SOC 1200 - Sociological Practice

Goals: In this gateway seminar, students explore the discipline of sociology and engage in further discovery about what it means to employ a sociological perspective. The goal of this course is to help sociology majors successfully navigate their undergraduate education and prepare for advanced study in the field and/or their career. Ideally, students must take this course in their sophomore year. Transfer students will complete the course during their first year at Hamline.

Content: Students will learn about the sociology department and major including resources and responsibilities of the major, internships, careers in sociology, and the role and value of public sociology. Students will review the core concepts (e.g., the sociological imagination), theories (e.g., structural functionalism), and methods (e.g., survey research) to which they were introduced in their introductory course. Students will learn how to formulate a research question, prepare an annotated bibliography, and consider how theory and methodology inform one’s work, whether theoretical or applied. In addition, students may conduct mini-methodology assignments, considering the appropriateness of method to question.

Taught: Annually, spring term

Prerequisite: SOC 1110 with a grade of C- or better

Credits: 4