PROPOSED (NEW) COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Introduces basic concepts, theories, and methods of sociology. Develops a sociological perspective on social issues, problems and events. Provides an overview of major subfields in sociology. Also prepares students for the major and a career in sociology and related professions. Fall, Spring.
RATIONALE:
Several years ago our department created a new course entitled “Soc 203: Sociology Proseminar”, which was intended to be a course that would introduce students majoring in sociology to the field and prepare them for upper-level courses as well as their future careers. Proseminar was originally 1 credit, but during the 4-credit transition, we decided to make it 2 credits. In the process of adapting the Integrative Studies Program, the Sociology faculty debated the future role of our department in the ISP, and whether we would convert our “Soc 101: Introductory Sociology” course into a perspectives course, or whether some other plan made more sense. In preparing our 4-credit model, we ultimately decided to leave Soc 101 and Soc 203 in place, while converting two of our courses, Soc 225 Social Problems and Soc 260 Popular Culture into IS Perspectives courses. After some experience with the ISP in place, we concluded that our department needed one additional course to meet the IS-Perspectives requirement, so we have proposed a new course “IS-Soc 125: Sociology Now”. That course will introduce students from across the campus to the field of sociology, with a focus on current events. Sociology Now will not, however, serve as an introductory course for students planning to major in sociology. Rather, we want to create the new course Soc 201: Introduction to Sociology Major, which will serve the combined purposes of our old Sociology 101 and Sociology 203, in a single 4-credit course. Previously students majoring in sociology would have had to take both 101 and 203, for a total of six credits.
(see attachment for more explanation on rationale)