Senate Document Number 5104S
Date of Senate Approval 04/08/04
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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:
APC Document 35: Sociology and Anthropology Curriculum Revision
Effective Date: Fall 2004
1. Delete: On pgs 55-56, the entire entry for Anthropology
Add: On pg 55, after the entry for Africana Studies, the following:
Anthropology (ANTH)
See Sociology and Anthropology
2. Delete: On pgs 196-200, the entire entry for Sociology
Add: On pg 196, the new curriculum for Anthropology and Sociology
Sociology (SOC) and Anthropology (ANTH)
Associate Professor Ghidina (Chair); Professors Haas, Pitts; Associate Professors Frank, Kelley, Lee, Omer; Assistant Professors Peterson, Wood; Lecturer Bramlett
Sociology is the study of society including the complex relationships between individuals, social institutions, culture and social structure. The major is designed to equip students with a sociological perspective with which they may examine a wide variety of social issues. The major equips students with the theoretical and investigative tools necessary to examine a wide variety of social issues. Electives are offered in four broad areas: inequality, power, and justice; groups and social institutions; culture and meaning; and global complexity and change. Cultural anthropology is one of the most international of all the social sciences. A diverse but comprehensive discipline, anthropology investigates the social and cultural life of human beings in all times and all places. A concentration in anthropology provides students with an appreciation of other ways of life, different systems of belief and knowledge, and, perhaps most importantly, a better understanding of the world in which they live. Students majoring in sociology are prepared for careers in social work, criminal justice, non-profit agencies, business and government as well as graduate study in sociology, anthropology, criminology, social work, law, and various other fields.
General Sociology
I. Required courses in the major -- 36 hours including: SOC 100, 225, 310; 335 or 336; 420, 455 and 465; 15 additional hours in Anthropology or Sociology, at least 9 of which must be in Sociology. Nine of the 15 hours must also be at the 300-400 level.
II. Required courses outside of the major -- None. STAT 185 is recommended for students wishing to pursue additional quantitative analysis.
III. Other department requirements -- A grade of C or better in SOC 455 and 465 satisfies the senior demonstration of competency, oral competency, and computer competency requirements.
Concentration in Anthropology
I. Required courses in the major -- 36 hours including: ANTH 100, 225, 336, 455, 465; SOC 310, 420; 15 additional hours in Anthropology or Sociology, at least 9 of which must be in Anthropology. Nine of the 15 hours must be at the 300-400 level.
II. Required courses outside of the major -- None. STAT 185 is recommended for students wishing to pursue additional quantitative analysis.
III. Other department requirements -- A grade of C or better in ANTH 455 and 465 satisfies the senior demonstration of competency, oral competency, and computer competency requirements.
Sociology with Teacher Licensure
I. Required courses in the major -- 36 total hours including: SOC 100, 225, 310; 335 or 336, 420, 455, 465; 15 additional hours in Anthropology or Sociology, at least 9 of which must be in Sociology. Nine of the 15 hours must also be at the 300-400 level.
II. Required courses outside of the major -- 12-18 hours: ECON 101 or 102; HIST 101, 102; POLS 220. Students who have not received credit for the Humanities sequence must also compete HIST 151 and 152. STAT 185 is recommended for students wishing to pursue additional quantitative analysis.
III. Other department requirements -- A grade of C or better in SOC 455 and 465 satisfies the senior demonstration of competency, oral competency, and computer competency requirements.
Students should review requirements found in the Education section of the catalog and must consult with the appropriate advisor in the Department of Education. In addition, those desiring middle school licensure must take HIST 315 and complete requirements for a second area of licensure.
Declaration of Major in Sociology
To declare a major in Sociology, a student must:
1. successfully complete LANG 120.
2. complete SOC 225 and either ANTH 100 or SOC 100 (depending on concentration) with a grade of C or better.
3. see the department chair to complete a Declaration of Major form.
Minor in Sociology
18 hours in Sociology including: SOC 100, 225, 420; and 9 hours of Sociology electives with at least 6 hours at the 300-400 level.
Minor in Anthropology
For students not majoring in Sociology, a minor in Anthropology may be earned by completing 18 hours in Anthropology including: ANTH 100, 225, 336; and 9 hours of Anthropology electives with at least 6 hours at the 300-400 level.
