Skills You’ll Learn

The WSU Department of Sociology develops student skills in critical thinking, quantitative and symbolic reasoning, research methods, information literacy, communication and life-long learning.

You will also develop an understanding of fundamental features of society – including diversity and inequality, the problem of social order, and the intersection of society and the environment. These skills and knowledge equip students for the changing demands of the workplace.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Critical Thinking

Define and analyze social problems; identify structural and cultural factors that contribute to social and individual outcomes; analyze the connections between social problems and personal issues.

Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning

Understand and apply basic statistics to social issues; interpret and draw appropriate conclusions from social science data presented in tables, charts, and graphs; apply quantitative knowledge to present social science data in various forms (graphs, tables, words).

Communication

Clearly communicate sociological concepts, theories, and findings through writing and speaking; follow appropriate norms of small group and classroom discussion interactions by listening actively and responding appropriately.

Evaluating/Conducting Empirical Research

Identify, assess, explain, and conduct components of social science research including research design, data collection, sampling, and measurement.

Information Literacy

Identify sources of social science research; assess social science research reported in both professional and popular publications; use social science to develop informed judgements about significant social issues.

General Life Skills

Students will develop skills including civility, punctuality, responsibility, and organization, life-long learning, professionalization.

Society and the Physical World

Identify, analyze, and explain the relationships between social structure and culture on the one hand, and technological and natural physical systems on the other.

Diversity

Identify, analyze, and explain the causes and consequences of social inequality across multiple dimensions (e.g, gender, race, SES) and institutions (e.g., family, sports, work).

Social Order

Identify, analyze, and explain the contribution of social institutions to social order.