Fall 2020  |  SOC 4881 Section 001: Population Studies Research Practicum (31641)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
Completely Online
Class Attributes:
Online Course
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
09/08/2020 - 12/16/2020
Tue, Thu 01:00PM - 02:15PM
Off Campus
UMN REMOTE
Enrollment Status:
Open (15 of 25 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
Students enrolled in this course will gain hands-on experience with population studies research by (1) working under the mentorship of an individual researcher or a research team at the Minnesota Population Center (MPC) and (2) attending and reflecting in writing on MPC's weekly research seminar. In addition, students in the course will meet weekly with the instructor to discuss their research experiences and to develop and present a final research poster.
Class Notes:
This course is completely online in a synchronous format. The course will meet online at the scheduled times. click this link for more detailed information: http://classinfo.umn.edu/?roberts+SOC4881+Fall2020
Class Description:
This class is a required capstone for the Population Studies minor, but is open to other students. Sociology 4881 is designed to meaningfully connect undergraduate students to an ongoing population studies research project, to see that project through from the "idea stage" to a finished product, and to explore scientific research as a potential career option. (Population studies, by the way, is an interdisciplinary field of study that uses demographic data and methods to describe, explain, and predict social phenomena.
Who Should Take This Class?:
You should take this class if you are completing the Population Studies minor (required!), interested in graduate school in the quantitative social sciences, or interested in learning how to do research. You will work in groups on a research paper that we may be able to submit for publication (previous classes did this). Thus, this class is also valuable if you are looking for a supportive group experience with research prior to more individual work on a senior paper or in graduate school. This course will be especially valuable for students who are (1) interested in learning more about the scientific research process and/or (2) considering careers in scientific research. It might be most valuable for students interested in social scientific, public health, or population studies research. Students considering attending graduate programs in those fields are especially likely to benefit from the course.Students who have not taken undergraduate courses in research methods or statistics may find Sociology 4881 more challenging, but they are still welcome to enrol.
Learning Objectives:
Sociology 4881 is designed to meaningfully connect undergraduate students to an ongoing population studies research project, to see that project through from the "idea stage" to a finished product, and to explore scientific research as a potential career option. (Population studies, by the way, is an interdisciplinary field of study that uses demographic data and methods to describe, explain, and predict social phenomena.)
Grading:
Grading will be based on a combination of individual work, an assessment of the final paper, and student and instructor evaluations of contribution to the work.
Exam Format:
No exam.
Class Format:
We will meet in-person (outside) for the first few weeks of the Fall semester to establish a good working relationship. As the semester progresses we will move our meetings online as much as possible. Because students will be working in small groups on separate papers, the scheduled class time will be a mix of whole-class discussions at which everyone will attend, and smaller consultations with individuals and groups.
Workload:
9 hours per week in accordance with CLA policies.
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/31641/1209
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
28 July 2020

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