Applied Sociology

Guidelines for Preceptors and Students Enrolled in SOCIOLOGY 397 (Applied Sociology)

Applied Sociology (Sociology 397) is a course designed to expose the student to the "real world" and to provide experience in a career-oriented setting. As an upper-division course, Applied Sociology also enables the student to sample a particular field for future career possibilities and demonstrate his/her capability within the workforce. While the field experience allows for career exploration, it is a learning experience, not an employment experience. In this regard, the field experience is coupled with seminar sessions (typically twice a month), where all students participating in the class meet together with faculty discuss their field experiences and apply sociological concepts and understandings to their learning.

These guidelines have been developed by the Sociology Department to provide structure to Applied Sociology for all involved. However, the guidelines are flexible and may be tailored to the needs of a student and agency. It is expected that students taking this course have previous experiences, but the kind and amount varies individually. Similarly, the types of learning experiences available at a particular site will vary depending on the student's background and skills, the preceptor's interests and expertise, and the agency milieu. Specific modifications or goals for Applied Sociology will be developed jointly by student, faculty member, and preceptor once the field experience site has been procured.

Typically, the field experience has been an unpaid experience. If the student has an off-campus job, the field experience may not be conducted at that site, so that no conflict of interest is introduced into the setting.

The faculty member will serve as coordinator, supporter, and evaluator. In that regard, he/she will discuss sites with the student, focus on the student's interests in settings, and develop a list of three sites where potential preceptors are amenable to having a student. During the field experience, the faculty will maintain regular contact with the student and preceptor to assure that the experience is being mutually advantageous to both parties and to afford time for counsel and critique. Additionally, the faculty member will be responsible for evaluating the student's performance within Applied Sociology and for completing the linkages to the College for grading purposes.

The preceptor will serve as on-site supervisor during the field experience. In that role, he or she will be responsible for providing the student with learning opportunities, consultation, and direction for future learning and career development. Ultimately, the field experience should be mutually beneficial to student and agency alike, so some specifically defined tasks should be completed by the student for the agency.

Students will be expected to take initiative in identifying immediate learning needs and learning opportunities, ask questions, make analytical assessments of his/her experience, provide feedback to the preceptor and faculty member about the field experience, and invest in projects as assigned that will advance the goals of the agency. Additional expectations of student behavior follow in greater detail.

1. To participate in day-to-day activities in order to identify sociological concepts, theory, and research in action, and to learn processes and procedures used in the agency.
2. To analytically examine roles, organizational structure, decision-making strategies, communication styles, inter-agency interactions, group dynamics, and constructions of reality as it relates to the life of the agency.
3. To ask questions and seek out new learning opportunities.
4. To read materials deemed appropriate and necessary by the preceptor and faculty member.
5. To attend weekly seminars(unless other arrangements are made) with the faculty member to discuss the field experience.
6. To keep a daily journal. A "diary" is a cluster of descriptive entries about what was done that day with whom. A "journal" includes this material, but takes it several steps further. The journal should also include student reactions (or "what did you learn?") to experiences in the field. Application of sociological understanding should be apparent in the journal. In this regard, the student should wear an 'analytical hat' as he/she observes the dynamics of the setting and the groups that interact there and attempt to see links between what is observed and what has been taught in the classroom. Two-week portions of the journal should be submitted at the seminars.
7. To practice effective communication and interpersonal skills.
8. To leave the agency with a better impression of Augustana students than they had prior to the field experience.
9. To maintain a proper professional demeanor. This includes:
• appropriate attire and grooming
• good work ethics (on time, reliable, honest, open to suggestion, etc.)
• confidentiality (maintain privacy and confidences, and do not use actual names in written or oral reports)
10. With the recommendation and approval of the preceptor, develop and complete some project that will enrich the agency.

Arrangements for the field experience are made jointly by the department faculty member, the student, and an agency preceptor at least four weeks in advance of the starting date. After consultation with a student interested in Applied Sociology, the faculty member will compile a list of three or more professionals representing agencies in the student's areas of interest. Students will prepare a plan and resume' that they will discuss with the faculty member. Students will then schedule half-hour interviews with prospective preceptors. The decision to accept or reject an student is made by the preceptor, not the Sociology faculty. If the professional declines to accept an student, the student will be unable to enroll in Applied Sociology.

The 3 credit hour course requires about 5 hours/week in the field plus a weekly seminar (one hour). Reading will be assigned, as well as projects for the seminar and field experience Field experience hours should be scheduled with the preceptor so that designated times are mutually satisfactory to both parties. Thereafter, the student is expected to be professional in keeping that schedule, being on time, and notifying the preceptor in the event he/she cannot attend at the designated hour.

Applied Sociology will be graded according to the rubrics assigned in the syllabus. Typically, the student will receive a Satisfactory grade under the following circumstances:

1. Expectations for the field experience are met. Within these expectations are several graded experiences, among them:
1. journal
2. weekly seminars
2. Goals tailored to the student (and approved by faculty member and preceptor) are achieved. A dimension of these goals should be some special project (agreed upon by the preceptor, student, and faculty member) which may include aspects such as project design, data gathering, summarization, analysis, report preparation and/or presentation.
3. The preceptor provides a satisfactory evaluation of the student.
4. The student writes a thank you note to the preceptor and agency and gives it to the faculty member for mailing (no later than two weeks after the conclusion of the field experience).

1. Name
2. ID Number
3. Class
4. Date
5. Local telephone number
6. Campus box
7. Field experience Length: From (date) to (date)
8. List the Sociology courses (by name, not number) that you have taken. Include other electives you feel are especially relevant to your enrollment in Applied Sociology.
9. What do you hope to learn from the field experience?
10. What agencies, if any, are you considering as prospective sites?
11. What sorts of projects or independent activities might be of interest to you as you participate in the life of an agency? Examples might include conducting research, planning and orchestrating events, developing manuals or guidebooks, producing a presentation, or creating a new strategy for some part of the agency's program.

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