Assessment Plan for Department of Sociology and Anthropology
(adopted October 2005)

LEARNING GOALS

By the time students complete the major program in sociology, we expect them to demonstrate:

1.    Ability to apply the sociological imagination to trace the links between individual experiences and social forces and between social forces and history to critically understand oneself.
2.    Understanding of substantive issues, which include how culture and social structures operate, the reciprocal relationships between individuals and society, the relationships between macro and micro levels of social reality, the impact of social institutions and social inequality on society.
3.    Understanding of sociological research methods, both quantitative and qualitative, including how to interpret findings of such research, awareness of the assumptions built into various research methods and how the choice of a particular method will may affect research conclusions and the advantages and disadvantages of applying a particular research method s to a research question.
4.    Awareness of the role of sociological theory and ability to discuss, apply, and describe some basic theories or theoretical orientations in at least one area of social reality.
5.    Development of an understanding of social structures and processes connected with race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, etc.
6.    Development of a global and multicultural perspective on the social world, including an awareness of factors contributing to social and cultural diversity.

ASSESSMENT MEASURES

Direct: Review of student portfolios of work from theory, methods and 400-level seminar courses by assessment committee.

Indirect: Survey of graduating seniors that asks how well they achieved departmental learning goals, what aspects of their education helped them with their learning and why, and what the department might do to help them learn more effectively and why those changes would help them.

ANNUAL DISCUSSION

Members of the department will meet each year to discuss the findings of the assessment committee’s review of student portfolios and of the survey of graduating seniors.  From this discussion, each year we will identify two action items.

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