Courses in Anthropology
100 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3)
Introduces the study of culture and human diversity. Through reading ethnographies (case
studies), students learn about different societies around the world, including their own. They also
learn how different anthropologists have gone about studying societies. The class pays particular
attention to concepts of culture, cultural relativism, holism, and participant observation. Fall and
spring.
225 Social and Cultural Inquiry (SOC 225) (3)
Explores a variety of frameworks for understanding human societies and social experience.
Students learn classical and contemporary approaches to analyzing and interpreting the worlds
around them, integrating both theoretical and methodological concerns. The emphasis is on
developing questions and hypotheses, using methodologies, gathering data, interpreting
information, crafting explanations, and building theory. Prerequisite: ANTH 100 or SOC 100. Fall
and Spring.
280 Cultures of Africa (3)
Introduces the diverse societies, geographies, and practices of African peoples. Materials include
ethnographic, fictional, and historical texts, as well as an array of visual materials such as maps,
photographs, documentary films, and African-directed feature films. Fall.
325 Culture and Mind (3)
Explores how people in different places around the world make and communicate meaning. On
the way, we ponder the nature of culture and mind. Texts include classic and contemporary works
in symbolic and psychological anthropology. Odd years spring.
336 Ethnographic Methods (SOC 336) (3)
Understands social experiences through grounded-theory research. Course offers hands-on
lessons in gathering, analyzing, and interpreting ethnographic data. Topics include participant-observation, interviewing, mapping, content analysis, taking and interpreting field notes, and
writing. All students conduct a field project. Prerequisite: ANTH 225. Fall.
350 Body, Disability and Culture (3)
Using ethnographies, memoirs and films, this course examines the concepts of the body and
disability in a variety of cultures, including our own. Particular attention is paid to the different ways
that the body and disability are both gendered and sexed. Topics include mind/body distinctions,
stigma, normalcy, and the role of narrative in the cultural construction of the body and disability.
Odd years fall.
353 Culture and the Individual (3)
Explores the relationship between individuals and their experiences of the cultures in which they
live. Using ethnographies and films, the course also examines cross-cultural variation in
emotions, illnesses and the definition of the person. Even years spring.
361 Writing Gender (3)
Examines the cross-cultural representation of gender, through ethnographies, documentary films
and writing exercises. The course considers how culture affects our understanding and
experience of gender. Issues such as hierarchies and power, the body and sexualities, and the
dilemmas of writing about identities are explored. Even years fall.
365 Death and Dying (3)
Everybody dies. Not everybody manages death the same way. The class takes a cross-cultural
look at the ways people die and cope with death around the world, by reading a variety of classic
and contemporary literature on death, and by taking field trips to graveyards and funeral homes.
Spring.
400 Internship in Sociology and Anthropology (SOC 400) (1-6)
Places students with participating agencies and organizations. Weekly seminar meetings focus
on the acquisition of basic helping and inter-relational skills, understanding organizational contexts
that impact and inform practice, and ethical issues in professional life. May be repeated for a total
of 6 hours credit. Prerequisite: Twelve hours of sociology and/or anthropology. Fall and Spring.
S/U grading.
425 Manhood and Masculinities (3)
Looks cross-culturally and critically at men's experiences, the meaning of manhood, and the
practices of masculinity. Drawing on a variety of theoretical perspectives, the class studies
manhood within a wider field of gendered meaning. Even years spring.
455 Senior Thesis Seminar (SOC 455) (3)
First of two courses in the senior capstone experience. Choosing from a variety of sociological
and anthropological approaches, students plan and begin to carry out theoretically grounded and
methodologically sophisticated individual research projects. Student course work culminates with
a research statement that includes a well-articulated research question and a set of research
strategies appropriate to their topic that will allow them to complete their thesis during the Senior
Symposium. These research statements are presented in both written and oral form.
Prerequisites: SOC 310; SOC 335 or ANTH 336. Fall and Spring.
465 Senior Symposium (SOC 465) (3)
Final course in the senior capstone experience. This course involves two components. First,
students will continue data collection and analysis, completing the Senior Thesis, and making a
public presentation of their findings. The second component involves an examination of
contemporary topics in the fields, focusing on theoretical and methodological concerns and an
examination of the disciplines in the contemporary world. Selected topics will be varied and
current. Prerequisite: ANTH 455. Fall and Spring.
