EKU Sociology Student Handbookgy, including socialization, groups and interaction, culture, social...
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Welcome to Sociology at EKU! 2019-2020 Edition EKU Sociology Student Handbook
Transcript of EKU Sociology Student Handbookgy, including socialization, groups and interaction, culture, social...
Welcome to Sociology at EKU!
2019-2020 Edition
EKU Sociology
Student Handbook
Welcome to Team SOC!
Dr. James N. Maples Associate Professor Program Coordinator Keith Building 105 859-622-1389 [email protected] Dr. Paul Paolucci Professor, Department Chair Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work Keith Building 225 859-622-6780 [email protected]
Have a question?
Get in touch with us!
We’re here to help you!
Greetings! Congrats on joining Team SOC! We’re glad to have you here with us at EKU. Your faculty have assembled this guide to help you succeed while here at EKU. This student handbook includes all the information we think you will need to succeed in our program. You will find information on our faculty, course listings, suggested major pairings, graduation plans, and even information about the labor market and grad-uate school. This is a perfect time to be a sociologist. Your sociologi-cal training with Team SOC will be put to great use in the coming years, whether thinking about the changing times in which we exist or finding your niche in a revolutionary auto-mated labor market. Our goal as a program is to ensure you have all the skills you need to succeed both now and after graduation, and we’re here to help you on that path. As always, write me if you have questions about the program, your graduation plans, and the job market. Again, we’re here to give you the tools to succeed in an ever-changing world. Thanks, James N. Maples, PhD [email protected]
Team SOC Stats
-90 majors
-Five full-time faculty
-Four part-time faculty
-25 courses offered on a
predictable schedule
- Five gen-ed courses
-85% job placement rate
-97% grad school acceptance
rate
What is sociology and why get a sociology degree? 4
How do I get a sociology degree? 5
Sociology degree pathways 6
Sociology courses 7
Team Soc Faculty 11
Sociology jobs 14
Going to graduate school 16
FAQ 18
Quick Topic Contacts
Changing my major to soci-
ology:
Contact Dr. Maples at
Internships: Contact Dr.
Paolucci at
Advising: Contact Dr.
Underwood at eliza-
Graduation: Contact
Dr. Maples at
Women and Gender Studies
Contact Dr. Buck at
Animal Studies
Contact Dr. McSpirit at
Business/sociology major
Contact Prof Sajadi at
On behalf of our faculty and staff, we would like to introduce you to the Sociology Program at Eastern Kentucky University. We are part of the Department of Anthropology, Sociology, and Social Work and are housed in the Keith Building on the first and second floors. We are a caring and challenging program with an eclectic group of scholars devoted to student success. Our courses expose students to a wide range of human social behavior, from early childhood sociali-zation to the mass media to forms of inequality to the ways of Appalachian culture and all the way up to the global econo-my. Our faculty and our classes teach students the skills that will prepare them for a wide range of careers, including a foundation for graduate school in a variety of sub-jects. Our teachers have been recognized for their abilities in the classroom, as advisers, and as scholars. Our students en-joy opportunities to work with them on projects and present their work in professional settings. We are a welcoming community of teachers, scholars, aca-demics, peers, friends, and just plain good ole folk. Our majors are made up of a wide range of very intelligent and talented individuals. We host a Sociology Club for both social events and social engagement. We encourage you to meet as many of us as possible and join us in this endeavor we call education in sociology. This handbook is designed to introduce you to our discipline, our program, and our policies. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would just like to say hello. Dr. Paul Paolucci Professor and ANSW Department Chair [email protected]
Welcome to Team SOC!
What is sociology?
So you are interested in Sociology? Excellent choice. What is Sociology you ask? Sociology is a social science involving the study of the social lives of people, groups, and societies. It is the study of our behavior as social beings, covering everything from the analysis of short contacts be-tween anonymous individuals on the street to the study of global social processes. This includes the study of social aggregations, the entities through which humans move throughout their lives. Furthermore, soci-ology strives for an overarching unification of all studies of humankind, including history, psychology, and economics. – American Sociological Association (website, “What is Sociology?).
Sociology an interesting and useful course of study, but employers only need so many people from STEM fields. They also want and need crea-tive, knowledgeable, and independent thinkers. What better discipline to study than sociology for that?
“As an undergraduate
student, EKU's sociolo-
gy program offered me
valuable research expe-
rience and a theoretical
foundation which pre-
pared me well for grad-
uate school and beyond
as an alumna. The fac-
ulty are bright, ap-
proachable, and helpful.
