The sociology of disability has emerged relatively recently as a subfield in sociology and has seen growing institutionalization within the field, including the establishment of a section in the American Sociological Association. The field, however, is still emerging. There is not yet an American journal dedicated to it or more than a few…

This article provides a model for incorporating a student-run campus awareness week into the course objectives of a sociology class. It reflects on four semesters in which students in a sociology course on eating disorders create social change by developing and implementing a campus-based awareness week. Although the article focuses specifically…

A course in the sociology of tourism offers an opportunity to examine a world-transforming force that is penetrating more and more aspects of social life. It also offers an opportunity to create a learning environment that uses the object of study as the medium of study. This article examines how instructors can use tourism to teach the sociology…

This research note provides some basic information about the courses that are typically offered in community colleges, and whether these courses have prerequisites. As higher education becomes more accessible to the general public, community colleges have received more students. Furthermore, an increasing number of students transfer from these…

Introducing students to sensitive social issues like intimate violence in lower level courses can spark their sociological imaginations motivating them to do further research in order to gain reflective knowledge about such topics. In order to promote two course objectives: (1) recognizing and applying sociological concepts and theories, and (2)…

A set of behavioral objectives for an introductory sociology course is suggested, stressing the "sociological perspective", methodological understandings, the ability to deal critically with sociological materials, and selected content areas. (Author/DE)

Proposes a teaching/learning strategy for college level sociology courses on problem solving. The method involves directing students to assess the logical adequacy of statements selected from common sense, journalism, and sociology. Evaluation of a course based on this method indicates that it can help students develop rational thinking skills.…

Points out that instructors lack a scheme for making connections between teaching techniques and particular learning objectives. Samples the literature concerning teaching techniques for sociology in the context of Bloom's "Taxonomy of Educational Objectives." Proposes a model that will aid in matching teaching techniques with…

This article describes the successful use of videoconferencing in a sociology capstone course as a way to introduce students to eminent scholars and authors across the country. The author begins by discussing the institutional context, and how videoconferencing fits with the departmental capstone philosophy and with her course goals. This is…

The course described in the paper is organized around a set of modules, each containing lectures, readings, a simulation game, films, and a research exercise. (Author/ND)

Argues that instruction in sociology on the college level should work toward the following four intellectual goals: (1) understanding social determinism; (2) relativizing culture; (3) developing a sense of social realism; and (4) instilling skills in critical evaluation. (Author/DB)

Noting that while formal operational thinking is essential to sociological learning, a majority of college freshmen are not yet fully formal thinkers. Maintains that introductory sociology courses must foster formal thinking in addition to teaching sociological content. Draws implications of revising goals and objectives to meet students' needs.…

This paper examines the articulation of goals and means of sociological instruction in course syllabi. Three questions guide this inquiry. First, do sociology instructors articulate common learning goals? Second, what pedagogical means do instructors commonly employ to meet these goals? Third, to what extent have sociology instructors incorporated…

Describes an alternative to lecturing in the introductory college-level sociology class. The alternative is an "active" course involving students in teaching others, having students look for and evaluate information, and encouraging students to work together.

This article describes a content analysis project initiated in an Introduction to Criminal Justice course. Students were asked to analyze presentations of specific players in the criminal justice system, including criminals, victims, police, and lawyers. Students were then required to compare the media presentation with reality, as derived from…