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SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATION: Demonstrate a complex understanding of your position in the social world
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes/Tests/Exams
Written Papers and Reflections
Projects and Presentations (Individual and Group)
Class Activities (such as Case Studies, Simulations, Discussions, etc.)
Criteria
Compare how sociological explanations differ from individualistic ones
Describe how your personal identity and life experiences are positioned within a broader social context
Recognize the role that systems, structures, and social forces play in your own life and the lives of others
Provide examples of how individuals influence society
Apply a sociological perspective to inequalities, inequities, and systems of oppression
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RESEARCH METHODS: Assess common sociological research techniques for understanding society
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes/Tests/Exams
Written Papers and Reflections
Projects and Presentations (Individual and Group)
Class Activities (such as Case Studies, Simulations, Discussions, etc.)
Criteria
Recognize that sociology is a science, grounded in the scientific method
Interpret social scientific data
Evaluate everyday sources of information for bias and accuracy
Distinguish between scientific and non-scientific sources of information
Compare quantitative and qualitative research methods
Explain how data collection methods impact the conclusions we draw from social scientific research
Evaluate the strengths and limitations of sociological research methods
Assess what research methods are most appropriate for specific kinds of investigations
Identify the contribution of social scientific data for identifying, understanding, and explaining social disparities Identify the ethical dilemmas encountered in social scientific research involving marginalized populations
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THEORY: Apply major sociological theoretical perspectives to social phenomena
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes/Tests/Exams
Written Papers and Reflections
Projects and Presentations (Individual and Group)
Class Activities (such as Case Studies, Simulations, Discussions, etc.)
Criteria
Describe the key differences between major sociological theoretical perspectives
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of different sociological theories
Use sociological theories to explain and understand a variety of social patterns and phenomena
Critically evaluate sociological explanations of human behavior, social patterns, and social phenomena
Use sociological theories to evaluate social policies, programs, and practices
Use sociological theories to explore potential solutions to social disparities, inequities, and other social problems
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SUBFIELDS: Demonstrate familiarity with several subfields within the discipline of sociology
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes/Tests/Exams
Written Papers and Reflections
Projects and Presentations (Individual and Group)
Class Activities (such as Case Studies, Simulations, Discussions, etc.)
Criteria
Identify concepts, theories, findings, issues, and questions relevant to various subfields in sociology
Evaluate the merits of the theoretical perspectives central to the various subfields in sociology
Provide examples of how the various sociological subfields are interconnected
Evaluate the extent to which sociological theories and concepts could be applied across subfields
Examine how social disparities, power, privilege, and inequities are explained and understood within the various subfields in sociology
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SOCIALIZATION: Examine processes of socialization
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes/Tests/Exams
Written Papers and Reflections
Projects and Presentations (Individual and Group)
Class Activities (such as Case Studies, Simulations, Discussions, etc.)
Criteria
Define socialization
Recognize various agents of socialization
Provide examples of how socializing agents have influenced your identity, development, and sense of self
Compare the influence of various socializing agents over time and across cultures
Explore the role that various socializing agents play in perpetuating stereotypes and biases
Analyze how socialization processes contribute to social reproduction, particularly with regards to power and systems of oppression
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CULTURE: Examine cultural dimensions of social life
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes/Tests/Exams
Written Papers and Reflections
Projects and Presentations (Individual and Group)
Class Activities (such as Case Studies, Simulations, Discussions, etc.)
Criteria
Explain the relationship between culture and socialization
Evaluate ethnocentric and culturally relativistic perspectives of cultural differences
Provide examples of the various components of culture
Provide examples of how culture varies over time, across groups, and across societies
Identify the cultural forces that impact you, the groups to which you belong, and broader society
Explore how power and privilege are reflected within the dominant culture
Examine the various processes that influence cultural change
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CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOCIAL WORLD: Explain how society is socially constructed
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes/Tests/Exams
Written Papers and Reflections
Projects and Presentations (Individual and Group)
Class Activities (such as Case Studies, Simulations, Discussions, etc.)
Criteria
Explain what it means to say that a concept or practice is socially constructed
Trace how social constructions change over time
Examine how social constructions vary across cultures
Explore the consequences and implications of social constructions
Identify ways that power and privilege influence social constructions
Explain how social constructions of identity influence how we think about ourselves and others
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INEQUALITIES: Examine social inequalities
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes/Tests/Exams
Written Papers and Reflections
Projects and Presentations (Individual and Group)
Class Activities (such as Case Studies, Simulations, Discussions, etc.)
Criteria
Identify patterns in various forms of social inequalities
Evaluate the merits of various explanations for social inequalities
Provide examples of individual and structural-level factors that help to create and social inequalities
Challenge assumptions and stereotypes about marginalized groups
Analyze the intersections of various forms of oppression and marginalization
Examine how power, privilege, and status are linked to social inequalities
Explore the consequences of different forms of oppression and social inequalities
Differentiate between equal and equitable social practices
Consider possible strategies for reducing social inequalities
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SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS and SYSTEMS: Analyze the large-scale structures of social life
Assessment Strategies
Quizzes/Tests/Exams
Written Papers and Reflections
Projects and Presentations (Individual and Group)
Class Activities (such as Case Studies, Simulations, Discussions, etc.)
Criteria
Identify the key roles and functions of various social institutions
Identify key theoretical approaches used to study social institutions and systems
Demonstrate how various social institutions and systems are interconnected
Compare systemic and non-systemic understandings of discrimination, inequality, inequity, and oppression
Examine the relationship between social inequalities and social institutions
Explore the dynamics between individuals and social institutions
Identify the various structural dimensions of inequality, privilege, and oppression