University of Nebraska Kearney

Sociology Assessment Mission

UNK students who have completed a degree in sociology will demonstrate sociological knowledge, skills and values that will prepare them for graduate or professional school and to be an educated citizen.

These outcomes include:

Knowledge Objectives

1. an understanding of basic concepts in sociology and their relationships.
   1. The sociology major will be able to explain basic sociological concepts such as culture, social roles, norms, social structure, social institutions, socialization, and stratification, etc.
       
    
2. an appreciation for the composition of social structures and social institutions operate.
   The sociology major will be able to:
   1. describe relationships between culture, institutions and social structure.
   2. demonstrate how demographic and other social and cultural changes affect social structures, institutions, and individual persons
   3. demonstrate the effects of social structures, institutions and cultural traits on individual persons.
       
    
3. knowledge of a substantive area within the discipline of sociology.
   The sociology major will be able to:
   1. summarize the basic issues in the substantive area.
   2. explain how sociology contributes to the understanding of the area.
   3. summarize current research findings in the area.
   4. suggest specific policy implications of research and theories in the area.
    

Skills Objectives

4. an ability to think critically.
   The sociology major will be able to:
   1. identify assumptions underlying theoretical arguments.
   2. identify limitations of particular research methodologies.
   3. understand alternative viewpoints on social scientific issues.
   4. utilize the concept of "the sociological imagination" projected by C.W. Mills.
       
    
5. develop a methodologically viable research project.
   The sociology major will be able to:
   1. design and carry out a research project.
   2. critically assess the research of others.
   3. formulate empirical research questions.
   4. identify materials, research, and data relevant to research questions.
   5. identify major methodological approaches and describe the general role of methods in building sociological knowledge.
   6. evaluate statistical information and analysis.
       
    
6. an understanding of the role of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
   The sociology major will be able to:
   1. design and carry out a research project.
   2. critically assess the research of others.
   3. formulate empirical research questions.
   4. identify materials, research, and data relevant to research questions.
   5. identify major methodological approaches and describe the general role of methods in building sociological knowledge.
   6. evaluate statistical information and analysis.
       
    
7. an ability to communicate effectively. This includes oral and written communications.
   The sociology major will be able to:
   1. design and carry out a research project.
   2. critically assess the research of others.
   3. formulate empirical research questions.
   4. identify materials, research, and data relevant to research questions.
   5. identify major methodological approaches and describe the general role of methods in building sociological knowledge.
   6. evaluate statistical information and analysis.
    

Values Objectives

8. an understanding of the responsibilities of being a good sociological citizen.
   The sociology major will be able to:
   1. participating in the life of the department, town or city, or in voluntary organizations.
   2. utilizing the sociological perspective when choosing how to solve social problems
   3. understanding and utilizing sociological principles of cooperative and collective action.
    
9. an awareness of the ethical issues in research.
   A student graduating with a sociology major will be able to engage in ethically based research and to detect ethically flawed research through:
   1. selection and design of research methodologies that are based on the awareness of the ethical issues which are part of that design.
   2. being aware of ethical problems or expectations regarding subjects in research projects.