499 Undergraduate Research in Anthropology (1-6)
Undergraduate research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. An IP grade may be awarded
at the discretion of instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit. Fall and Spring.
171-6,
271-6, 371-6, 471-6 Special Topics in Anthropology (1-6)
Courses not otherwise included in the catalog listing but for which there may be special needs.
May be repeated for credit as often as permitted and as subject matter changes. See department
chair.
Courses in Sociology
100 Introduction to Sociology (3)
Employs the sociological imagination to explore society and social experience. Introducing the
students to a diverse range of sociological approaches, the course emphasizes the complex
relationships between individuals and their social worlds, social structure and social institutions,
socialization, social interaction, and social identities and inequalities. Fall and Spring.
200 Criminology (3)
Provides an introduction to the field of criminology, surveying the social construction of crime, the
legal conceptualization of crime, the nature and extent of crime, the theoretical models on the
causes of crime, typologies of crime, and the criminal justice response from policing, to trial, to
institutionalization. Substantive attention is devoted to the importance of race, gender and social
class in the American criminal justice system and the reliance on prisons as the solution to the
crime problem. Spring.
210 Contemporary Social Problems (3)
Explores the institutional and cultural causes of selected social problems in contemporary U.S.
society. Also critically examines the ways in which social problems are constructed and defined.
Particular attention is paid to the ways in which social institutions perpetuate social problems. Fall
and Spring.
220 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
Traces the socio-historical discovery of childhood and the social and cultural construction of
adolescence and delinquency. Drawing from various bodies of social thought, the extent, nature,
and social location of delinquent behavior is investigated. Current changes in juvenile justice are
critically analyzed relative to the impact of theory on social policy and future implications for
childhood, adolescence, and juvenile (in)justice. Fall.
221 Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
Critically examines the construction of race and ethnic identities and the ways in which dominance
and subordination are linked to this process. Course surveys related issues including group
formation, racial and ethnic stratification, prejudice and discrimination, race privilege, and patterns
of domination, segregation, and integration in multi-ethnic societies. Fall.
223 Social Gerontology (3)
Introduces the field of social gerontology. Course focuses on historical and cross-cultural
meanings of aging for individuals, the social roles of the elderly, and the institutional and cultural
frameworks that shape the experience of growing old in contemporary western societies. Fall.
225 Social and Cultural Inquiry (ANTH 225) (3)
Explores a variety of frameworks for understanding human societies and social experience.
Students learn classical and contemporary approaches to analyzing and interpreting the worlds
around them, integrating both theoretical and methodological concerns. The emphasis is on
developing questions and hypotheses, using methodologies, gathering data, interpreting
information, crafting explanations, and building theory. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or ANTH 100. Fall
and Spring.
240 Evolution, Revolution and Social Change (3)
Reviews the historical treatment and contemporary status of African Americans, women, and the
gay and lesbian subcultures in American society and the respective social movements which
emerged in their attempts to attain social equality. Problems of power and privilege are analyzed
within the context of cultural diversity and social change. Fall and Spring.
260 Sport and Society (3)
Examines contemporary societies and the meaning of work and play in daily life. Why and how
are some persons labeled athletes and others are not? How does athletic identity develop and
vary? How do economics and politics enter into the organization of sports? Sports practices in the
21st century are compared in the context of societal myths regarding amateurs and professionals,
children and adults, and changing gender and race norms. Fall.
280 Sociology of Gender (3)
Provides an overview of the broad field of gender studies in sociology. Drawing on the premises
of social constructionism and critical theory, the course examines the micro- and macro- levels of
the creation and maintenance of a binary system of gender. Major course themes include gender
socialization, the micro-politics of gender, the social construction of gender, gender and sexuality,
and gender stratification. Odd years Spring.
301 Sociology of Education (3)
Considers formal education in the U.S. by analyzing the multiple ways in which the institution
impacts social life and organization. Course emphasizes the relationship of education to
individual status attainment, social mobility of marginalized groups, the maintenance of dominant
cultural values, and its roles in supporting professional organizations through credentialing.
Course emphasizes schools and social class, gender, multicultural and racial inequalities. Spring.
