The Sociology Department at a Glance!: Research Opportunities

What is Research?

Research is the process of creating new knowledge. Used by all disciplines, research can take on many different forms, from scientific theory testing to artistic endeavors. Depending on the field of interest, research may involve searching for information in libraries and archives, surveying and interviewing subjects, conducting fieldwork, creating models, performing computations, or composing creative works. Undergraduate research uses these same disciplinary traditions to produce results worthy of communication to others. The colleges and disciplines at the University of Maryland support all forms of research through many formal and informal research programs, from interdisciplinary projects to honors theses.

Undergraduate students at the University of Maryland are encouraged to experience the excitement of contributing new knowledge or creative works to the world by conducting research. By researching, undergraduates can make a difference to society

Why Do Research?

Research is an exciting way to deepen your understanding of an academic field outside of the classroom. Research will not only expose you to a discipline’s current practices and trends, but also provide you with an opportunity for personal and professional growth. While learning more about the world and contributing to our knowledge of it, you may figure out what you want to do in it and gain valuable skills that will help you to accomplish your goals.

When you participate in undergraduate research, you will learn to:

Think critically
Integrate approaches to learning
Analyze and solve problems
Understand multiple approaches to problem solving
Examine problems and formulate research questions
Develop research problems on your own
Apply problem solving skills to different areas
Demonstrate research skills
Communicate the results of your research
Take responsibility for your own learning

Moreover, your research will allow you to:

Discover what academic research involves
Explore potential career paths
Gain experience and skills you can talk about in graduate school applications, cover letters, and job interviews
Develop a relationship with a faculty advisor who may serve as a reference

http://www.ugresearch.umd.edu/researchoncampus.php

The Sociology Department at a Glance!

The Department of Sociology at the University of Maryland College Park is pleased to offer training in a rich sociological tradition grounded in theory and methodology for our Bachelors of Arts degree program. The undergraduate major requirements support our student learning outcomes:

1. Explain the sociological perspective, broadly defined, use sociological theory to explain social problems and issues, make theoretically informed recommendations to address current social problems, and demonstrate the utility of the sociological perspective for their lives.

2. Demonstrate the ability to interpret, locate, evaluate, generate and use sociologically relevant data to test hypotheses and draw evidence-based conclusions.

3. Integrate sociological theory, research, and data in order to assess various explanations of social phenomena and to assess social policy.

This program versatility and the rich experiential learning possibilities of the Washington metropolitan area combine to make the sociology curriculum valuable preparation for a career choice.

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