|
Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing |
Degree: Bachelor of Arts with a major in Sociology
College: Arts and Sciences
Department: Sociology
Contact: Dr. Samuel A. McReynolds (Chair) smcreynolds@une.edu
The mission of the Department of Sociology is to offer a broad-based liberal arts education with an emphasis on cultural, global, and political dynamics. The department provides a combination of theoretical, scientific, and practical approaches to understanding and solving human problems. Issues of gender, race, class, and culture as well as hands on learning are emphasized throughout the curriculum. Our goal is to graduate students with marketable skills that prepare them for entry-level positions in social services or for graduate study in related areas.
The major in sociology will provide the student with a broad-base exposure to theories and methods, as well as a wide range of current social issues. The student will also receive extensive interdisciplinary work in the fields of anthropology and psychology. These strong academic foundations will prepare the student for a wide range of academic and professional opportunities. Students from this major may choose to continue their education in fields including, sociology, social work, law, economics, and environmental studies. Or, they may go directly to work in areas dealing with social deviance and other areas of social service.
In addition to the traditional approaches to sociology, there are two unique elements to this program. First, students will complete an internship. This will help students explore experiential learning, applications of sociology to the real world, and undertake career explorations. Second, students will participate in a semester-long applied sociology experience. With this experience a student can choose to study abroad, study with the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Maine, work in a social service agency, or complete an intensive research project.
Overall, this program will provide students with a strong foundation for understanding today's social issues and problems. The student will also have a wide range of skills and experiences that will enhance their future educational and career opportunities as well as enable them to be a more active and aware citizen.
Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing
See Undergraduate Admissions.
| Credits | |
| University Core Requirements |
42-43 |
| Sociology Core |
21 |
| SOC 150 - Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| SOC 225 - Statistics for Social and Behavioral Science |
3 |
| SOC 270 - Classical Social Theory |
3 |
| SOC 280 - Contemporary Social Theory |
3 |
| SOC 285 - Research Methods |
3 |
| SOC 300 - Internship |
3 |
| SOC 370 - Applied Field Methods in Sociology |
3 |
| Sociology Electives |
9 |
| Elective 1 - Social Global Studies Course |
3 |
| Elective 2 - Social Cultural Studies Course |
3 |
| Elective 3 - 300 or 400 level elective |
3 |
| Applied Sociological Experience (see study abroad and department homepage) | |
| Option 1 - Study Abroad (Choose One) |
9-16 |
| A. Mexico | |
| B. Central America | |
| C. Namibia/South Africa | |
|
or | |
| Option 2 - Salt Institute (Includes all the following) Additional information is below. |
16 |
| A. Approaches to Fieldwork: Social Sciences, Documentary and the Research Process | |
| B. Independent Field Research. | |
| C. Field Techniques | |
| D. Advanced Documentary Skills Courses | |
| or | |
| Option 3 - Internship | 9-16 |
| or | |
| Option 4 - Capstone Thesis | 9-16 |
| Total Credits in Major | 39-46 |
| Open Elective Courses (needed to reach 120 credits) | |
| Minimum Total Required Credits |
120 |
| 1. | Approaches and Issues in Documentary Studies - This course introduces students to the central techniques and issues of documentary fieldwork. Students will acquire these skills and the associated critical perspective through attending lectures, critically reading a selection of sociology articles and books, viewing films, participating in class discussions, engaging in field exercises, and writing a mid-stream paper. Students explore the intellectual and moral challenges posed by the research relationship as they learn the basic techniques of collecting and interpreting information; focused participant observation; in-depth interviewing, and assessment of the meanings of local environment (material and natural cultures). The course will also explore ways through which documentaries can strengthen their research skill conceptually; these involve developing bibliographic search and evaluation skills, and utilizing comparison as a technique for enriching the case study method. |
| 2. | Independent Field Research - In consultation with faculty, students develop their own research topic early in the semester based upon their interests and the viability of pursuing this topic in the context of Maine social life. Students are expected to enter the field as research teams and research their topics through the methodologies of oral history, participant observation, documentary photography, and documentary radio. Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior with their subjects in the field and develop a solid, collaborative working relationship with their research partner throughout all phases of the project. Students present the status of their field research on a weekly basis and discuss their goals and challenges with fellow students and faculty. The Field Research course is fundamentally integrated with the Advanced Documentary Skills course which culminates with final projects that are specific to each of the three tracks of writing, photography, and radio. |
| 3. | Field Techniques - Students learn the practical technical skills they need to be effective in collecting field materials. Critical analysis of field technique, the collection of radio quality sound, cross-disciplinary analysis of successful interviewing techniques and archival processes are stressed. |
| 4. | Advanced Documentary Skills - Students enroll in one of the following three tracks in Advanced Documentary Skills: |
|
a. |
Documentary Radio Telling Stories with Sound - Through a variety of hands on applications, students involved with the radio course at Salt learn an assortment of radio production skills: field recording, interviewing technique, writing for radio, digital audio production, and more. During the semester, students listen to many professional productions to develop critical listening skills. Students produce a vox pop (man on the street) and three features, two of which are thematically related. Graduates of the radio program leave Salt with a CD portfolio of their work and a comprehensive understanding of how to tell stories with sound. |
|
b. |
Advanced Non-Fiction Writing and Editing - Using Maine subjects, students practice a genre called the "literature of fact" by one of its masters, John McPhee. Combining techniques of field collection and literary interpretation of real subjects, writers create stories about the everyday fabric of life and events through careful observation and listening. Structure, voice, organization, depth of material, redrafting and editing skills are highly emphasized. Students are expected to produce a finished article of publishable quality involving Maine people and places based on their independent field research. This article is submitted to the Salt Magazine and the Salt website for review. A select few will be published. All students must also glean their article for an excerpt that will accompany photographs in a student exhibit in the Salt Gallery. |
|
c. |
Advanced Documentary Photography - Students who have mastered basic photographic and darkroom skills are challenged to move towards meaningful documentary, in-depth coverage of their subject matter. They work to acquire both techniques and a sensibility to subjects in their environment. Each student is expected to complete two major photographic narratives. At least one of these projects is completed in partnership with a writer and/or a radio documentation; the second narrative is either completed independently or in another partnership upon the level of the photographer. These photo-essays are primarily visual bodies of work with captions or other explanatory materials. Students also are expected to produce a portfolio of work completed at Salt that demonstrates significant growth over work submitted for admission. |
Minor in Sociology
A student with a major in another department may minor in Sociology with the permission of the Sociology Department Chair. Eighteen hours of approved course work is required for the Minor in Sociology as follows:
| 3 credits | SOC 150 - Introduction to Sociology |
| 9 credits | Three 3-credit Sociology courses at the 200 level or higher |
| 3 credits | One 3-credit Sociology course at the 300 level or higher |
| 3 credits | One 3-credit Sociology course at any level of the student's choosing. |
| 18 credits total | |
Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog
This Catalog documents the academic programs, policies, and activities of the University of New England for the 2008-2009 academic year. The information contained herein is accurate as of date of publication August 1, 2008.
The University of New England reserves the right in its sole judgment to make changes of any nature in its programs, calendar, or academic schedule whenever it is deemed necessary or desirable, including changes in course content, the rescheduling of classes with or without extending the academic term, canceling of scheduled classes or other academic activities, in any such case giving such notice thereof as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances.
While each student may work closely with an academic advisor, he or she must retain individual responsibility for meeting requirements in this catalog and for being aware of any changes in provisions or requirements.