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Learn to Teach Sociology

In recent years, the Sociology graduate program has significantly increased the use of graduate students for teaching lower division introductory level courses. In order to promote high quality teaching by graduate students, the program has enhanced coursework related to teaching sociology.

Teaching Sociology (SOC 6910)

Masterā€™s students have the opportunity to complete a seminar on the sociology of teaching. As a part of the requirements for this course, students complete a teaching e-portfolio and design and deliver several lectures to undergraduate classes and to their peers in the graduate program. Graduate students can compete for limited graduate teaching positions in our department. Those selected teach their own sections of Introduction to Sociology (under the supervision of the graduate director) during their second year in the program.

Our students not only have the opportunity to learn to teach but they also have opportunities to apprentice and collaborate with faculty on research projects. Masterā€™s students are often recruited and trained by faculty researchers to assist and partner on data collection and analysis, and in the co-authoring of presentations and publications.

Students who have received a graduate assistantship will often act as teaching assistants during their first year. In the spring semester students also have the opportunity to take Teaching Sociology (SOC 6910), a 3-credit course. In addition to discussions of pedagogy, students also prepare a syllabus and other course materials for a course they might hope to teach in the future. When the course is complete, students may apply for competitively awarded graduate student teaching positions for the second year. If awarded, students will be able to teach a course during the upcoming year.

Teaching Assistants continue to receive guidance during all semesters in which they teach through enrolling in a teaching course (SOC 6300) that provides regular meetings with the graduate director, supervision, and pedagogical discussions for graduate students who have grade-book responsibilities. In keeping with the goals of the Sociology graduate program, the course requirements enable students to develop sociological skills that are highly useful in their pursuit of further graduate training and in employment in the human services and criminal justice system.