Flow Sheet for Curricular Requests (Form A)

1. SOC375 Stephen J. Sills 4-3696

Course Number Contact Person Telephone

2. _______________ _________________________________________________________
Date Chair, Department Curriculum Committee (if applicable)

3. _______________ _________________________________________________________
Date Chair, Academic Unit (College/School Curriculum Committee)

4. ____________ ____________________________________________ Date

Chair, The Teachers Academy (if applicable)

APPROVAL BY GSC OR UCC

____________ _____________________________________________
DATE APPROVED Chair, Graduate Studies Committee (if applicable)

________________ ________________________________________________________
DATE APPROVED Chair, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

UNCG: UCC/GSC: - Revised 2007

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 Course Prefix and Number SOC 375

FORM A
NEW OR AMENDED COURSE PROPOSAL

Consult the Curriculum Guide for Instructions. Unit UCC or GSC representatives are available for consultation.

Each course proposal submitted to the UCC or GSC must include this form as a cover sheet. Submit one (1) single-
sided copy of each proposal for an undergraduate course and twelve (12) double-sided copies for a graduate course.

The following items must be included in all UNCG course proposals. Please examine the proposal and check each item
below to indicate that it is included. Each item should be numbered and in correct order.

(X) 1. Course identification:

a. Course prefix, number, title: SOC 375: International Field Research
b. X New course
______ Amended course
c. Department offering the course: Sociology
d. Contact person: Stephen J. Sills
(X) 2. Rationale for the course or course amendment (include relationship to curriculum of the program)
(X) 3. Specify grading method--letter grade or satisfactory/unsatisfactory
(X) 4. Can course be repeated for credit? Yes __ No __ If yes, indicate specifics.
(X) 5. Specify Credit (use Course Credit Structure Guide)
(X) 6. Prerequisites and/or co-requisites use specific course numbers)
(X) 7. Catalog description, not to exceed 30 words
(X) 8. Date for first offering of the course/effective date of change
(X) 9. Frequency of offering: fall, spring, and/or summer
(X) 10. Consultation with other departments (use Course Consultation Form)
(X) 11. Will this course satisfy requirements for any teacher education program? Yes __ No __
If yes, refer to the Teachers Academy.
(X) 12. NEW COURSE ONLY: Are you requesting a General Education Core or Marker designation?
Yes __ No __ If so, attach the appropriate Gen Ed form (C, D, E, or F), and the UCC Secretary will forward your
proposal to the Gen Ed Council after UCC approves it as a course. IF YOU WISH TO APPLY FOR A GEC
CORE OR MARKER DESIGNATION FOR AN ALREADY-EXISTING COURSE, DO NOT USE THIS FORM
– SEE FORM C.
(X) 13. Course Syllabus. Please use the format in the Curriculum Guide.
(X) 14. Differentiation of requirements for undergraduate and graduate students-500-level courses only.

This proposal is approved for consideration by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee

and/or the Graduate Studies Committee.

Signature: ______________________________________________________ Date: ______________

(Department Head/Dean)

Please follow the routing shown on the next page.

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 1. Course Identification:
a. Course prefix, number, title: SOC 375: International Field Research
b. X New course
_Amended course
c. Department offering the course: Sociology
d. Contact person: Stephen J. Sills

2. Rationale:

The International Field Research course will serve multiple functions both within the Sociology
Department (in the general and global social problems concentrations) as well as for other campus
programs such as the Regional Studies majors of the International and Global Studies Program. The
course will provide students with vital international field research experiences that engage them in data
collection, analysis, and reporting. Course readings and lectures will focus on contemporary issues such
as migration, economic and cultural globalization, development, the global environment, social
movements, and other Sociologically relevant global problems. In addition the course will engage
student in ethnographic and/or survey research while in the field. Students will experience primary data
collection in an international setting working with students, researchers, and/or community members of
the host country. Students will then analyze and synthesize findings with prior theoretical readings into a
final report on their field research experience. There are no other courses currently offered in the
Sociology curriculum that achieve these goals. This course will provide an important international
experiences as well as methodological training that will translate into valuable research skills. Course
planning including budgeting, international visa requirements, travel arrangements, etc. will be
coordinated with the International Programs Center. Instructors will also be encouraged to seek
designations for International Service-Learning with the Office of Leadership and Service-Learning
(OLSL).