302 Sociology of Religion (3)
Draws on the intellectual tradition within the discipline of understanding religion as a social and
cultural phenomenon. Looks into the complex nature of religion and explores the social conditions
and processes which account for diverse religious phenomena including religiosity, religious
organizations, conflict and change, religious pluralism, and the relationships between religion and
other social institutions. Spring.
310 Theoretical Inquiry (3)
Examines major social theories and ways of theorizing, focusing on a range of contemporary
perspectives and the links to classical foundations of the discipline. By applying theories to social
phenomena, the course enhances students' abilities to make sense of human social worlds and to
consider the strengths and limitations of theoretical perspectives in terms of how they account for
diverse human experiences. Prerequisite: SOC 225. Fall and Spring.
312 Society, Culture and Poverty (3)
Investigates the economic, political, and cultural causes of poverty in the United States. A
historical and contemporary analysis of social policy illuminates the political debates and cultural
discourse on the societal response to welfare and poverty, particularly the perceived differences
between the deserving and undeserving poor relative to race and gender. Spring.
335 Survey and Social Research Methods (3)
Examines social worlds with an emphasis on hypothesis-driven research. Course offers hands-on
lessons in developing and conducting survey research, qualitative interviewing, and content
analysis. The course will focus on developing the skills necessary to read and interpret statistical
studies, as well as to designing and implementing research. All students conduct a research
project. Prerequisite: SOC 225. Fall and Spring.
336 Ethnographic Methods (ANTH 336) (3)
Understands social experiences through grounded-theory research. Course offers hands-on
lessons in gathering, analyzing, and interpreting ethnographic data. Topics include participant-observation, interviewing, mapping, content analysis, taking and interpreting field notes, and
writing. All students conduct a field project. Prerequisite: SOC 225. Fall.
340 Social Control and Deviant Behavior (3)
Considers the development of social order and ideological hegemony, the dynamics of conformity
and dissent, and the major theoretical models of deviance and social control. Employing a
deconstructive and critical approach, this course examines the role of power in defining who the
deviant is and what acts constitute a threat to social order. Particular attention is given to the
voices and lived experiences of deviants illuminating how social control, mediated through the
state or other powerful agencies, can lead to the loss of individual freedom and the abrogation of
human rights and civil liberties. Fall.
346 Dynamics of Organizations (3)
Analyzes the ways in which organizational forms, especially bureaucracy, increasingly
characterize and impact social life in the contemporary world. Topics covered include the roles of
organizations, organizational structure, dynamic processes within organizations such as power
and conflict, the individual in the organizational context, relations between organizations and
environments, and the major theoretical perspectives on organizations. Fall.
357 Development and Social Change in Latin America (3)
Examines historical, political, and socio-economic perspectives on Latin America by focusing on
the region's development through the 19th and 20th centuries. Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile,
as well as other countries, will be used as case studies. Also examines historic relations between
the region and the United States. Fall.
358 Globalization and Social Change in Africa (3)
Focuses on social change and economic development in Africa with an emphasis on theories of
modernization, dependency, and world systems. Special attention is paid to the ways that
Western society's policies impact the lives of individuals in Africa and on the ability of African
countries to be self-determining. Spring.
359 Women of Color and Feminism (3)
Overviews the emerging scholarship of feminists of color while offering a critique of dominant
Western feminist theories as they relate to the experiences and lives of women of color. Special
attention is paid to the diversity of experiences among women of color in a global context. Fall.
362 Sociology of Health and Illness (3)
Attends to the meaning and consequences of health and illness for individuals as well as society,
with attention to the organization of health care systems, the healing professions, and the
emergent conceptualization of health care as a right. Also considers how health issues intersect
with issues of diverse groups. Spring.
364 Population and the Environment: An International Perspective (3)
Uses the tools of demography, sociology and anthropology to explore population processes in
different parts of the world, the politics of population, and population policies as they relate to the
environment, development, food, and energy. Using a comparative approach, the course
emphasizes the importance of cultural difference in understanding the dynamics of population
growth. Spring.
