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Sociology
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Mission

As mandated by the CSU charter, the Sociology Department is committed to teaching as its primary responsibility. Sociology is the systematic inquiry of human societies. At the micro level, sociology examines the process and consequences of individual and group interaction, collective behavior, beliefs, and emotions. At the macro level, sociology studies the development and consequences of different structural arrangements in societies, often classified as institutions and by unique attributes such as gender, ethnicity, religion, wealth and status, national identity, transnational communities. "Improving Human Well-being by Investigating Social Inequalities” is the department's new theme. To tackle the wide range of complex topics, our instructional activities attempt to achieve four major goals, all of which are consistent with those in other major universities:

  1. Learn the range of sociological concepts, theories and reasoning, including the capacity to compare and interpret theories, deconstruct specific texts and critically reflect upon the conceptual foundation of the discipline. 

  2. Comprehend the interrelatedness and distinctiveness of social institutions, structures, social inequalities, and social justice. 

  3. Apply research methods in sociology, including principles and procedures used in different types of sociological analyses. 

  4. Demonstrate critical thinking by applying sociological imagination to the analyses of and/or engagement with contemporary social issues.

The following DLOs are nested within PLO #1:

  1. Demonstrate ability to interpret and deconstruct key texts in the canon of Sociology using the method of hermeneutics.
  2. Present and synthesize divergent and/or opposing viewpoints in social theory.
  3. Identify underlying suppositions and assumptions in the divergent theoretical orientations within the field.
  4. Exhibit a general knowledge of the main figures in sociological theories.

The following DLOs are nested within PLO #2:

  1. Exhibit general knowledge about inequalities based on race, gender, sexuality and class in both US and global contexts.
  2. Identify institutions and structures of society, and their respective processes, through which inequality is created and perpetuated.
  3. Analyze transformative forces generated by movements and policies for social change.
  4. Connect micro and macro level social dimension of the above.

The following DLOs are nested within PLO #3:

  1. Identify the stages involved in the scientific method as it is used in the social sciences.
  2. Identify weakness and strengths of different research techniques to gather data/information while conducting qualitative and/or quantitative research.
  3. Apply appropriate research methods to analyze data/information while conducting qualitative and/or quantitative research.
  4. Apply appropriate computer software skills to analyze data/information while conducting qualitative and/or quantitative research.

The following DLOs are nested within PLO #4:

  1. Distinguish social patterns from individual level biography.
  2. Understand and evaluate sociological arguments and supporting evidence.
  3. Gain capacity to develop logical arguments and use supporting evidence.
  4. Apply sociological theory to interpret contemporary and historical social issues.
The following curricular matrices identify the Degree Learning Outcomes, and level of knowledge, associated with each course offered in sociology. The matrices are ordered by: 1) Core Courses (.pdf), 2) GE Courses (.pdf), and 3) Other Courses (.pdf). These matrices should not be confused with a degree map.