It is certainly a program
to consider!” – Jessica
Pulliam, Class of 2011
“I relate the study of
sociology to my work
daily. Every job inter-
view I have been on,
I've been offered a job
with the exception of
one, and all of the per-
spective employers
were impressed with
my credentials that
EKUs sociology pro-
gram has offered me -
so for that, I am very
thankful!” – Michael
Adcock, Class of 2015
What is Sociology?
Let’s hear it from our professors on Team Soc! Dr. McSpirit: “One of the great things about our sociology program is that you will have lots of opportunities to work with SOC faculty on real research projects. In the EKU sociology program you can gain “real world” experience in either collecting and analyzing survey data, inter-viewing and coding field interviews, collecting and indexing oral histo-ries and especially working with communities. This kind of research ex-perience will position you well for the job market or for graduate school. The next time you are talking with your SOC professors, don’t hesitate to ask them about what research projects they are working one and whether you can get involved!” Dr. Paolucci: “Sociology will help you understand there the world--including its job market--is right now and where it will likely be in the future. We expect many types of jobs to be made obsolete with the rising tide of automation. And we also know that we live today in an infor-mation economy. This means that employers of today and of tomorrow will need people who have critical thinking skills, know how to gather and process information, and can communicate what they know to oth-ers. They will need people who can work with others, whether on the job or in the community. And they will need people who understand wider trends and can forecast where those trends are likely to lead. “
Why Sociology?
Team Soc has simplified the graduation path for
our students by removing roadblocks to graduation
and offering predictable courses!
The Sociology degree is a Bachelor of Arts degree
and has room for double majors or a minor without
spending any more time at EKU!
Getting a Sociology Degree
How do I get a sociology degree?
Basic Graduation Requirements
Major Requirements: 30 hours
SOC 131, 232, 395, 462, and 470; 15 hours of sociolo-gy electives, 12 of which must be upper division
hours.
EKU Requirements: 90 hours All sociology majors take 36 hours of Gen-ed classes
that interest you, a student success seminar (ASO 100S), and 53 hours of any EKU
classes you like.
Thinking about minoring in sociology?
Students may minor in sociology by
completion Soc 131 (intro) and fifteen hours of upper division (300 and up)
sociology classes
Note we allow three of those hours to be an upper division anthropology course!
SOCIOLOGY DEGREE
SAMPLE CURRICULUM
Freshperson Year Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year
SOC 131 Gen Ed courses 15 Hours Fall 15 Hours Spring 30 Total hours
SOC 232 SOC electives Gen Ed courses 15 Hours Fall 15 Hours Spring 60 Total hours
SOC electives Electives 15 Hours Fall 15 Hours Spring 90 Total hours
Fall: SOC 395 (Fall only) Fall: SOC 462 (Fall only) SOC electives 15 Hours Fall
Spring: SOC 470 (Spring only) Remaining electives 15 Hours Spring 120 Total hours
Need a Pathway? to Graduation?
We’ve got one just for you!
Sociology degree pathways
Pathways focus on a general area of interest and give our stu-dents suggested courses to take while in our sociology program. They often pair with a minor, as well. Each pathway also has a
faculty member you can contact with questions!
I am interested in
Gender Studies!
So is Dr. Buck, and she
suggests you take the
following:
Soc 205 (Sexualities)
Soc 399 (Gender and Society)
Soc 400( Race and Ethnicity)
I am interested in
Business Studies!
So is Prof. Sajadi, and she
suggests you take the
following:
Soc 320 (Mind, Self, & Society)
Soc 322 (Soc of Mass Media)
Soc 395 (Research Methods)
Soc 420 (Jobs, Orgs, and Power)
I am interested in Animal Studies!
So is Dr. McSpirit, and she suggests you
take the following:
Soc 232 (Social Stats)
Soc 395 (Research Methods)
Soc 383 (Environmental Soc)
Soc 465 (Demography)
Soc 365 (Social Change in Appalachia)
Soc 420 (Jobs, Orgs, & Power)
I am interested in Appalachian
Studies! So is Dr. Maples, and he
suggests you take the following:
Soc 365 (Social Change in Appalachia)
Soc 370 (Religion in Appalachia
Soc 395 (Research Methods)
Soc 420 (Jobs, Orgs, & Power)
Soc 425 (Social Inequality)
“My time studying
sociology at EKU
was by far the most
meaningful of my
undergraduate ca-
reer. The faculty I
worked with creat-
ed an atmosphere
where critical
thinking was cen-
tral and supported
me to follow my
intellectual pas-
sions. I felt I had
the freedom to ex-
plore topics that
mattered to me
and was limited
only by my imagi-
nation. They intro-
duced me to ideas
and concepts that
have shaped my
life for the better. I
could not be hap-
pier with the edu-
cation I gained
from the EKU So-
ciology depart-
ment. After all
these years, I am
still in touch with
several of my for-
mer professors and
count them among
my lifelong
friends.”
