Student Learning Goals and Outcomes for Undergraduates

GOAL 1.  Students should understand the sociological perspective and the foundational concepts/elements of sociology. 

  • Learning Outcome 1-A:  Students will describe the sociological perspective and other concepts such as social structure, stratifications, and social change; and how they apply to social reality.  
  • Learning Outcome 1-B:  Students will compare/contrast sociology with other social sciences.
  • Learning Outcome 1-C:  Students will describe key sociological theories.
  • Learning Outcome 1-D:  Students will describe key sociological methods.

GOAL 2.  Students should understand and apply sociological theories. 

  • Learning Outcome 2-A:  Students will move beyond folk explanations of social phenomena and identify and differentiate theoretical orientations in sociology. 
  • Learning Outcome 2-B:  Students will critically evaluate theoretical orientations
  • Learning Outcome 2-C:  Students will systematically apply sociological theories and concepts to at least one area of social life. 
  • Learning Outcome 2-D:  Students will effectively use sociological theories and evidence to suggest solutions to social problems. 

 GOAL 3.  Students should understand, evaluate, and use a variety of methods in sociology. 

  • Learning Outcome 3-A:  Students will identify major methodological approaches and their logics. 
  • Learning Outcome 3-B:  Students will critically evaluate and interpret empirical research.
  • Learning Outcome 3-C:  Students will recognize ethical issues in research. 
  • Learning Outcome 3-D:  Students will design and implement a research study and articulate rationales for choices made. 

GOAL 4.  Students should understand, analyze, and evaluate social scientific data. 

  • Learning Outcome 4-A:  Students will identify the assumptions and limitations of research findings.  
  • Learning Outcome 4-B:  Students will be able to critically assess the empirical sociological research of others. 
  • Learning Outcome 4-C:  Students will apply disciplinary standards for data analysis, both quantitative and qualitative. 
  • Learning Outcome 4-D:  Students will analyze data using the most appropriate procedures to answer a research question.  

GOAL 5.  Students should use sociological knowledge to inform policy debates and public understandings of social issues. 

  • Learning Outcome 5-A:  Students will express sociological ideas in a clear and coherent manner in both written and oral communication. 
  • Learning Outcome 5-B:  Students will demonstrate informational, technological, and quantitive and qualitative data literacies.
  • Learning Outcome 5-C:  Students will apply a sociological framework to applied settings, the communities in which they live and work, and the broader society.

 Amended and Approved by faculty on September 11, 2019