Sociology classes (Fall 2006 SO 226 Social Research Analysis students and 2004 SO 226 Social Research Analysis students)

Courses and Program Goals

This table links courses to specific goals. These linkages are to a considerable extent arbitrary since pursuance of most goals runs through all sociology courses. This table identifies only major or primary linkages.
 

SO 101
SO 226
SO 227
SO 324 or 325
SO 375
SO
Other
   The Skidmore College Sociology Program seeks to develop each student's knowledge of and abilities in the following areas:
        
           
1. Critical thinking.
              The sociology major should be able to:
      X X     identify assumptions underlying theoretical arguments.
      X X     identify limitations of theoretical arguments.
  X X   X     identify assumptions underlying particular research methodologies.
  X X   X     identify limitations of particular research methodologies.
      X X     understand alternative viewpoints on social scientific issues.
        
           
2. The discipline of sociology and its contributions to understanding social life.
              The sociology major should be able to:
    X X       describe similarities and differences between sociology and both the other social sciences.
      X       describe how sociology contributes to understanding human experiences.
X   X   X     apply the sociological imagination to an understanding of the intersection of biography and history within social structures.
    X   X     apply sociological concepts and principles to individual experiences and the social world.
        
              3. Sociological theory.
              The sociology major should be able to:
      X       describe how theory contributes to sociological knowledge.
      X       compare and contrast major theoretical orientations.
      X       explain how theories reflect and affect the historical and cultural context in which they developed.
      X X     describe major theories in selected substantive areas of sociology.
        
           
4. Methodology.
              The sociology major should be able to:
  X X   X     explain how empirical evidence contributes to sociological knowledge.
  X X   X     formulate empirical research questions.
    X   X     identify materials, research, and data relevant to research questions.
    X         identify major methodological approaches and describe the general role of methods in building sociological knowledge.
  X     X     explain and apply basic statistical principles and techniques.
  X     X     evaluate statistical information and analyses.
        X     design and carry out a research project.
  X X   X     critically assess empirical research of others.
        
           
5. Basic concepts in sociology and their interrelationships.
X     X       The sociology major should be able to explain basic concepts such as culture, roles,
              norms, social structure, social institution, socialization, and stratification.
        
           
6. Social structure and social institutions.
              The sociology major should be able to:
X             describe relationships between culture and social structure.
X             demonstrate how culture and social structure vary across time and place and describe the effects of such variations.
X             demonstrate how demographic and other social changes affect social structures and individuals.
X             demonstrate how social institutions affect each other.
X             demonstrate the effects of social institutions and their interactions on individuals.
        
           
7. Reciprocal relationships between individuals and society.
              The sociology major should be able to:
X             explain how the self develops sociologically.
X             demonstrate how societal and structural factors influence individual behavior and the self's development.
X             demonstrate how social interaction and the self influence society and social structure.
        
           
8. Knowledge of a substantive area within sociology.
              The sociology major should be able to:
        X X   summarize basic issues in the area.
        X X   compare and contrast basic theoretical orientations and middle-range theories in the area.
        X X   explain how sociology contributes to understanding of the area.
        X X   summarize current research in the area.
        X X   suggest specific policy implications of research and theories in the area.
        
           
9. Social and cultural variations.
              The sociology major should be able to:
X             describe the significance of variations by across social categories.
X             describe the significance of cross-cultural variations.
X             describe social and cultural trends.
X             generalize appropriately or resist inappropriate generalizations across groups and through historical time.
        
           
10. Sociological analysis of values.
              The sociology major should be able to:
X             explain how personal and cultural values result from and affect social processes.
X             explain the degree to which values are historically and culturally situated.
X             explain relationships between beliefs and behavior.