Dr. Lisa Conley,
Class of 2003
I am interested in
Social Engineering
So is Dr. Maples and he suggests you
take the following:
Soc 232 (Social Stats)
Soc 395 (Research Methods)
Soc 320 (Mind, Self, & Society)
Soc 420 (Demography)
Soc 322 (Soc of Mass Media)
Offered every Fall
SOC 245W Sociology of the
Family
SOC 395 Research Methods
SOC 400 Race & Ethnic Relations
SOC 462 Sociological Theory
Sociology Courses
Course offerings Sociology offers 25 courses on a predictable schedule so you will
have no issues making plans for graduation! Our courses cover
many areas of sociology (gender, theory, environment, and de-
mography to name a few). Also our students receive useful job
skill sets ranging from data analysis to internship experience.
SOC 131 Introductory Sociology. Basic principles in sociolo-
gy, including socialization, groups and interaction, culture, social
structure and institutions (family, education, religion, politics,
economics), crime/deviance, social inequalities (race, class, gen-
der), and sociological research methods and theories.
Soc 205 Sexualities and Social Issues. An examination of
the diversity of sexuality and related social issues in the United
States and globally. Topics include culture, history, law, mass
media, politics, and religion.
SOC 232 Social Statistics. Statistical analysis of survey data,
including forming sociological research questions, variable selec-
tion, analysis, interpretation, and scientific writing.
SOC 235 Social
Problems. Analy-
sis of selected social
problems such as
crime, mental ill-
ness, divorce, popu-
lation, and poverty,
as well as controver-
sies over human
sexuality. The analy-
sis includes the defi-
nition, causes, and
consequences of social problems.
SOC 245W Sociology of the Family. Examines family as a
social institution, including its relation to cultural and social
change and to the wider structure of society.
SOC 300 Animals and Society. A survey of the sociology of
animal-human interaction, focusing on the human-animal bond
and conflict between human and animal worlds.
Offered every Spring
SOC 399 Gender & Society
SOC 470 Professionalization
Seminar
Offered every Fall and Spring
SOC 131 Introductory Sociology
SOC 205 Sexualities &
Social Issues
SOC 232 Social Statistics
SOC 235 Social Problems
Offered as needed (usually
ever three semesters)
SOC 300 Animals and Society
SOC 320 Mind, Self, & Society
SOC 322 Sociology of Mass Media
SOC 330S Sociology of Migration
SOC 349 Job Internships
SOC 365 Social Change in
Appalachia
SOC 370 Religion in Appalachia
SOC 383 Environment and Society
SOC 420 Jobs, Organization, and
Power
SOC 425 Social Inequality
SOC 465 Demography
Sociology Courses
Course offerings, continued
SOC 320 Mind, Self, and Society. Relation of the individual to the
sociocultural environment, with special reference to personality devel-
opment, interpersonal role-behavior, motivation, and social attitudes.
SOC 322 Sociology of Mass Media. Mass media as social structure
and audience in interpretation of mass media is examined through so-
ciological analysis of media ownership, media content, and audience
characteristics.
SOC 330S Sociology of Migration. A sociological exploration of
global migration including study of migrants, refugees, politics, laws,
and the role of the global economy, informed through service-learning.
SOC 349 Applied Learning in Sociology/Cooperative. Work in
a professional environment related to academic studies. A maximum of
three hours may be applied to major electives. A minimum of 80 hours
of employment required for each semester hour of academic credit.
Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
SOC 350 Selected Topics in Sociology: Sample topics: Appalachi-
an sociology; sexism and society; utopias.
Faculty spotlight: Dr. Beth Underwood Dr. Underwood was born and raised in Korea to American missionary parents. At college in the US, she was drawn to sociology as a means to making sense of cross-cultural identities. In grad school at the Uni-versity of Illinois she focused on the areas of demography and migration before turning her attention back to a study of cross-cultural identities and interactions in the early encounter between American missionaries and Koreans at the turn-of-the-twentieth century. Her work has been published in both Korean and English.
Dr. Underwood has three grown children, one active puppy, and sings in two local choirs.
