Background and Charge

On February 6, 2005, the ASA Council created a new Task Force on Sociology and General Education and charged it with developing models and rationales for how sociology courses can, do and should contribute to general education requirements and liberal arts skills.

Council noted that within higher education there is a renewed push to identify competencies that may be developed in different courses. It is important to assist sociology departments in articulating how sociology is vital to developing key skills in a liberal arts curriculum, thereby strengthening the position of these departments themselves.

This Task Force will focus on six frequent challenges in general education where sociology does, can, or should play a role:

• Multicultural education/diversity
• Quantitative literacy
• Writing intensive experiences
• Freshman survey courses
• Interdisciplinary freshman seminars
• International/global issues

The Task Force will identify promising practices where sociology courses have creatively met general education requirements.

Members
S. Kay Andrews, Chattanooga State Technical Community College
Karen A. Callaghan, Barry University
Lada Gibson-Shreve, Stark State College
Nancy A. Greenwood, Indiana University
Gary Hampe, University of Wyoming
Carol A. Jenkins, Glendale Community College
Bruce Keith, United States Military Academy (Chair)
Peter Meiksins, Cleveland State University
Susan M. Ross, Lycoming College
Debra H. Swanson, Hope College
Deborah White, Minnesota State University - Moorhead