3. Grading Method:
Letter Grade.

4. Repeat for Credit:

No

5. Specify Credit:
4:2:6

1. Prerequisites:
SOC101, 201, or 202 or permission of instructor

7. Catalog Description:
Prepares students for the requirements of a global society by developing an international perspective on
important issues and gaining experience using social science field research techniques in an international
setting.

8. Date of First Offering:

Summer 2009

9. Frequency of Offering :
Every other summer or more often upon instructor availability

10. Consultations:
Anthropology, Political Science, International and Global Studies, Geography

11. Teacher Education Program: This course will not satisfy requirements of the teacher
education program.
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12. General Education Marker:
This course will carry a GL marker designation

13. Course Syllabus:

Attached

14. Differentiation of Requirements for Undergraduate and Graduate Students - 500-level Courses Only:
N/A

15. Student Contract/Agency Agreement:

N/A

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 Form B
COURSE CONSULTATION FORM
May also be used for consultation regarding a new degree, major, minor, concentration or certificate*

To: Dr. Arthur D. Murphy, Department Head, Anthropology Date: Thursday, December 06, 2007

From: Dr. Julie Brown, Department Head, Sociology

Course Identification (3 letters + 3 digits): SOC375 Credit:4:2:6

Course Title: International Field Research

New (X) or Amended ( ) Course Proposal

This form serves the purposes of providing information as courtesy and avoiding course duplication. Please take this
opportunity to review the enclosed course description and outline and to comment upon it in view of your department’s course
offerings. Failure to respond within 14 days of the above date will be interpreted as your unit’s support of the proposal.

Have no reservations concerning this course:

Have the following reservations/suggestions concerning this course:

Person completing this form:

Name, Title, Department (please print or type):
____________________________________________________________________________

Signed: ___________________________________________Date: ____________________

The originating department is required to provide the UCC and/or GSC evidence that it has consulted with other interested
units concerning the aims and content of the proposed new course. Please attach this cover sheet to a copy of the descriptive
material prepared for the UCC/GSC when it is forwarded to the selected units. A copy of the completed cover sheet will be
attached to the material to be forwarded to the UCC/GSC; use the original cover sheet if no response is received.

Response from originating department:

Approved by UCC 4/91

Amended 2006

*If form used for consultation of a curriculum, insert name of curriculum where course is requested.

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 Form B
COURSE CONSULTATION FORM
May also be used for consultation regarding a new degree, major, minor, concentration or certificate*

To: Dr. Ruth H. DeHoog, Department Head, Political Science Date: Thursday, December 06, 2007

From: Dr. Julie Brown, Department Head, Sociology

Course Identification (3 letters + 3 digits): SOC375 Credit:4:2:6

Course Title: International Field Research

New (X) or Amended ( ) Course Proposal

This form serves the purposes of providing information as courtesy and avoiding course duplication. Please take this
opportunity to review the enclosed course description and outline and to comment upon it in view of your department’s course
offerings. Failure to respond within 14 days of the above date will be interpreted as your unit’s support of the proposal.

Have no reservations concerning this course:

Have the following reservations/suggestions concerning this course:

Person completing this form:

Name, Title, Department (please print or type):
____________________________________________________________________________

Signed: ___________________________________________Date: ____________________

The originating department is required to provide the UCC and/or GSC evidence that it has consulted with other interested
units concerning the aims and content of the proposed new course. Please attach this cover sheet to a copy of the descriptive
material prepared for the UCC/GSC when it is forwarded to the selected units. A copy of the completed cover sheet will be
attached to the material to be forwarded to the UCC/GSC; use the original cover sheet if no response is received.

Response from originating department:

Approved by UCC 4/91

Amended 2006

*If form used for consultation of a curriculum, insert name of curriculum where course is requested.

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 Form B
COURSE CONSULTATION FORM
May also be used for consultation regarding a new degree, major, minor, concentration or certificate*

To: Dr. Roberto Campo, Department Head, International and Global Studies Date: Thursday, December 06, 2007

From: Dr. Julie Brown, Department Head, Sociology

Course Identification (3 letters + 3 digits): SOC375 Credit:4:2:6

Course Title: International Field Research

New (X) or Amended ( ) Course Proposal

This form serves the purposes of providing information as courtesy and avoiding course duplication. Please take this
opportunity to review the enclosed course description and outline and to comment upon it in view of your department’s course
offerings. Failure to respond within 14 days of the above date will be interpreted as your unit’s support of the proposal.