Faculty advice from
Dr. Underwood:
1. Hang onto your
textbooks! You’ll
need them at some
point after you
graduate.
2. Keep a running
list of sociological
questions as you
think of
them! Some of
your best research
ideas come when
you aren’t looking
for them.
Faculty advice from
Dr. Maples:
Undergraduate re-
search looks great
on your resume. Is
there a professor on
campus who has
similar interests as
you? Ask them
about working to-
gether on a paper or
presentation. Or
ask if they could use
some help on one of
their projects!
Sociology Courses
Course offerings, continued SOC 365 Social Change in Appalachia. Analysis of patterns of
social change and development in an important area of the Southern
United States, Central and Southern Appalachia.
SOC 370 Religion in Appalachia. . An examination of diversity
and change in the religious beliefs, practices, groups, and organiza-
tions found in Southern Appalachia.
SOC 383 Environment and Society. The study and application
of concepts from ecology, political economy and sociology to better
understand the relationship between humans and their physical envi-
ronment.
SOC 395 Research Methods in Sociology. Methods and tech-
niques of sociological research, including collecting, measuring, ana-
lyzing, processing, and presenting social data.
SOC 399 Gender and Society. Emphasis on the relationship be-
tween the social construction of gender and the experiences of wom-
en and men in societies. Consideration of cultural diversity in defin-
ing gender roles.
SOC 400 Race and Ethnicity. Analysis of the development of ra-
cial and ethnic relations from the perspective of sociology and related
social sciences. Examination of issues related to dominant and mi-
nority group status in the United States and cross-culturally.
SOC 420 Jobs, Organizations, and Power. Analysis of work in
American society with a focus on labor markets, labor processes, and
organizational power structure. Special attention to the future of jobs
and bureaucracies in the United States.
SOC 425 Social Inequality: US & the World. Examines causes
and consequences of social stratification, focusing on the origins,
present, and future of the world economy, including policy institu-
tions, major historical events, and racial/ethnic relations in the
global system.
Want to learn about big
data and maybe getting a
job in social media? Talk
to Dr. Maples about his
research methods course.
Gender and race are im-
portant ideas in under-
standing our society. In-
terested in learning more?
Talk to Dr. Buck about her
courses on both topics!
Interested in political
economy or philosophy?
Want to understand how
theories explain events in
our society? Talk to Dr.
Paolucci about his socio-
logical theory class!
Animals and Society is
one of our most popular
classes! Go see
Dr. McSpirit
for more details!
Interested in understand-
ing more about immi-
grants and their experienc-
es? Talk with Dr. Under-
wood about Soc 330S!
Opportunities for Our Students
Team Soc provides ten important opportunities for
our students. 1. Study with highly skilled and
knowledgeable professionals. 2. Assist in hands-on research. 3. Getting out in the field and col-
lecting data in the real world. 4. Co-publish work with their
professors. 5. Produce their own original re-
search on a topic of their choosing.
6. Gain experience in presenting work in professional settings.
7. Participating in the Sociology Club with like-minded stu-dents.
8. Assistance in producing re-sumes and vitae.
9. Getting to know their profes-sors and developing profes-sional relationships with them.
10. Maintaining contacts and en-hancing their graduate school applications.
Sociology Courses
Course offerings, continued SOC 462 Sociological Theory. Examines developments in
social thought, including origins of classical theory (Marx,
Durkheim, Weber), a survey of contemporary theories built
upon these early approaches, as well as issues unaddressed in
the classical school, such as functionalism, feminism, drama-
turgical analysis, and post-structuralism.
SOC 465 Demography. Topics include demographic data
and analysis, population characteristics, migration, mortality,
fertility, population theories, world population growth, and
population policies.
SOC 470 Professionalization Seminar in Sociology. A
capstone overview of sociology through a general survey of
various sub-disciplines of the field with an emphasis on stu-
dent understanding of research, theory, and professionalization.
SOC 490 Independent Study in Sociology. Student must
have the independent study proposal form approved by faculty
supervisor and department chair prior to enrollment. Additional
independent study courses may be retaken to a maximum of six
hours.
SOC 499 Directed Research in Sociology. A directed re-
search experience for Sociology majors that integrates a research
experience with the students’ professional development and the
When is class registration?
The exact dates for class registra-tion change every semester, but as a general rule Fall class registra-tion starts around October 1 and Spring/Summer class registra-tion starts around April 1. Advising appointments begin around a month before these dates, but you can be advised any time of year. Contact your advisor to set an appointment today!
Team Soc Faculty
Meet our Faculty!
