Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes for Sociology B.A.

• Learning Goal A: To understand the characteristics and dynamics of the social world, and how sociologists attempt to understand it.
  •   SLO A1. Students will be able to define and contrast social structure, culture, and socialization.

•  Learning Goal B: To understand the classical sociological theories of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber, as well as selected examples of contemporary sociological theory.
  • SLO B1. Students will be able to explain and contrast the major themes of Marxian, Durkheimian, and Weberian perspectives on the social world.
  • SLO B2. Students will be able to explain and contrast the major concepts and assumptions of at least two contemporary sociological theories.

• Learning Goal C: To understand the nature of sociological research methods, and major examples of scientific research within sociology.
  • SLO C1. Students will be able to explain the major characteristics of the scientific method.
  • SLO C2. Students will be able to explain the major characteristics of surveys, field research/ethnography, and experiments.
  • SLO C3. Students will be able to discuss the main ethical concerns sociologists face in conducting research and how sociologists attempt to overcome those ethical concerns.

•  Learning Goal D: To understand the nature and role of statistical analysis in sociological research.
  • SLO D1. Students will be able to demonstrate applied knowledge of the use of univariate and multivariate statistical methods in analyzing social science data.

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes for Criminology B.A.

• Learning Goal A: To be familiar with major sources of crime data.
  • SLO A1: Students will be able to identify three major sources of crime data (official data (UCR/NIBRS), victimization data (NCVS), and self-report data (e.g., NYS, MTF) and the strengths and weaknesses of each for addressing different criminological questions.

• Learning Goal B: To become familiar with mainstream criminological theories.
  • SLO B1. Students will be able to articulate the key assumptions, central arguments, and core hypotheses of mainstream criminological theories and apply them to empirical facts.
  • SLO B2. Students will be able to distinguish between correlates of crime, explanations and criminological theories at the individual vs the macro level.

• Learning Goal C: To become familiar with the primary formal social control institutions.
  • SLO C1. Students will be able to explain the nature and forms of inequality in the criminal justice system (especially race, class, and gender) and be able to articulate the central Ian often competing) explanations for these inequalities.