Saint Louis University
College of Arts & Sciences
Annual Report Template
FY2013 (July 2012-June 2013)
Instructions: Please fill in all of the requested information; boxes will expand to accommodate your text.
Sociology and Anthropology
Sociology, Anthropology, Forensic Science
Majors in Sociology and Anthropology, Minors in
Sociology, Anthropology and Forensic Science (certificate)
Richard Colignon
Chair
rcoligno@slu.edu
314-977-3640
The mission of the Department is to produce and provide foundational, advanced, and practical knowledge in Sociology, Anthropology and
Forensic Science. We teach students to discern between or (when possible) reconcile seemingly contradictory views, to seek out and weigh factual evidence, and to guide social discourse in more inclusive, nuanced, and intelligent directions. At the same time that we work to expand knowledge, we also attempt to advance public dialogue beyond the institutional walls of academia. As part of an urban, research university, the
Department is actively engaged with the community. Our students learn to see communities as systems of interacting components and to develop the professional skills to communicate and collaborate effectively to improve social well-being. The
Department strives to offer cutting edge education of the highest quality at the BA and
MA levels while serving the University, the professions, and the community in the Jesuit tradition.
(list separately for department and for each program
if multiple programs exist in department)
Goals
To encourage and increase faculty research and contributions to academic knowledge.
To promote multi-disciplinary research.
To provide students with opportunities to engage in faculty research initiatives.
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To promote multi-disciplinary teaching.
To provide students the foundation and tools necessary for critically analyzing real world problems and securing appropriate careers in which to carry out this function.
To provide students outside of the department with sufficient knowledge and skills to inform and make them socially and professionally literate within their disciplines.
To provide opportunities for students to engage in research on real-life issues and gain practical experience in dealing with the complexity of the problems and issues confronting society in the 21 st
century.
Objectives
Start a social science Ph.D. program (2012-2015).
C reate Graduate Research Methodology Minor (2012-2013).
Create “tracks” in the MA program (environment, GIS/demography, medical, and criminology (2012-15).
Create “tracks” in sociology & anthropology majors (2013-14).
Create a Forensic Science major (2012-2013).
Hire 3 anthropologists (2013-15).
Hire a sociologist with a specialty in criminology/Law (2012-13).
Hire a forensic geneticist for Forensic Science (2012-14).
a.
Curriculum
Start a social science Ph.D. program (2012-2015).
Currently in negotiations with other Social Science departments.
C reate Graduate Research Methodology Minor (2012-2013).
Currently developing a plan for the University.
Create “tracks” in the MA program (environment, GIS/demography, medical, and criminology (2012-15).
Currently in offering to discuss concentrations with other departments and programs.
Create “tracks” in sociology & anthropology majors (2013-14).
The Sociology and Anthropology programs have recommended some new concentrations at their last program meetings.
Create a Forensic Science major (2012-2013).
Proposal is ready for submission for this August. b. Personnel
Hire 3 anthropologists (2013-15).
Hired one Cultural Anthropologist, Bruce O’Neil and anticipate a search for the second position this fall.
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Hire a sociologist with a specialty in criminology/Law (2012-13).
Hired a specialist in Law and Society.
Hire a forensic geneticist for Forensic Science (2012-14).
No movement on this hire.
(describe goals for the coming year)
1.
Participate in a Ph. D. program.
2.
Initiate a Research Methodology minor at the graduate level.
3.
Initiate a Forensic Science undergraduate major.
(list separately for department and for each
program if multiple programs exist in department)
The learning outcomes for Sociology and Anthropology students include: 1) social science research expertise; 2) facility in communicating research results; 3) capacity for multidisciplinary interpretations and explanations.
Multi-disciplinary expertise
Focus Groups . All outcomes are assessed in focus groups of graduating majors in Sociology and
Anthropology. These focus groups involve a series of structured but flexible standards questions that allow broad responses and probing to develop the ideas.
These data are collected by the chair (maybe another faculty member) at the end of the second semester for all graduating seniors. The focus group takes place in the department.
Recent highlights for majors include: preference for clear sequencing and scheduling of courses preference for more research opportunities and promotion of career options.
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We have introduced new courses including a Research
Activity course (SOC 480) for students who want to work with a faculty member on the faculty member’s ongoing research project. We are committing to more long term course scheduling and sequencing. Finally, we have held “major mentoring meetings” to sequencing of actions while pursuing the major and career choices when they graduate.
Research expertise and communication
Students are required to develop a capstone project expressed through both a 25-35 page paper and oral presentation.
Capstone Projects and public presentations.
Resent results indicate that students need additional work on oral presentation skills and should take more than one semester to develop their capstone project if we expect more depth.
We are now encouraging faculty to require more research exercises in their courses as well as oral presentations of that research in their courses.
Undergraduates develop more research expertise
We conducted a pre-test and post-test assessment of learning in our required Research Methodology courses.
This is an in-class survey of all our majors. The survey consists of 25-30 questions involving various research methodology strategies and techniques.
Results indicate that students need: 1) better understanding of the context of research methodology; and 2) more interdisciplinary examples of research.
We are revising the research methodology courses to incorporate a broader understanding of what is common and distinctive for research methods in different social
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science disciplines. We are also incorporating different texts that emphasize the shared basis of social science disciplines and more examples of anthropological research.
(list major awards or distinctive achievements earned by the department in the past year)
None.
(list separately distinctive honors or special recognition awarded to individual faculty).
Scott Harris became editor-in-chief of the on-line journal, Sociological Compass.
(list separately distinctive honors or special recognition awarded to students)
None.
(describe department involvement in the community)
The faculty serves on 6 boards for community organizations and gave over 40 presentations to local agencies and universities throughout the year.
Mary Vermilion served as mentor to the Anthropology Club and their successful school supply and winter clothing drives for Hopi Pueblo Native Americans.
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