Have no reservations concerning this course:

Have the following reservations/suggestions concerning this course:

Person completing this form:

Name, Title, Department (please print or type):
____________________________________________________________________________

Signed: ___________________________________________Date: ____________________

The originating department is required to provide the UCC and/or GSC evidence that it has consulted with other interested
units concerning the aims and content of the proposed new course. Please attach this cover sheet to a copy of the descriptive
material prepared for the UCC/GSC when it is forwarded to the selected units. A copy of the completed cover sheet will be
attached to the material to be forwarded to the UCC/GSC; use the original cover sheet if no response is received.

Response from originating department:

Approved by UCC 4/91

Amended 2006

*If form used for consultation of a curriculum, insert name of curriculum where course is requested.

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 Form B
COURSE CONSULTATION FORM
May also be used for consultation regarding a new degree, major, minor, concentration or certificate*

To: Dr. Jeffrey Patton, Department Head, Geography Date: Thursday, December 06, 2007

From: Dr. Julie Brown, Department Head, Sociology

Course Identification (3 letters + 3 digits): SOC375 Credit:4:2:6

Course Title: International Field Research

New (X) or Amended ( ) Course Proposal

This form serves the purposes of providing information as courtesy and avoiding course duplication. Please take this
opportunity to review the enclosed course description and outline and to comment upon it in view of your department’s course
offerings. Failure to respond within 14 days of the above date will be interpreted as your unit’s support of the proposal.

Have no reservations concerning this course:

Have the following reservations/suggestions concerning this course:

Person completing this form:

Name, Title, Department (please print or type):
____________________________________________________________________________

Signed: ___________________________________________Date: ____________________

The originating department is required to provide the UCC and/or GSC evidence that it has consulted with other interested
units concerning the aims and content of the proposed new course. Please attach this cover sheet to a copy of the descriptive
material prepared for the UCC/GSC when it is forwarded to the selected units. A copy of the completed cover sheet will be
attached to the material to be forwarded to the UCC/GSC; use the original cover sheet if no response is received.

Response from originating department:

Approved by UCC 4/91

Amended 2006

*If form used for consultation of a curriculum, insert name of curriculum where course is requested.

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 GLOBAL (GL) AND GLOBAL NONWESTERN (GN) MARKER REQUEST

Use this form to request a GL or GN Marker

NOTE: A course can cary only one GEC core designation. [(It can carry unlimited additional markers (GL, GN, WI,
SI)].

Is this an already-existing course? If so, send one copy of this form and the attachments required to:
General Education Council, c/o Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, 201 Mossman.
Is this a new course not yet approved by UCC? Send the new/amended course form (Form A, and this form together, to
UCC, c/o Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, 201 Mossman. The UCC Secretary will
forward the proposal to the Gen Ed Council after approval as a course by UCC.

I. Department
Course Number and Title SOC375: International Field Research
Department/Program Sociology
Submitted by Stephen J. Sills Date December 6, 2007
Department Head/Chair ___________________________________ Date_____________________

Marker Requested (GL or GN) GN

Name(s) of instructor(s) who regularly teach the course:

Stephen J. Sills, William T. Markham, Julie. V. Brown

Please attach:
1) a copy of a recent course syllabus, including textbook and other readings; Please note that syllabi must be
updated to meet current syllabi format.

Attached

2) an explanation (limit 250 words) of how the course satisfies the new guidelines for credit in the GEC category.

In addition to providing students with an opportunity for experiencing first-hand a foreign culture, this
course proposes to engage students in leaning about issues of international concern. The course emphasizes
global discovery through direct interaction with individuals in other countries. The students, after theoretical
and methodological training, will engage a sociological project that will employ their research skills in
interviewing, observing, and/or surveying members of a non-US society in Eurasia, the Caribbean, Central
and Latin America, East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or the Pacific
Islands. The course will reinforce academic readings with direct participation in an international setting.
Student will write a field research report based on the analysis and interpretation of data collected while in
the foreign setting.

APPROVED ____________ DENIED ____________ DATE ___________

________________________________________________ (Chair, Gen Ed Council)

If denied, please explain denial on reverse.

