St. Cloud State University
General Education Goal Area 5 Designation
History and the Social & Behavioral Sciences
Academic Affairs Use Only:
Response Date: ______________________
Effective Date: ______________________
1.
Prepared by: Elizabeth Scheel-Keita
Phone: 4819
Proposal Number: _________________
Email: edscheel@stcloudstate.edu
2.
Requesting Unit: Sociology/Anthropology
3.
Department, Course Number, Title: Sociology/Anthropology , Soc 211, Crime Myths and Media
4.
New Course
5.
Will this course be flagged as a diversity course?
Already Designated as Diversity
6.
Will this course also satisfy another General Education Goal Area?
If “Yes” specify which goal area.
11
Existing Course
No
Diversity Proposal Accompanying This Form
No
Yes
7.
Course bulletin description, including credits and semesters to be offered:
Social myths about crime and violence. Compares myths to existing research, focusing on myths related
to race, gender, age, and type of crime. Institutions that perpetuate myths, purpose, consequences and global reach
of myths. 3 cr. S.
8.
Indicate the clientele for whom this course is designed. Is the course for general education only, or
does it fulfill general education and other program needs for this or another department? Obtain
signatures from any affected departments.
general education and electives in sociology major/minor
9.
Indicate any changes that must be made in offerings or resources in your department or other
departments by offering this course.
none
10.
For new courses or courses not yet approved for General Education, indicate any other SCSU departments
or units offering instruction that relates to the content of the proposed course.
N/A
11.
Courses designated as General Education are included in the assessment plan for the Goal Area(s)
10/15/2009
for which they are approved. Courses for which assessment is not included in the annual GE
assessment report for two years will be removed from the General Education Program.
The Requesting Unit understands and recognizes the above conditions.
12.
Provide a concise explanation of how the following goal is a “significant focus” of the proposed course.
Goal Area 5: History and the Social & Behavioral Sciences
Develop understanding of human societies and behaviors, and of the concepts, theories, and methods of
history and the social sciences.
Course examines social myths about crime (a human behavior) and uses the concepts, theories and
methods of sociology to critically analyze the existance and perpetuation of these myths through various forms of
media.
13. In order for a course to be designated as fulfilling Goal Area 5, it must address at least 4 of the 5 student learning
outcomes (SLOs) below. Check the SLOs below that are focused on in the proposed general education course.
1. Describe or use the methods and data by which historians, social scientists, or behavioral scientists investigate
human conditions.
2. Analyze human behavior, cultures, and social institutions and processes from the perspectives of history or the
social and behavioral sciences.
3. Develop explanations for and explore solutions to historical or contemporary social problems.
4. Reflect upon themselves in relation to family, communities, society, culture, and/or their histories.
5. Apply and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories about human societies and behaviors.
14.
Discuss how each Student Learning Outcome checked above is achieved in this course. (Note: Although
descriptions of typical assignments or types of assignments may be part of this discussion, it is not
appropriate to submit copies of actual assignments.)
SLO 1 Describe or use the methods and data by which historians, social scientists or behavioral scientists
investigate human conditions: Students use the sociological perspective and sociological empirical research to
investigate crime and the realities of those who are impacted by crime.
SLO 2 Analyze human behavior, cultures, and social institutions and processes from the perspectives of history or
the social and behavioral sciences: Students will analyze various institutions such as the media, government,
criminal justice, etc. to understand how myths about crime (and therefore other human behaviors) get perpetuated
even when we have good data of the realities of crime.
SLO 3 Develop explanations for and explore solutions to historical or contemporary social problems: Crime is a
social problem and myths about crime, poverty, race, class, gender, etc. are all perpetuated through myths about
crime and students will look at various explanations and this class focuses on the media as a source of information
and knowledge about social problems which leads to various solutions (why it is important to have accurate
information for policy decisions).
SLO 4 Reflect upon themselves in relation to family, communities, society, culture and/or their histories: Student
reflect on their own adoption of myths, where these came from, and how to challenge them.
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SLO 5 Apply and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories about human societies or behaviors: Student
examine various theories of crime, various theortetical perspectives on the who, when, what, where, how, and
why questions related to crime and evaluate them for supporting evidence and critique them accordingly.
15.
List or attach the Course Outline (adequately described and including percentage of time to be allocated
to each topic). Curriculum Committees may request additional information. Topics larger than 20% need
to be broken down further. Indicate in your course outline where the Student Learning Outcomes
checked above are being met.
see attached
10/15/2009