Team Soc has extraordinary faculty represent-ing a wide variety of research areas.
Dr. Alison Buck
Assistant Professor
Office: Keith 110
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 859-622-1653
Interests: Race, Class and Gender,
Work, Organizations, Industry, Sex-
uality, Social Psychology, Pedagogy.
Dr. Stephanie McSpirit
Foundation Professor; Director,
Martin County Project, Commis-
sioner, Kentucky Environmental
Quality Commission
Office: Keith 228
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 859-622-3070
Interests: Statistics, Research
Methods, Community-based Field
Methods , Risk and Society,
Environmental Sociology
Dr. James N. Maples
Associate Professor/Program Coor-
dinator
Office: Keith 105
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 859-622-1389
Interests: Sociological Methods,
Applied/Public Sociology, Appala-
chian Studies, Social Change,
Economic Impact Research
10 Goals for Our Students 1. Become well-rounded people
with expert knowledge on the ways of the world from a socio-logical perspective, including concepts, theories, and up-to-date findings.
2. Become well-educated, critical-ly thinking independent indi-viduals.
3. Develop sought after skills use-ful for a lifetime in a changing job market, including use of spreadsheets, data sets, com-puter literacy, and so on.
4. Achieve high levels of proficien-cy in being a literate and articu-late person.
5. Have enriching experiences in the classroom, in the field, and in college generally.
6. Make lifelong connections and friends.
7. Develop a love of learning based in the methods and values of science that lasts forever.
8. Adopt that quality of mind nec-essary for navigating difficult public issues in a complex world.
9. Learning how to ask tough questions and search out the right answers.
10. Giving back to their families, communities, and peers.
Team Soc Faculty
Meet our faculty!
Dr. Paul Paolucci
Professor and Department
Chair, Anthropology, Sociology, &
Social Work
Office: Keith 225
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 859-622-6780
Interests: Globalization,
Social Inequalities of Race Class &
Gender, Political Economy ,Research Methods, Sociological Theo-
ry
Dr. Beth Underwood
Associate Professor
Office: Keith 219
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 859-622-1469
Interests: Sociology of Religion &
Family, Historical Sociology,
Demography, East Asian Studies
Kristin Heck Sajadi Instructor Email: [email protected] Interests: Application and Use of So-ciological Thinking Outside of Aca-demics /Work and Organizations/ So-ciological Social Psychology/ Mass Media/ Ideology, Power, and Social Institutions.
Jing Zhang
Instructor Email: [email protected]
Interests: Social Stratifica-tion Social Inequalities of Race, Class, & Gender, Research Methods, Sociological Theory
We know college can be over-
whelming. In fact, all your
faculty have stood in your
shoes! Here’s some bits of ad-
vice from our experiences.
Dr. Maples: Attendance
and being present in the mo-
ment is critical. I can general-
ly predict student success
based on their attendance
and how often (or how rarely)
they use their cell-phones in
class. When you walk onto
campus, you have to put the
outside world away for a time.
It will still be there when you
get back.
Dr. Paolucci: A college stu-
dent should be prepared to
"own" their work and their
performance. They should
approach university life with
the attitude that it is on them
to figure it out. Yes, their pro-
fessors and other offices at
EKU are here to help, but we
cannot do it for you. You
should embrace things like
having a calendar large
enough to write on with you
at all times. Also have a to do
sheet for the day and for the
week. Go over your syllabi
regularly and keep up with
what is due the next few days,
weeks, next month.
Advice from Team Soc
Team Soc Faculty
“EKU's Sociology program taught me that the world is at my disposal. From the past I can see the present. From the present I antici-pate the future. We are never too separated from history, rather we become fixated on the possibilities of the future.”
Jeffrey Cawood, Class of 2015
Meet our faculty!
Sharon Hardesty
Instructor
Email:
Interests: General sociology and social problems
Cristian Núñez Instructor Email: [email protected] Interests: Disaster sociology and inequalities
Carissa Brown Administrative Coordinator Email: [email protected] Evelyn Jones Department Secretary Email: [email protected]
Advice from Professor Kristin Heck Sajadi: Sociology is many things to many people. As a non-traditional sociologist and social awareness entrepreneur, I en-courage more students to get de-grees in sociology. Think of soci-ology as the foundation to just about everything. If you want to go into business, law, medicine, social justice, etc. - understand-ing social structural influences on how and why people think, act, and respond to situations the way that they do will give you a distinct advantage. You just have to articulate it in inter-views and inform your potential employers. If you need help crafting the message when en-tering your post-college years, don't hesitate to reach out.
