Sociology students ask the critical questions

Two tracks in sociology allow students to immerse themselves in the community and conduct in-depth research on social problems.

Robert Harvey ’10 (Mount Laurel, NJ) says his favorite part of studying sociology is the opportunity to critically explore complex societal concerns such as poverty, education, race/ethnicity, sexuality, religion, or social class.

He is in the process of beginning a project that investigates the role of Christian churches in the self-development of gay and lesbian individuals. As part of his research he will be conducting 12 to 15 in-depth interviews with gay and lesbian individuals to determine their views about their experiences with Christian churches. To analyze his findings, he will be using MAXQDA, a state-of-the-art software program for text analysis.

“Sociology, as a field of scholarship, prepares one to examine human behavior, understand social organizations, and appreciate culture in our increasingly complex and rapidly changing social environment,” he says.

Harvey, Bryant’s Student Senate president, is one of nearly 90 students at Bryant who are majoring or minoring in Bryant’s two sociology tracks. The content area pursued by Harvey, sociology and social research, focuses on designing questions and analyzing data. The service learning track immerses students in the community to apply the concepts they learned in the classroom. At the core of each area is the study of society, a passion to make change, and the ability to ask critical questions.

After Harvey’s graduation, which will take place a year earlier than originally anticipated, he plans to pursue advanced studies in the sociology of religion and theology. “I will have the ability to analytically, yet compassionately, take theory and apply it to the human condition.”

Solving problems

After exercising their sociological imagination to understand the broader reasons of what is going on in the world, Bryant’s service learning students have the opportunity to take what they learn into the community.

A perfect illustration of this was a project conducted by Micaela Maynard ’08, who was part of the first class of sociology graduates last year. Maynard and her partner uncovered a lack of information for families of prison inmates. After realizing that maintaining these relationships while incarcerated is key to preventing recidivism, the pair set out to create a visitor’s guide in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. The agency adopted the guide and even translated it into Spanish.

In another service learning class Lily Himmelsbach ’09 and Chris Martineau ’09 volunteered at an afterschool program after they learned the importance of these programs in the development of youngsters.

As part of a service learning trip to the Dominican Republic, Hector Paulino '11 (Central Falls, RI) teaches youngsters English.

During Spring Break, a group of students traveled to the Dominican Republic after researching the challenges of growing up in a developing country in Associate Professor of Sociology Sandra Enos’ Globalization and Childhood class. It was Bryant’s first international service learning trip.

“I have never been on a campus where the culture of service is so strong,” says Enos, citing other student-organized, on-campus projects like Relay for Life, Northern Rhode Island Special Olympics, and a volunteer trip to Peru. “It’s amazing.”

Judy McDonnell, professor of sociology, explains that students examine issues then go out into the community and work directly with the agencies to solve problems.

“They contribute to the goals and missions of community organizations, give back to the community, and learn about how the world works from a real-life perspective,” says McDonnell.

Learning to be a change agent

Anthony Bailey ’09 says his most memorable project through his sociology and social research major was one that explored the perceptions about legalization of marijuana. He designed the questions, administered the survey and analyzed the results. The applied mathematics and statistics minor took these skills with him to Heads Up, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization, where he is serving as a VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) through the AmeriCorps program.

“In sociology, I most enjoy the allowance of creativity,” he says. “As long as you have sufficient data, your conclusions become a solution.”

As part of a class called “Sociology and Sport,” which explores the relationships between sport, society, and culture, Kim Franklin ’09 started an afterschool sports program for her service learning project. She secured a grant and a location; bought equipment; and interacted with the elementary school students.

Through Bryant's two tracks in Sociology, students have the opportunity to take their classroom knowledge into the community to make a difference.

“If you have an idea and you are passionate about it, you can make it a reality,” she says.

McDonnell, Franklin’s professor, reported that the ‘aha’ moment occurred when Franklin and her classmates started exploring gender inequalities in sports participation. The students uncovered that the gender differences are even more pronounced than the research says. Taking this into account, Franklin made extra efforts to ensure the girls had the same opportunities as the boys.

“After doing the research on this issue, the students knew what to look for,” explains McDonnell. “That is the perfect service learning moment.”

Transforming the world

Enos and McDonnell say the best learning takes place when students bring an ability to suspend judgment, a willingness to step out of their comfort zone, and a confidence that they can create solutions.

“Students have amazing ideas about how the world works,” says McDonnell. “Our goal is to offer them the space to pursue their ideas.”

“Students who are truly interested in their field will find that Bryant offers them a unique combination of sociology with business knowledge and skills,” adds Enos. “It’s a combination that can help change the world in new and innovative ways.”

To help bring everything together, all sociology students conduct capstone projects as seniors in which they bring their expertise in data and community engagement. Bryant’s program is also unique in that all sociology students earn a minor in business.

Even if students do not pursue employment in human services or in the nonprofit sector, they develop a better understanding of issues affecting the community that they can use in any position or as volunteers or board members in the future, says Enos.

“They may not pursue it as a career,” she says. “But they certainly chose it as a lens that illuminates the kind of citizen they want to be in the community.”