Mission/Vision Statement

The Sociology Department is a student-centered community engaged in active learning. We strive to create an environment in which students gain an understanding of human social behavior by cultivating the sociological imagination. The sociological imagination involves the ability to understand how individual lives and personal problems are connected to public issues and the structure of society, Students are also encouraged to explore their own position in and relationship to society, and especially how it’s shaped by race, class and gender. At its core, the sociological mission is rooted in social theory and the scientific method and how these can be applied to improve social conditions.

Bachelor of Arts Student Learning Goals

1. Sociology students should demonstrate a working knowledge of key concepts in sociology (by defining, mastering the characteristics of, and being able to apply the concept to an example.)
2. Sociology students should demonstrate a working knowledge of the major theories in sociology, the role of theory in building knowledge, and for a given social phenomena, construct a reasoned argument based on a theoretical perspective.
3. Sociology should demonstrate a working knowledge of research methods in sociology; including recognizing how the scientific method is used; applying the proper statistical procedure to data; and interpreting the data appropriately.
4. Sociology students should demonstrate a working knowledge of cultural diversity including recognizing the significance of race, ethnicity, gender, class, and sexuality both within U.S. society and in the global community.

Bachelor of Science Student Learning Goals

1. Sociology students should demonstrate a working knowledge of key concepts in sociology (by defining, mastering the characteristics of, and being able to apply the concept to an example).
2. Sociology students should demonstrate a working knowledge of the major theories in sociology, the role of theory in building knowledge, and for a given social phenomena, construct a reasoned argument based on a theoretical perspective.
3. Sociology should demonstrate a working knowledge of research methods in sociology; including recognizing how the scientific method is used; applying the proper statistical procedure to data; and interpreting the data appropriately.
4. Sociology students should demonstrate a working knowledge of cultural diversity including recognizing the significance of race, ethnicity, gender, class, and sexuality both within U.S. society and in the global community.
5. Students will be able to explain how Sociology is a "social science," with attention to the ways that sociology applies the scientific method to understand social concerns and refine theory.
6. Students will be able to present social data for a public audience (eg. fact sheets, research briefs, policy briefs, op-eds).
7. Students will have functional skills in one or more of the following:
   • Geographic Information Systems (mapping social and economic data from public data sources)
   • Spreadsheet Applications
   • Database management
   • Marketing
   • Discussion and Group Methods
   • Interviewing Principles and Practices
   • Public Relations
8. Students will be able to locate public data sources for information on our service region (i.e. social, economic, agriculture and industry, and health related data).
9. Students will demonstrate the ability to use publicly available data to understand the social context of the IU Southeast service region (i.e. download, use in statistical analyses, make charts in Excel, and present findings through graphic, written and oral presentation).
10. Students will recognize the social and political issues that shape the use of social research in public contexts (i.e. government, community organizing, nonprofit organizations, marketing, and public relations).
11. Students will have an understanding of professional ethics in public sociology.
12. Students will be able to identify jobs and career paths that utilize their sociological imagination as well as their research and communication skills.