Synthesizing results from surveys of graduates, employers, and sociology departments, this article identifies seven changes which may help students market their sociology degree to prospective employers. Among the changes identified are: (1) the need to help students identify the transferable skills they have learned, and (2) improving the image…

Noting the increasing importance of internship experiences in the graduate training of students for applied careers, this article presents a comprehensive case study analysis of an internship program. It reviews such issues as student preparation, supervision, grading, and intern-sponsor matching. (JDH)

A film/discussion series that brought the sociological imagination before sizable audiences of adult community residents is described, evaluated, and justified. The format of the series is recommended for sociology departments that wish to strengthen their ties to the humanities. Two of the films used in the project are discussed. (Author)

This article describes how an introductory sociology course was organized and taught in order to promote students' understanding of sociology as the systematic and critical analysis of modern social structure and its impact on the individual. (JDH)

Acting on recent evidence indicating the potential for success in business careers for humanities and social sciences graduates, this article describes how a sociology department modified its coursework to better accommodate the business career potential of its students. (JDH)

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…

Describes a "learning by doing" approach to sociological research designed to gather a comprehensive understanding of the Racine, Wisconsin youth gang situation, led to a nontraditional approach to research in typical research methods course. Includes information about student and faculty involvement, the process of research training, design of…

Describes two teaching simulations which can be used to introduce students to problems encountered in field research. The first simulation deals with gaining access to a research setting, while the second concerns some ethical difficulties which may potentially confront a field researcher. A number of reasons for using simulations in preference to…

Describes a visual device, borrowed from matrix algebra, which helps students integrate theory, methods, and statistics in sociological research. Data are organized in a rectangular structure, with the columns of variable names representing theory, the rows representing observations whose quality is related to methodological concerns and the need…

Notes the central role and ultimate importance of the undergraduate, research methods textbook within sociology. Reviews nine new textbooks, and reveals substantial variation in coverage and approach. The review is based on the degree to which the texts address eight important goals for the undergraduate research course. (JDH)

Discusses effects on graduate sociology education of trends emphasizing quantitative methods and the positivist tradition at the expense of social theory and interpretive sociology. Argues that failure to develop sociology's interpretive tradition has allowed the style and intellectual creativity of sociological work to suffer. Urges greater…

Examines issues surrounding socioethical topics. Argues that professional responsibility operates at three distinct but interconnected levels: individual (moral-philosophical), professional (sociological), and societal (multidisciplinary). Argues that the nature of sociology inevitably leads to facing ethical issues as professional rather than…