Advice from Team Soc
What are Soft Skills?
Our major trains you in soft skills,
which include:
* Critical thinking and reading
* Top notch presentation skills
* Problem solving experience
* Awareness of diverse populations
* Creating arguments from data
* Awareness of social order
Employers are very interested in
these skills.
Data analysis skills in Sociology
Students taking our Soc 395 course
learn to:
1. Collect data for their employers
2. Analyze data for their employers
3. Identify trends and relationships
in data for their employer.
Want to do an internship?
Internships give you a chance to
improve your resume and personal
skills while earning job experience
and sometimes extra pay.
Sociology can offer internships in
multiple fields right here in East-
ern Kentucky. Contact our intern-
ship coordinator today!
Your future employer wants a well-rounded employee,
and sociology gives you the very skillsets your employer
wants you to have!
A sociology degree provides:
1. Broad knowledge of how the world works
2. Data collection and analysis training
3. Critical thinking and reasoning skills
4. Enhanced written and oral abilities
5. Direct experiences with problem solving
6.Experience with diverse populations
Getting Great Jobs in Sociology is Easy!
Jobs in Sociology
Helping you get started in a career after graduation is a
central mission for Team Sociology. Right now, your sociol-
ogy training is a hot commodity on the labor market. Plus,
Team Soc will help you apply for jobs and more!
Sociology: What Employers Want!
Did you know….
Sociology offers a course to help
you with your job applications,
interviews, and presentation of
self as you hit the market! Very
few majors do this, but we think it
is important to be there for you.
Where are our students working?
Human Services: Counseling, Case Management, Advoca-
cy, & Mental Health Care
Government: Social Statistics, Demography, Public Admin-
istration, Policy Analysis, Program Development, & Planning
Social Science Research: Data Analysis, Data Mining, &
Market Research
Business: Human Resources, Marketing, Management,
Sales, Public Relations, & Office Administration
Nervous about the job market? Sociology offers a course
to help you with your job applications, interviews, and
presentation of self as you hit the market!
Advice for the Job Market
Dr. Maples: If you have a singu-
lar passion, do everything you
can to be the best at it and plan
on focusing your job search in
that area. Otherwise, plan on
being a diverse candidate for
the job market. Being diverse
means having lots of skills, like
having analysis skills and great
presentation training. A diverse
resume includes skills, certifica-
tions, and experiences.
Starting in Summer 2019, Team Soc will be offering in-
ternship courses (Soc 349) in which students work at a
particular job in the region while earning school credit.
Some positions also include either stipends or hourly wag-
es, while others are volunteer hours. Either way, students
can get job experience for their resume and earn upper
division sociology credits toward the degree.
Where can I look for jobs?
Jobs in Sociology
Most job searches include using search terms to find a par-
ticular job. Here are some suggested phrases common for
sociology jobs that might help you:
data, analysis, research, assessment, coordinator, regional
planning, outreach, survey, interview, analysis, non-profit,
policy, community, grant writing, university or college, in-
stitutional research, research assistant, data collection,
SPSS, statistics, presentation, critical thinking, demogra-
phy, migration, organization, environment, poverty, educa-
tion, impact, quantitative, qualitative, report writing.
Internships are Great Experiences
Did you know….
Dr. Paolucci received his under-
graduate sociology degree from
EKU Sociology, just like you will!
Where do I look for jobs?
Start with EKU’s Handshake ap-
plication. Set up a profile on
LinkedIn.com. Then, head to
Indeed.com, Glassdoor.com,
Careerbuilder.com, USAjobs.gov,
and simplyhired.com. You can
also look at the websites of organ-
izations in your line of work.
Need help? Just ask!
The internship process begins one of two ways. First, the
student can find their own internship position and request
to have internship course hours while they are working.
The second option is to find an internship through EKU
by using Handshake. All EKU students already have a
Handshake account available (same login as your email).
There you can find job listings and internships available.
It’s important to start looking for internships at least four
months in advance, and six months is better. Likewise, the
student will be completing paperwork and creating a plan
with their internship employer, which takes time.
Starting the Internship Process
Going to Graduate School
Thinking about Graduate School?
How Am I Going to Pay for Graduate School? If you do all of the above, it is
likely you will receive a “tuition waiver” from a gradu-
ate school. Though some stu-
dents are accepted without such waivers, many students
get in to graduate school with their tuition already cover by
this waiver. In addition, you might be offered a Teaching
Assistantship (TA) or a Re-
search Assistantship (RA), which will provide a modest
monetary stipend to cover liv-ing expenses.
