The classroom climate shapes students' learning and instructors' teaching experience in profound ways. This study analyzes classroom climate statements in syllabi from various sociology courses to understand the extent that sociology instructors highlight climate issues and how climate is conceptualized in their syllabi. Drawing from data from two…

Is there a distinct disciplinary core (or foundation of agreed on knowledge) in sociology? Should we define a core in our broad field to build consensus? If so, what should it look like? We address these questions by presenting three viewpoints that lean for and against identifying a core for department curricula, students, and the public face of…

Developing a global mind-set in college students is a goal of many colleges and universities. Most often this goal is met by encouraging students to study abroad. This article explains how a service learning student engagement program at home achieves this goal by pairing Introduction to Sociology students with young immigrant children in a weekly…

The introductory social psychology course, as taught by sociologists, varies widely in content and in its pedagogical concepts. This variation is due to the institutional setting and to the instructor's notion of the academic status of social psychology. Typical course contents answering to various course concepts are described. (Author/RM)

Affirmative action, a controversial topic about which students have many misconceptions, lends itself especially well to a sociological analysis. This paper describes an approach to teaching that: (1) informs students of different affirmative action programs; (2) gives them the opportunity to apply and integrate a variety of concepts and research…

Describes an experimental course in the sociology of education which emphasized integration of historical, contemporary, theoretical, and empirical material. Examines the context in which the course developed, interplay between curriculum innovation and project teaching, and student reactions. (Author/AV)

Utopian societies can actually demonstrate some essential needs for community life. In this sociology course students read utopian literature and then investigated the lessons gleaned from their study of the utopian societies through experiential learning projects, e.g., participant observation of dorm life, leadership simulations, and utopian…

Social psychology has separate sociological and psychological approaches that must be bridged in undergraduate courses. One possible course format is to cover a variety of theories, then their substantive applications. Two texts, detailed handouts, and demonstrations, including simulations and field problems, help students to understand and…

Teaching about intersecting, fluid and historically contingent identities has been taken up extensively within the sociology of race, class and gender and women's studies. Oddly, the case of Jewish women has been virtually left out of this robust literature. This article explores the challenges raised through teaching the course "Jewish Women in…

The idea of stress can be used to explicate some major topics taught in the introductory college- level sociology course. Strengths and weaknesses of the approach are discussed. A brief annotated bibliography is also provided to aid instructors who want to experiment with the technique. (Author/RM)

The introductory sociology course, usually of a superficial and encyclopedic nature, should be replaced by three separate introductory courses of greater depth: (1) macrosociology, the world system of societies; (2) microsociology, the impact of societies on individuals; and (3) mesosociology, students' own society and its institutions. (Author/RM)

Describes an advanced undergraduate course introductory course designed to integrate two ways sociologists examine literature. Presents sociology of literature through reading fictional works, like Dickens'"Hard Times," that deal with sociological issues. Writing assignments provide opportunities to test ideas about authors, critics, and…

A college course designed to introduce students to the administration of voluntary associations is described. Course goals and objectives are discussed, and course requirements and the grading system are reviewed. Sources of teaching materials are provided. The appendix contains a list of national organizations that provide training materials and…

Argues that a capstone course in college-level sociology should focus on synthesizing information gained from a sequentially integrated curriculum. Discusses the course organization and content of the sociology capstone course at the U.S. Military Academy. Describes a six-chapter student project that comprises the major course assignment. (CFR)

Discusses the inclusion of rules regarding classroom etiquette in an introductory college sociology course. Reports on rules regarding tardiness, leaving early, absenteeism, paying attention, and/or sleeping in class. Concludes that students and colleagues are generally positive about the approach. (CFR)