Introduction to sociology for majors and minors: foundation, recruitment, and relevance

Jay R. Howard

Chapter 8 in Teaching Introduction to Sociology, 2026, pp 86-96 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines the multifaceted role of the Introduction to Sociology course within higher education, emphasizing its dual purpose: preparing majors and minors for advanced coursework and engaging non-majors through relevance to everyday life. Despite near-universal adoption, the course faces persistent challenges, including competing goals, lack of consensus on core content, and difficulties in recruiting majors amid trends like dual-credit enrollment. Historical and contemporary debates reveal tensions between broad disciplinary surveys and focused learning objectives. Models such as the “Ferris wheel” and “stem and branches” illustrate contrasting curricular approaches, while the Sociological Literacy Framework (SLF) offers a promising structure for foundational learning. The chapter advocates integrating active learning strategies and explicitly linking sociological skills to career outcomes to enhance student engagement. Ultimately, it calls for intentional design to balance disciplinary rigor with accessibility, ensuring the course serves as both a gateway for majors and a meaningful experience for non-majors.

Keywords: Curriculum Models for Introduction to Sociology; Recruitment to the Sociology Major; Core Content Debate in Sociology; Introduction to Sociology's Role in the Curriculum; Sociology Majors; Sociology Minors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035355778
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