The Laden Cart: The Senior Capstone Course

Abstract

Independently as departments and collectively as an association of professionals and teachers, sociologists are beginning to address seriously the need to restructure the sociology major. The development of a senior capstone course, which helps students to synthesize and integrate their sociological experience, is a fundamental aspect of the curricular restructuring. This paper provides an account of one department's attempt to restructure the curriculum and achieve desired student outcomes. Developing a capstone course and assessing students' progress toward established objectives provided the impetus for significant restructuring. The capstone course, with its possibilities for use in evaluation, is no panacea for curricular weaknesses, but it provides excellent opportunities for actions that will improve both the major and the graduates.