Social Sciences Program Outcomes

History

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how historians work (questions they ask, how they gather sources and construct narratives based on that data).
2. Master knowledge of the thematic development and literature relating to major figures, events, eras.
3. Identify difference between primary and secondary sources; recognize and interpret multiple forms of evidence (visual, oral, statistical, artifactual); distinguish scholarly from popular sources.
4. Identify or construct the thesis of a document and paraphrase it in written form.
5. Critically analyze interpretations; distinguish fact from interpretation; demonstrate capacity to deal with differences in interpretation.
6. Present an oral or written defense of a generalization using historical evidence.
7. Research an historical topic using appropriate bibliographical and other historical reference works, internet sources, and other forms of evidence; analyze materials to resolve issues in interpretation or analysis, such as conflicting sources, gaps in evidence, or inference.
8. Construct a research paper including chronology, outline, and first draft. Edit and write utilizing proper form of citations, footnotes and bibliographical references.
9. Articulate ethical issues, such as plagiarism, in data collection, interpretation, historical writing and citations.
10. Demonstrate interactive skills in discussion format, team learning, and oral reporting.

Philosophy

1. Read and interpret philosophical texts
2. Respond critically to ideas advanced by others
3. Express ideas logically and coherently in writing, oral presentation, or other student project
4. Demonstrate mastery of basic philosophical concepts and methods
5. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of important philosophers and movements.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of multiple ethical frameworks, beliefs, contexts, and choices
7. Demonstrate ability to write a paper on a philosophical topic on which they have conducted independent research

Sociology

1. Demonstrate an understanding of sociology and how it differs from and is similar to other social sciences by giving examples of these differences
2. Critically read and understand sociological argument
3. Apply the sociological imagination and sociological principles and concepts to her/his own life
4. Identify limitations of extrapolating from their own experience to articulate how the life experience of others may differ from their own
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of theory in sociology
6. Demonstrate an understanding of major sociological theories
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of evidence and qualitative and quantitative methods
8. Demonstrate knowledge of basic methods of sociological research (observation, interview, survey, retrieval of manuscript or e-sources)
9. Conduct sociological research on a specific topic of choice and determine the scientific quality of the data they find
10. Summarize findings for written or oral presentation
11. Produce a research paper utilizing proper forms of citations, footnotes, and list of sources