The Core: The Sociological Literacy Framework

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of a curricular core called the Sociological Literacy Framework (SLF), a valuable resource for thinking about and improving sociology courses and curricular design, faculty teaching, and student learning. We begin by briefly reviewing the debate about having a core in sociology and then summarize the Measuring College Learning Project, which resulted in the development of the Sociological Literacy Framework. We then frame how and why the ASA Task Force on Undergraduate Education adopted the Sociological Literacy Framework in their national guidelines for the undergraduate sociology major. Next, we examine how the Sociological Literacy Framework is being currently utilized by sociology departments to redesign their curriculum and by scholars in an NSF research grant on curriculum mapping. Because curricular revision and assessment require collective teamwork of faculty within a sociology program or department, and the SLF provides guidelines to enable these department discussions, we conclude with some best practices for sociology programs to consider as they work to improve their curricula.