Should I Go To Graduate School? The sooner you answer this question, the better. This is so you can start preparing for it early in your college career. By preparing we mean securing a sol-id GPA, starting a research agenda, participating in resume build-ing activities, and so on. Competition is fierce out there and the sooner you prepare a solid application for graduate school, the better. The answer to this question will depend on how you address or relate to three issues: 1. Do your career plans require advanced degrees? (MA, MS,
PhD, MBA, etc.?). If you plan on becoming a professor, a counselor, a psychiatrist, or a host of other professions that require such degrees, you will have to go to graduate school.
2. In a tight job market it is the employers who are at an ad-vantage to pick and choose. Further, we are seeing more peo-ple attain undergraduate degrees than ever. If you want to stand out, you may want more education.
3. Will you be content spending (on average) another two years in college for your Master’s Degree? Although you’ll be taking less courses in graduate school, they will be more intense than your undergraduate courses and have higher expectations
Good reasons to go to graduate school
I need a higher degree to get the job I want.
I want to learn more about a particular topic.
I enjoy doing research and would like to do more research.
I have the time, resources, and support to do this right now.
Bad reasons to go to graduate school
I’m not sure what to do after graduation, so... grad school?
It is what my parents/partner would want me to do.
If I have a grad degree, it might make apply for jobs easier.
I would like some extra letters after my last name!
Undergrad was easy, so graduate school will be, too?
How many courses do I
take in graduate school?
Generally, you will only take three courses per semester in
graduate school. Your first
year, the program will proba-bly tell you what to take for
the most part. Then you can pick courses that interest you.
Note that accelerated pro-grams (often on a 16 month to
graduation system) will have you take four classes per se-
mester plus summer courses.
Going to Graduate School
Is there a lot of reading required in graduate school? Yes, there’s a lot. In fact, you will be assigned more than is pos-sible to read in one week. An important part of graduate school is learning to assess what you really need to read. Much of a book can be condensed into a few ideas in the intro and con-cluding chapters, for example.
Have a question?
Get in touch with us!
We’re here to help you!
Thinking about Graduate School?
Common Terminology Graduate school admission has its own language. Here are some terms you will see. Graduate Record Exam
(GRE). This is an exam most graduate schools (in and out of sociology) will require applicants to take. as part of the application.
Letters of Recommendation
Graduate schools tradi-tionally ask applicants to have their professors (usually 3) write them let-ters that attest to their abilities, talents, and likeli-hood of success at the graduate level.
Funding
Graduate students are often funded by the university. This means they pay for all or part of your tuition in exchange for some kind of service to the department.
Site Visit Applicants may be invited to visit the campus to meet the faculty, see the facili-ties, and meet other pro-spective students. Should you go? Yes. You’re going to live there, so might as well see if you’d like it first.
Cohort Your cohort consists of the
people who started the pro-gram when you started. These are your friends, but also the people against which you compete for funding, faculty time, and resources.
Plans for Getting into Graduate School There are several things you can do as an undergraduate to start preparing for graduate school: 1. Earn a GPA at 3.0 or higher, preferably 3.5 better. 2. Stay focused on the prize – graduation! Stay focused on your
studies and minimize your distractions. 3. Get to know faculty both here and where you want to apply.
They will be one of your greatest assets. 4. Start building your resume/vita sooner rather than later. Re-
search, applied reports, and presentations are awesome. 5. Work with one of your professors on a research project. 6. Keep your textbooks. You’ll need them again in grad school. 7. Study up on graduate programs 2-3 years before graduation.
Don’t leave this until the last minute. 8. Set aside some student loans for the GRE. It isn’t cheap. 9. Start writing up a vita early on. Ask a professor for theirs and
follow their example. 10. Study for the GRE at least 1-2 years before you have to take it.
It is neither easy nor a typical test. 11. When asking faculty for letters, give them ample time before
the due date. Also, give them relevant information about you, including your career goals and interests.
12. Study up on where the program you want to attend is located. You may find that there are certain places you don’t really want to live. If you hate it there, it will be hard to finish gradu-ate school.
13. Craft a personal statement; all applications ask for one. Have a friend and later a professor read it over. It should not be more than one page.
14. Make sure you do a substantive Senior Thesis, one you will be proud of and one that sounds impressive when you write about it in the application process.
15. Search for opportunities to present your work a conference for undergraduates.
16. Do not lose track of due dates for applications and the GRE. 17. Create a folder for each school with the necessary information
in it.