365 Violence in America (3)
Explores the historical and cultural tradition of violence in America with special emphasis on
interpersonal, organizational, and structural violence and its impact on the lives of victims and the
quality of life within communities. A major theme is the relationship between violence and social
class, sex and gender, and race. In reviewing a range of violent behavior patterns-from intimate
violence to hate crimes, from serial murders to state-sanctioned violence- the societal response is
investigated relative to prevention, intervention and public policy. Even years Spring.
385 Science and Technology (3)
Examines the cultural authority and power of science and technology in the contemporary period,
with attention to the social production of scientific knowledge and technological artifacts. Drawing
on a social constructionist approach, the course emphasizes the ways in which both experts and
lay people relate to technological artifacts, as well as the organizational, economic, cultural and
political forces behind technological innovation and the impacts of technological change on
individuals and social groups. Even years Fall.
390 Queer Sociology (3)
Interrogates identity politics of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and queer individuals.
Drawing upon constructionist and critical theory, this course focuses on sexual identities, the
"science of desire," sexual politics, and sexual communities. Socio-historical comparisons of pre-
and post-Stonewall culture highlight the social evolution from sex acts to social roles to "kinds of
persons" to the emergence of politically organized sexual communities. The production of
knowledge in science and popular culture is analyzed within the context of social change. Odd
years Fall.
393 Popular Culture/High Culture (3)
Explores the meanings of cultural products from the perspectives of audiences and producers.
Drawing on contemporary cultural theories, the course focuses on how people use culture and
problematizes simple dichotomies between high and low culture, good and bad art, and authentic
and imitative cultural artifacts. In addition, the courses deals with issues of cultural power,
ideology, hegemony, resistance and agency in cultural products, both in mass media and high art
forms. Odd years Fall.
400 Internship in Sociology and Anthropology (ANTH 400) (1-6)
Places students with participating agencies and organizations. Weekly seminar meetings focus
on the acquisition of basic helping and inter-relational skills, understanding organizational contexts
that impact and inform practice, and ethical issues in professional life. May be repeated for a total
of 6 hours credit. Prerequisite: Twelve hours of sociology and/or anthropology. Fall and Spring.
S/U grading.
402 The Color Line: Classical & Contemporary Views of African Americans
(3)
In the tradition of W.E.B. Du Bois, this course explores to what degree the problem of the twenty-first century is still the color line. A historical overview of the African American experience in the
United States serves as the context for an analysis of the contemporary color line. Issues to be
addressed include the cultural meaning of race, the relationship between race and class positions,
forms of racism, structural and cultural analysis of racial inequality, and strategies for obtaining
equality. Even years Spring
410 Sociology through Film (3)
Examines 20th century society and culture as represented by modern film. What are the
characteristics of our modern society and how can we understand and explain them? Who, or
where, is the "modern" individual? How do economic, political and cultural forces shape the
individual and society? Spring.
420 Difference and Inequality (3)
Investigates the most significant categories of difference on the cultural landscape of American
society--social class, race, sex and gender, sexual identity and disability. Course content
emphasizes structural inequality and the social construction of difference and privilege. How do
categories of people come to be seen as "different"? How does being seen as "different" affect
peoples' lived experience? What meaning does difference and inequality have for social
interaction, social institutions, or culture? What difference does "difference" make? Particular
attention is given to the interaction and intersection among categories of difference. Prerequisite:
SOC 225. Fall and Spring.
446 Working Class Organizations in North America, Europe and Latin America (3)
How successful have working class organizations been in their attempts to shape socio-political
as well as economic conditions of their countries? In looking at comparative cases of working
class organizations from the United States, Europe and Latin America, this course examines how
these organizations have influence the historic course of capitalism and democracy in these
regions. Odd years Spring.
455 Senior Thesis Seminar (ANTH 455) (3)
First of two courses in the senior capstone experience. Choosing from a variety of sociological
and anthropological approaches, students plan and begin to carry out theoretically grounded and
methodologically sophisticated individual research projects. Student course work culminates with
a research statement that includes a well-articulated research question and a set of research
strategies appropriate to their topic that will allow them to complete their thesis during the Senior
Symposium. These research statements are presented in both written and oral form.
Prerequisite: SOC 310; SOC 335 or ANTH 336. Fall and Spring.
