Building the Sociological Imagination through a Cumulative Curriculum: Professional Socialization in Sociology

Abstract

This paper examines the professional socialization of undergraduate sociology majors with a focus on research training. The first section of the paper argues that strong professional socialization requires a cumulative curriculum that provides students with a solid set of research skills designed to build the sociological imagination. Next, the paper presents data that explore the structuring of research training in the undergraduate major nationwide and the extent to which this training follows recommendations on study in-depth within our discipline. Finally, a case study is presented that illustrates how to integrate research training throughout a cumulative curriculum in undergraduate sociology.