Frequently Asked Questions How many credit hours does the degree re-quire? There are 30 hours required in Sociology and 120 total hours required by the university. How do I declare a sociology major? There are different avenues to do this. First, you can read about it at the registrar’s site: http://registrar.eku.edu/declaring-program-study And you can call them at: 859-622-2320 or write them at [email protected] Also, our administrative assistant – Carissa Brown – can do this for you as well. You can write her at [email protected] or call her at 859-622-1644… make sure to have a student ID ready if you have one. How do I know which classes to sign up for? Page 11 of this guide is a good start. Also, you can meet with one of our professors if you are just get-ting started. Or, if you have just transferred into sociology, make an appointment with an adviser.
“Sociology really helped
me understand how to
view the world. I grew up
in the impoverished moun-
tains of Appalachia and
that made me feel like I
couldn’t change things. So-
ciology helped me see how
our society works and how
we can help improve it. “
Charles Wright
Class of 2017
Faculty spotlight:
Dr. James Maples
Dr. Maples grew up in
the foothills of the
Smoky Mountains in
East Tennessee. He is a
first generation college
student and received
his PhD from The Uni-
versity of Tennessee in
Knoxville.
Dr. Maples is a nationally-recognized scholar
in the study of economic impact and outdoor
recreation. More locally, he is known for his
research on the Red River Gorge rock climbing
community.
Dr. Maples is a Girl Scout dad, metal detector-
ist, hiker, and Eagle Scout.
FAQ
How do I get an adviser? When you sign up for sociology through the registrar, they will often automatically provide an adviser’s name for you. Or, if you sign up in our department, ask Carissa Brown to give you an adviser. If you have had a professor you really like, ask for them! How do I get my RAC number? Your adviser will get that for you. They do not assign them but they can access the university website that has them. What is the best way to get in touch with a faculty member? Each faculty member has an office phone number, an email address, and office hours they have posted on their wall outside their office. Get in touch with them today! Don’t wait! How do I make an appointment with a faculty member or adviser? You do it through contacting them via the means described above. Also, their office hours are there for you to just drop by if that fits your schedule. How do I get an override into a class that might be full or for which I lack the prerequisites? Find out who teaches that class and ask them for the override, either in person or via mail or even phone. If they agree to an override, they will contact Lynn Morris and she will put you through into the course. How do I add a class after the add/drop deadline has passed? It is generally a very, very bad idea to try to add a class after the add/drop dead-line. Even if the instructor gives the “okay”, there’s no guarantee the chair or the dean will and once it is given approval and in the system, you must sign up for it, but now you are more than 2 weeks behind. Why do that to your-self? Should sociology be my first major? Second? A minor? That will be generally up to you and your career goals. Which one do you want to appear first on your transcript? Do you have another major that sociology will work well with as a supplementary course of study? What should I do if I have a problem with an instructor? Usually, you should talk first with the instructor if it relates to a matter over class work or something in your personal life you would like them to accommo-date. For more serious matters, talk to your adviser or the department chair (Paul Paolucci, 622-6780; [email protected]). They will advise you on additional steps to take. How do I find out if courses from another school will transfer to EKU? How do I get credit for courses taken at another school? Give the Academic Advising Office a call (859-622-2276). They have people there that can answer your questions (and often provide solutions to prob-lems you might be having with a transfer).
FAQ
How do I apply for graduation? (1) Log on to EKU Direct. (2) Click on “Student Services and Financial Aid.” (3) Click “Student Rec-ords.” (4) Click “Apply to Graduate.” If the graduation date is not listed or any information is incorrect, contact Ben Cook (622-1407). He’s the graduation expert for us. Who provides help with job hunting, preparing resumes, and preparing for interviews? Students will gain stills in prepar-ing resumes and preparing for interviews in our Seminar in Sociology course (SOC 470). They can also avail themselves to EKU’s program for Career Services, in the Whitlock Building, Room 465. 859-622-8649 Does the Sociology Program have tutoring available? We do not have tutors that work for our program but EKU has the GURUS program which helps students who are struggling with their classes. What about mental health services? What should I do if I would like to avail myself to them? EKU has counselling services available, yes. You can call them (859-622-1303) or look them up online here: http://counseling.eku.edu/ Does the Sociology Program have tutoring available? We do not have tutors that work for our program but EKU has the GURUS program which helps students who are struggling with their classes.
FAQ
Student Notes
This is a great space to take notes about your time on Team Soc.
Welcome to Sociology at EKU!
2019-2020 Edition
EKU Sociology
Student Handbook