465 Senior Symposium (ANTH 465) (3)
Final course in the senior capstone experience. This course involves two components. First,
students will continue data collection and analysis, completing the Senior Thesis, and making a
public presentation of their findings. The second component involves an examination of
contemporary topics in the fields, focusing on theoretical and methodological concerns and an
examination of the disciplines in the contemporary world. Selected topics will be varied and
current. Prerequisite: SOC 455. Fall and Spring.
480 Sociology of Law (3)
Problematizes the law as a social institution, revealing how its meaning and content are as
changeable as the political, social and economic forces of society. A central theme of the course
is the complex and reciprocal relationship between law and social change. Special attention is
given to law in theory and practice relative to cultural values, conflicting interests, cultural
resistance, status and power, and popular will. Even years Spring.
499 Undergraduate Research in Sociology (1-6)
Undergraduate research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. An IP grade may be awarded
at the discretion of instructor. May be repeated for a total of six hours credit. Fall and Spring.
171-6, 271-6, 371-6, 471-6 Special Topics in Sociology (1-6)
Courses not otherwise included in the catalog listing but for which there may be special needs.
May be repeated for credit as often as permitted and as subject matter changes. See department
chair.
Impact:
OTHER DEPARTMENTS - There is no direct impact on other departments as no courses outside of our
department are required for the major. However, students pursuing graduate study in Sociology,
particularly those with quantitative interests, will be encouraged to take STAT 185 (for an explanation, see
"rationale for Required Courses"). We anticipate the number of students who actually do this to be quite
low (ranging from 0-3 a semester), but this entails the potential addition of 3 students to this course, so we
have acquired concurrence from the Math Department.
SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY STAFFING - The impact on staffing of the courses of the new curriculum poses no impact, as consideration of multiple-year staffing shows that all courses of the curriculum can be offered in a timely manner to students. Each faculty member will teach some required and some elective courses. For the required courses that will be taught by several different faculty, a clear rotation system exists that enables us to not only deliver the needed required courses, but also specifically determines a faculty person's availability to teach elective and non-departmental courses. For elective courses that each faculty member will teach, a schedule of offering times has also been developed and incorporated into explicit catalog listing (i.e., every spring, every fall even years).
STUDENTS AND TRANSITION TO NEW CURRICULUM - Beyond the intended positive effects of the new curriculum, the biggest concrete impact of this change for students will occur in the transition phase. Many students will have begun the completion of the set of existing required courses when we shift to the new and somewhat different set of requirements. Fortunately, the requirements are similar enough that reasonable and efficient equivalents exist. Course equivalents are listed below:
Old Curriculum New Curriculum
Soc 100 Soc 100
Anth 215 Anth 100
Anth 242 Soc or Anth 336
Soc 225 Soc or Anth 225
Soc 310 Soc 310
Soc 355 Soc 335
Soc 356 (Soc or Anth 455 in transition year only)
Soc 420 Soc 420
Soc/Anth 451 Soc or Anth 465
In most cases, direct course equivalencies exist. In two cases where they do not (Soc 356 and Soc 451), our transition plan states that students who have completed 355 but not 356 can directly proceed to the Soc or Anth 455 and Soc or Anth 465 (please see "Rationale - Required Courses for explanation of the substance of these courses). For students who have completed Soc 356, one more section of the old curriculum Soc 451 will be offered. We felt it was unfair and unnecessary to require students in this situation to take an additional required course. Students at any other point of completion of the required courses will face no difficulty during this transition time. Students will be informed of the new curriculum and what they need to take through advising and through presentations in selected classes.
Approximately 40% of Sociology majors are transfer students. The vast majority of these students come in with an Introductory course and several electives. As such, we anticipate no problem assessing transfer credits and readily integrating transfer students into this curriculum.
Rationale:
OVERALL - The Sociology and Anthropology curriculum has not been revised for decades. The form it
had taken had resulted from the addition of new courses as new faculty joined the department and the
deletion of courses that departing faculty had taught. The result of this process was a compilation of
courses that lacked integration and organization. Further, the required course sequence was based upon
more traditional, and some might say outdated, perspectives in Sociology. As such, it was necessary to
construct a completely new curriculum. The process of revising the curriculum was an extended one and
was very carefully completed. The members of the department have been meeting regularly for over five
years as such an extensive revision required discussion of and consensus on broad issues as well as
concrete matters and details. We based the curriculum on our departmental goals for student learning
and development which focus primarily on critical thinking, integrating theory and research, and
understanding and applying anthropological and sociological perspectives to the real world (which can
apply to graduate study or employment). Further, as a department with two related but distinct disciplines,
we have tried to balance an integration of anthropology and sociology within the constraints of a currently
limited anthropology faculty while also trying to maintain the integrity of each discipline.
