Senate Document #22 (APC Document #20) Sociology Curriculum Revision Effective: Immediately or August 1984, as indicated I. Revision in Senior Demonstration of Competency P. 185 Program A - General Sociology IV. Special departmental requirements. DELETE: Sociology 451. . . ADD: A 2.5 GPA for Sociology 355-356, 420 and 450 satisfies the senior demonstration of competency. For those who fail to meet the above criteria, a C+ performance on an individualized comprehensive examination will satisfy the competency requirement. P. 186 Program B - Criminal Justice IV. Special departmental requirements. DELETE: Sociology 451. . . ADD: A 2.5 average in Sociology 200, 220, 340, and 480 and a C in each of Sociology 355-356, 420, and 450 satisfies the senior demonstration of competency. For those who fail to meet the above criteria, a C+ performance on an individualized comprehensive examination will satisfy the competency requirement. P. 186 Program C - Social Welfare IV. Special departmental requirements. DELETE: Sociology 451. . . ADD: A 2.5 average in Sociology 236, 312, 351, and 461 satisfies the senior demonstration of competency. For those who fail to meet the above criteria, a C+ performance on an individualized comprehensive exami- nation will satisfy the competency requirement. Page 2 P. 186 Program D - Gerontology IV. Special departmental requirements. DELETE: Sociology 451. . . ADD: A 2.5 average in Sociology 223, 333, 343, and 362 satisfies the senior demonstration of competency. For those who fail to meet the above criteria, a C+ performance on an individualized comprehensive exami- nation will satisfy the competency requirement. EFFECTIVE: For students declaring majors after 12/83. RATIONALE: The new approach encourages satisfactory performance as the student progresses through the program. The "senior" demonstration of competency thus implies that the student has satisfactorily attained senior standing and the associated competency that all of us should expect from such an achievement. The courses are chosen to include both sociological theory and methods as well as special program courses. For the student who fails to meet the cumulative criteria, a special reading list and a tutorial will allow the opportunity to overcome deficiency, with competency then being demonstrated by an individualized examination in the area of deficiency (theory and methods or specialized program curriculum.) II. Social Welfare Program Revision P. 186 Program C -- Social Welfare DELETE: II. Required courses outside the major--24 hours of correlate courses from the following list. ADD: II. Required courses outside the major--none. It is recommended that students select 12 to 24 hours from the following list. EFFECTIVE: Immediately. RATIONALE: Social Welfare students already incline toward a number of electives in the correlate areas. They often have transfer courses in the correlate areas, which while similar, do not specifically conform to the requirements. This "recommended" approach will serve as a guide for students' electives, while allowing greater flexibility. The original requirement for 24 hours in correlate courses was part of an effort to model the sociology/social welfare option after a BSW program. Page 3 After rethinking our educational objectives and bearing in mind that the sociology department continues to support the concept of a liberal education rather than a more highly specified "professional" preparation, we will leave the more structured program to the MSW degree granting departments. III. Change in Prerequisites DELETE: From all 200 level courses and Sociology 362, prerequisite Sociology 100. EFFECTIVE: Immediately. RATIONALE: The department's array of 200 level courses are service courses focusing on special topical and content areas. Sociology 100 familiarizes students with sociological terminology and concepts as well as introducing major theoretical frameworks. Each of the 200 level courses introduces terminology and concepts relevant to content while casting issues in terms of theoretical approaches relevant to the content. A Sociology 100 background may be helpful; but a student without such background is not really handicapped. Upper division courses presume the broader background provided by Sociology 100. Sociology 362, Sociology of Health and Illness, will also be exempted from the 100 requirement. Since it serves a special population in addition to majors, the course is similar to the 200 level courses in terms of topical content. The 300 level remains justified, however, based on the heavier workload and level of sophistication of readings and assignments. Most individuals (other than majors) taking the course have health care backgrounds, justifying the more sophisticated approach. Majors taking the course typically have benefit of several other sociology courses. IV. Course Title/Descriptoin for Sociology 451 P. 191 DELETE: Title and description for Sociology 451. ADD: Sociology 451 Field Research (3) A fieldwork experience in an agency, organization or institution (welfare agencies, schools, non-profit organi- zations, etc.), wherein the participant observation experience serves as a preprofessional internship for program options. The research component emphasizes program evaluation. Prerequisites: Sociology 100, 210, 225, 355, and permission of the Page 4 instructor. EFFECTIVE: AUGUST 1984. RATIONALE: Title change distinguishes course from Sociology 355-356, Research Methods. Description more appropriately conveys content and drops demonstration of competency status. V. Course addition, Environmental Sociology. P. 187 ADD: Sociology 233 Environmental Sociology (3) ADD DESCRIPTION: Impact of major economic trends, values, and urbanization on the larger physical environment; kinds of technologies and communities that minimize the degree of environmental desecration. EFFECTIVE: August 1984. RATIONALE: Course has been included as part of Environmental Studies curriculum. To be cross-listed with E.S. 233.