Content analysis of 77 college and university catalogs and department websites assesses conformity with select recommendations for the sociology major. The majority of institutions have programs that fulfill some recommendations examined, but the minority fulfills most of the recommendations. Some sociology programs are much more coordinated than…

This paper discusses a joint project of the American Library Association and the American Sociological Association. The goal of this collaboration is to guarantee that students of sociology, particularly sociology majors, develop strong information literacy skills during their undergraduate experience. The article talks about national standards…

In this article I examine how the sociology major is structured at institutions of higher education in the United States. I use content analysis of college catalogs from 100 institutions to examine the sociology major at top institutions among regional and national universities and liberal arts colleges. I first examine the basic structure of…

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…

The twentieth century saw a series of major changes in higher education that, among other things, led to an increasing tension between teaching and research within the academy. I argue that the contraposition of these two activities is counterproductive to sociology as well as other disciplines. Content analysis of job listings in the American…

This article presents the author's response to the article "The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning--Done By Sociologists: Let's Make That the Sociology of Higher Education" by Chad Hanson. In this response to Hanson's call for a sociology of higher education (SHE), the author will focus upon two things. First, he will review an idea that kept…

As noted by Goldsmid and Wilson a quarter of a century ago, a "curious gulf" exists between teaching and research in sociology. This article addresses this problem by suggesting ways in which a current research article from the American Sociological Review can be used in courses at three different levels of the undergraduate curriculum. The active…

This article focuses on how the institutional contexts of colleges and universities shape these "greedy institutions." We look at the current social, political, and economic trends affecting all postsecondary institutions, specifically the forces that encourage "greediness." We examine the literature on structural arenas that influence teaching in…

Explains that students in a research methods class analyzed and interpreted alumni attitudes and financial giving patterns, presenting their findings to university administrators and staff. Details the organization of the class, the structure of assignments, and the educational benefits of this teaching experience. (DAJ)

Examines the professional socialization of undergraduate sociology majors with a focus on research training. Explores four assumptions related to professional socialization and a cumulative curriculum. Presents data on the national patterns in research training in undergraduate sociology and offers a case study of research training at Southwestern…

Describes how microcomputers were integrated into a large introductory sociology course to teach basic sociological concepts. Included is a description of the teaching principles which guided the project's instructional design, a description of the formation and operation of the student research teams, and several concrete examples of the problems…

Advocates the study of the emergence and growth of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) as a social problem in a course on human sexuality. Stresses the importance of AIDS education, telling why sociology courses are particularly suited to instruction concerning AIDS and discussing the incomplete student knowledge of AIDS. (Author/AEM)

Examines strategies for teaching sociology in an international setting using London as an example. Focuses on ways for faculty to integrate resources of a city in another culture into the overseas study curriculum. Discusses shaping courses to fit an international setting, anticipatory socialization of students, and support for faculty. (DK)

Presents the COPS form (Content, Organization, Planning, and Style) for critically analyzing and grading oral presentations. Includes an example of a COPS form. Discusses each dimension analyzed. Describes strengths and weaknesses of the form. Suggests that the form is very effective for improving communication skills in sociology courses. (DK)