REQUIRED COURSES - As can be seen in the document, students majoring in Sociology (which includes Anthropology) are required to take an introductory course, courses in theory and research, and the main topical areas in the field. The major changes to the selection and substance of the required courses were designed toward achieving more integration of theory and research, to better mirror contemporary trends and perspectives in the fields, and to integrate Sociology and Anthropology (for more information about this aspect, see rationale paragraph "Cross-listed Courses") while also allowing for specialized study in each. The biggest change in required courses is in the "research methods" sequence. We have deleted the Soc 356 requirement (social science statistics) and have incorporated this in a smaller degree into the Soc 335 "Survey and Social Research Methods" course which addresses primarily quantitative methodologies. We are also offering a "qualitative" parallel that better mirrors the contemporary field of Sociology while also providing students who are more interested in Anthropology an appropriate alternative to quantitative methods. Our previous curriculum was disproportionately weighted toward quantitative research that increasingly did not reflect trends in the field and limited students wanting to conduct more qualitative research (such as those interested in Anthropology). Students who wish to pursue quantitative analysis in greater depth will be encouraged (but not required) to take Stat 185.
The other biggest change to the required course curriculum is providing students two courses (and hence semesters) to work on their senior research projects. Rather than one class, Soc or Anth 451, in which to design and complete a major research project, students have two courses in which they are assisted in doing so. The first course (Anth or Soc 455) focuses on developing the research proposal while the second course (Anth or Soc 465) combines data collection, analysis and report writing with a capstone experience of Sociology and Anthropology in practice.
ELECTIVE COURSES - As was stated previously, the electives we offered had become an amalgamation of courses that lacked organization and integration. The current elective curriculum course offerings (including some courses from the existing curriculum and some new ones) is organized and integrated on four main themes in the disciplines: Inequality, Power and Justice; Groups and Social Institutions, Culture and Meaning, and Global Complexity and Change. The electives also reflect more contemporary trends in the discipline as well as reflect current faculty expertise (for example, more global perspectives than the old curriculum). The themes are not being offered as concentrations or tracks, but rather are used to organize and integrate our electives into a more cohesive whole.
CROSS-LISTED COURSES - As stated in previous rationale descriptions, one of the purposes for the curriculum revision was to better integrate Sociology and Anthropology. As a result, where disciplinarily appropriate, several required courses are cross-listed as Sociology and Anthropology. The most significant of these combined courses are in the theory and research required sequence. Soc/Anth 225 is similar to the old Soc 225, but adds more "anthropology" theory. "Ethnographic Methods" is another course that is designed to combine qualitative Sociological methods with Anthropological methods of ethnography and participant observation. Finally, the senior research sequence is cross-listed as it will engage senior projects in both Anthropology and Sociology.
COURSE NUMBERING -- Many existing course numbers have been used in the new curriculum while other course numbers have been changed. The decision to keep or change course numbers was based upon the degree to which the new curriculum course was substantively similar to the old one. As one example, Soc 100 was a number used in the old and new curriculum as the course remains a survey introduction to the field. Anth 215, however, was changed to Anth 100 as the course will become more of a 100-level course and will be parallel with Soc 100. The nature of the course, an introductory survey course, did not change. However, as one example, Soc 355, the first "research" course in the old curriculum, did change both in substance and in its place in the structure of the new curriculum. Further, with the aid of the Registrar's Office, we researched course numbers that had been used in the past, and were sure not to use any of these numbers (unless it was for a substantively similar course).
MAJOR, MINOR, AND CONCENTRATION IN SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY -- As can be seen in the catalog copy, students may major or minor in Sociology, and minor or have a concentration in Anthropology. We do not yet have the staffing and hence course offerings to be able to offer a major in Anthropology. Students who are majoring in Sociology may have an official concentration in Anthropology and those not majoring in Sociology may have a minor in Anthropology.