RE‐FORMING THE SOCIOLOGY MAJOR: A PROGRAM TO ENHANCE THE TEACHING OF SOCIOLOGY AT THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL

In: The international journal of sociology and social policy, Band 16, Heft 11, S. 32-63

Abstract

This paper provides a descriptive overview of the various curriculum, teaching, advising and assessment changes implemented in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock through a series of recommendations made by the American Sociological Association in their 1990 monograph, Liberal Learning and the Sociology Major, under the Re‐forming‐the‐Major project supported by a grant from the American Association of Colleges. Curriculum changes structured new coursework concentrations and linked them with other community and academic programs. New critical thinking and collaborative learning modules were incorporated within all courses with specific demands required of all faculty. Also discussed are the multifaceted efforts to create a sense of community among faculty, staff and students within our program. An integral part of this effort was a systematic overhaul of our advising system and a stronger substantive (financial) support of our Sociology/Anthropology Club. An important by‐product of the program assessment activities was to develop a mechansim to assist faculty to buy into this change inducing initative. An Annual Review Menu was established to reward faculty for participation in new efforts and is also briefly presented alomg with some attendant problems.