and Pedagogical Skills
Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate the acquisition of sufficient knowledge of social stratification to be able to incorporate the topic into an undergraduate sociology course.
Assessment Method:
- Narrated or annotated PowerPoint on social stratification concepts/ideas suitable for presentation in an undergraduate course
- Develop an in-class learning activity that conveys the nature of social class and how it impacts individual lives
- Exam question demonstrating a critical understanding of theoretical perspectives on social stratification.
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Goal 5: Research Methods Content Mastery
Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the logic of the scientific method, varieties of research design and data collection methods, data analysis, and ability to interpret and discuss findings.
Assessment Method:
- Research paper demonstrating ability to conduct a literature review, formulate a research questions and hypothesis, select a study design and measurement strategy, analyze data, and interpret findings
- Demonstrate quantitative analysis ability via multivariate data analysis assignment.
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Goal 6: Sociological Theory Content Mastery
Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate understanding of different theorists and perspectives and be able to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Assessment Method:
- Exam question comparing the theoretical logic of classical sociological theorists
- Narrated or annotated PowerPoint, suitable for presentation in an undergraduate course, conveying core ideas of the three main contemporary sociological paradigms.
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Approved 9/11/2019
On Demand Online Graduate Course Offerings
Goal 1: Cross-Cultural Aging
Learning Outcome: Students will compare the status of older adult populations in the U.S. with those in other countries and will demonstrate cultural sensitivity in their understanding of diverse older populations.
Assessment Method:
- Annotated bibliography on selected topic area
- Research paper on selected topic area.
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Goal 2: Gerontological Theories
Learning Outcome: Students will apply theoretical perspectives to analyze current and historical issues associated with the study of gerontology and aging.
Assessment Method:
- Annotated bibliography on selected topic area
- Research paper on selected topic area.
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Goal 3: End of Life Issues
Learning Outcome: Students will be able to identify models of palliative and supportive care for persons nearing the end of life and be able to apply psychosocial models of dying to individual loss.
Assessment Method:
- Reading quiz
- Reflection essay.
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Goal 4: Health Care and Aging
Learning Outcome: Students will be able to identify sources of health care for older adults and comparatively evaluate health care programs in the U.S. relative to other nations.
Assessment Method:
Three papers
- Conceptualizing and operationalizing health
- Comparative analysis of three models of health care as found in the U.S and other nations
- Description and assessment of major programs pertaining to elder health care in the U.S. with recommendations for improvement.
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Goal 5: Programs and Services for Older Adults
Learning Outcome: Students will be able to describe the history and reasons for programs and services for older adults, evaluate their needs, and propose future changes necessitated by demographic and economic trends.
Assessment Method:
Two papers
- Critical analysis of information and referral services based on a visit to a local Area Agency on Aging
- Critical analysis of needs for programs and services based on interviews with older adults and informal/formal caregivers.
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Goal 6: Health Disparities
Learning Outcome: Students will critically examine diverse populations and health disparities at the community, national, and global levels.
Assessment Method:
- Action project working with local community organization
- Research paper on selected topic area.