Sociology

Student Portfolio Requirement

Students majoring in Sociology assemble Portfolios of three papers that demonstrate their sociological understanding and skills at three points in their undergraduate study of Sociology: at the beginning, at about the middle, and at the completion of their major. Sociology faculty members depend on Portfolios to assess whether we, as a Department, are meeting our curricular goals. These goals include student development of the following:

• Sociological imagination and critical thinking skills enabling students to analyze structures and the linkages between macro-structure, micro-structure and individuals;
• Ability to understand and analyze social institutions, processes, and behavior, and to apply sociological theory, concepts, and methods;
• Disciplinary-based writing skills; and
• Library, quantitative, and qualitative research skills.

Conducting regular program assessments and modifying programs to maintain high quality are essential to preserve Willamette University's accreditation as a University that meets national standards.

A student begins to assemble his/her Portfolio upon declaring Sociology as a major. The completed Portfolio contains the following papers, each with an appropriate cover letter:

• One paper written for the first Sociology course taken at the 100 or 200 level;
• One paper written for SOC 303W Sociological Theory; and
• The paper written for the senior experience course (Internship, Thesis or Seminar)

A 300 word letter will accompany each of the first two papers. In each of these letters, explain why you picked this piece and what you consider to be its strengths and weaknesses in analyzing social life. A 1000-1500 word cover letter accompanies the senior experience paper. In this letter, describe your development as a sociologist in relation to the four curricular goals outlined above.

Submit each paper and its cover letter to Elizabeth Martineau, our Departmental Administrative Assistant, in Smullin 220. Inform her that you are turning in a paper for your Sociology Portfolio. Every two to three years, the Sociology faculty reads a random sample of Sociology Portfolios to determine, through the kinds of skills demonstrated, if the Sociology Department is meeting its curricular goals.

Portfolios are not graded. Instead, the Sociology Portfolio is important to you in the long term. It is your contribution to improving and maintaining the quality of your major program, and to the continued accreditation of the University from which you will receive your Bachelor's Degree. We also hope that students become more aware of their own development as sociologists by participating in the Portfolio system.