Instructor: Jammie Price

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 9-11:30am, Tuesday and Thursday 9-11am

E-mail: pricej@uncwil.edu, Phone: 962-3590

Prerequisites

Sociological Data Analysis (SOC 300) Applied Sociology Seminar (SOC 310/390)

Methods of Social Research (SOC 301) Social Theory (SOC 360)

Junior or senior standing Instructor consent

Submission of a proposal in the semester prior to the internship.

Course Description: Applied sociology is the science of using sociology to inform real life social issues. Students with a bachelor’s degree in sociology with an applied concentration learn valuable skills that will be directly transferable in today’s job market. A crucial step in learning how to do applied sociology is completing a practicum or an internship.

In a practicum, students gain hands-on experience in applying sociology by working with clients in the local community on specific social problems and issues. In an internship, students gain hands-on experience in applying sociology by working with a manager or supervisor in a large, established organization, business, or government agency. While completing a practicum or an internship, students also acquire job contacts and learn how to market themselves. In short, practicums and internships help make sociology practical and economically rewarding and they provide an opportunity to make a difference in the real world.

In this course, students complete either a practicum or an internship. During weekly sessions, students share practicum and internship experiences, receiving advice and guidance from the other students and the instructor. Each week, time permitting, students will also learn about applied jobs and how to search and apply for them.

1. For approximately 18 hours each week outside of class, students work on providing an answer to a client’s problem/issue. This work includes reading published materials on related topics, designing a study, collecting, analyzing and interpretating data, and writing reports. With the exception of collecting data, most of the practicum work occurs at school, libraries, computer labs, or students’ homes. However, students need to communicate with their client regularly and possibly work with the client at the client’s workplace occasionally.
2. At the end of the semester, students submit a 10 page project report. This report includes the following sections: Problem Statement, Literature Review, Methods, Results, and Discussion. The Problem Statement serves as an introduction, describing the client’s problem or issue and providing the social context in which the problem or issue exists. The Literature Review discusses existing sociological knowledge on, or related to, the problem or issue. The Methods section identifies what sociological skills and tools students used to answer the problem or address the issue. The Results section explains the outcomes of the methods. The Discussion uses existing sociological knowledge to make sense of the results, and outlines any limitations of the project. Students submit the report to the client and the practicum coordinator, and presents the report at a department conference attended by clients, students, and faculty.

1. Students work with their site supervisor as directed for 15 hours per week.
2. During the internship, students will keep a daily log of their experiences (time estimate: 3 hours a week). The log should emphasize how sociological theories and concepts helped to make sense of their experiences. Drawing on the journal, at the end of the semester, students will write a paper which 1) explains the internship experience, 2) identifies how sociology was applied, and 3) describes how the experience complemented in-class learning. Students submit final reports to the client and the instructor, and present the report at a department conference attended by clients, students, and faculty.

Attendance: Not collected, but it will be impossible to pass the class without regular attendance.

Participation: What students get out of this course depends on what they put into it. To that end, students must attend class prepared to discuss their experiences and readings. Participation is worth 25% of the final grade.

Cheating: Students must uphold the UNCW Academic Honesty Policy. If broken, we will follow the procedures identified in the Student Handbook and Code of Student Life.

The main project is to produce a final report for the client, instructor, and department (as described above). To that end, throughout the semester, students submit sections of the final report for review and revision. Using Power Point, students will present all assignments in class. The instructor and the clients will also evaluate students’ work habits at mid-term and upon completion of the project. These evaluations and the report are worth 50% of the final grade.

In addition, students will write a resume and cover letter, worth 25% of the final grade. See the course texts and resources for guidance. Students will submit drafts for review and revision.

All assignments should be typed, double-spaced and written in complete sentences with no spelling errors.

Exams: None.

Extra Credit: None.

Careers in Sociology, 2^nd edition. W. Richard Stephens, Jr. 1999. Allyn and Bacon.

Social Insight 2 and 3. Society for Applied Sociology (SAS), ($7 each).

Embarking Upon a Career with an Undergraduate Degree in Sociology. American Sociological Association, ($6).

Students can read/copy items on library reserve, as assigned.