Help Me See the “Magnificent” Side of Sociology: The Outcomes of a Community Action and Involvement Course Designed to Help Undergraduates View Themselves as Agentic

Abstract

The learning outcome, “Students will learn to engage with and impact society,” is common in curricular frameworks addressing undergraduate sociology education; however, it does not receive adequate coverage compared to other competencies. The lack of attention to this outcome coupled with the tendency to focus heavily on social problems may cause some students to leave sociology classes with increased cynicism and helplessness. This research therefore assesses an upper-level elective sociology course designed to challenge this proclivity by guiding students toward the recognition of their agency. Precourse and postcourse surveys (N = 47) are analyzed to uncover student attitudes regarding agency and social change. Results indicate the course prompted an increase in the students’ optimism and confidence in their ability to impact society. This type of course, both as an entity and in its transferable components, can provide support for students who want to learn how to engage with their world.