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 Syllabus: INTERNATIONAL FIELD RESEARCH

COURSE NUMBER: SOC375

COURSE TITLE: International Field Research

CREDITS: 4:2:6

PREREQUISITES/COREQUISITES: SOC101, 201, or 202 or permission of instructor

FOR WHOM PLANNED: This course is planned for undergraduate students in the general Sociology
curriculum, those in the global social problems concentration of Sociology, as well as
students in regional studies majors of the International and Global Studies Program.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:
Stephen J. Sills
Office Hours: MWF 9-12
320 Graham
tel: 4-3696
sjsills@uncg.edu

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Prepares students for the requirements of a global society by developing an
international perspective on important issues and gaining experience using social
science field research techniques in an international setting.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

On completion of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Understand relevant Sociological theories, methods, and ethical considerations of field research
2. Employ social science field research methods (observations, interviews, and surveys) to collect data
while in the international field setting.
3. Analyze (by means of qualitative or quantitative techniques) data collected in the international field
setting.
4. Apply relevant Sociological theories to the interpretation of the data.
5. Synthesize field experience findings and analysis into a written field report which summarizes
relevant theories, reports on empirical findings, discusses implication of these finding and reaches
conclusions based on the international field experience.

TEACHING METHODS AND ASSIGNMENTS FOR ACHIEVING LEARNING OUTCOMES:

This course will include formal information sessions to introduce the students to the destination
country, its culture, social and political structure, rudimentary language skills, and UNCG expectations
of students while abroad. In the two weeks prior to departure, students will attend lecture/discussion
periods which will introduce the research topic and its history, relevant Sociological theories, and the
field data collection methods that will be employed. Student will read from relevant academic
literature on the research topic(s), theories, and methods.
During the three to four week period in the international setting, student will meet regularly in a
seminar format to discuss their field experiences. The majority of their time in the field will be spent in
data collection activities. They will be expected to keep accurate records of their data collection
including, but not limited to: interview notes and recordings, field notes, research journals, and other
records of their field experiences. Upon return to the United States, students will spend an additional
two to three weeks analyzing data collected and generating a report on their field experiences.

EVALUATION AND GRADING:

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 10% Pre-departure paper: Students will write a short essay (1000 word) on their exceptions of the field
experience. This paper will be used to help the novice field researcher to understand their pre-
conception and possible misconception of the forthcoming international experience.
15% Exam: Prior to departure students will be tested on their knowledge of the research topic, the historical
background of the topic, the applicable Sociological theories covered during the lecture and readings
for the course.
35% Field Data Collection: Students will be graded based on their participation in data collection, accuracy
of record keeping, and completeness of field journal, field notes, interview transcripts/notes, or other
field data collection methods.
40% Field Experience Report: A field report which synthesizes theory, method, analysis, and findings is
required.

REQUIRED TEXTS/READINGS/REFERENCES:

1. Silverman, David and Amir Marvasti. 2008. Doing Qualitative Research: A Comprehensive Guide. Sage
Publications.
2. Silverman, David. 2006. Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analyzing Talk, Text and Interaction. Sage
Publications.
3. Strauss, Anselm and Juliet Corbin. 2007. Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for
Developing Grounded Theory. Sage Publications.
4. Required readings on destination country and research topic to be determined by instructor.

OPTIONAL TEXTS/READINGS/REFERENCES:
1. Warren, Carol and Tracy Karner. 2005. Discovering Qualitative Methods: Field Research, Interviews, and
Analysis. Roxbury.
2. Schensul, Jean and Margaret Diane LeCompte. 1999. The Ethnographer's Toolkit. Rowman Altamira.

TOPICAL OUTLINE/CALENDAR:
Module 1: Introduction to the research questions: history of the research topic, the country of study, and
the applicable Sociological theories.
Module 2: Overview of the research methods: training in ethics of field research, familiarization with the
epistemological background of social research and the basics of social research methods.
Module 3: Field techniques and data collection: targeted training in the data collection strategies to be
employed in the field experience.
Module 4: Data analysis: Basic principals of survey data or ethnographic analysis.
Module 5: Report Writing: Overview of the composition of a sociological research report.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY:

Each student is required to sign the Academic Integrity Policy on all major work submitted for the course.
Refer to UNCG Undergraduate Bulletin/Graduate Bulletin.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Excessive absences (more than 3 for whatever reason) prior to the field experience may result in being dropped
from the course and the overseas travel (discretion of the instructor). Absences while during the international
field research experience (other than for documented medical emergency) can result in a lowering of the final
grade.

FINAL EXAMINATION:
No final examination is required.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
None

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