The Senior Seminar at Rider College

Recent discussions about the goals and values of a liberal arts education in general, and of the sociology major in particular, have highlighted the importance of a capstone course. Many departments now are interested in restructuring the sociology curriculum to include such a course. Attractive as the idea of a capstone may be, however, concerns may exist about how the course works in practice. Should a capstone course cap the undergraduate experience, or should it function as a bridge to the world beyond college? Should it be an elective or a course required of all majors? What are the implications of a capstone for course sequencing and overall curriculum structure? How might such a course be taught so as to provide an effective conclusion to the undergraduate sociology experience? For several years the Department of Sociology at Rider College has included a capstone course in the major in the form of a required Senior Seminar in Sociology. (Copies of the syllabus and related course materials are available on request.) This course, and indeed the curriculum of which it is a part, anticipate to a remarkable degree the recent proposals for revision of the undergraduate sociology major. Therefore, a review of Rider's experience with the capstone course may provide insights for other departments considering a revision and restructuring of their sociology programs. Before I report on the curricula and the pedagogical issues raised by the senior seminar, however, let me discuss briefly the general conceptions of the capstone course and its role in undergraduate sociology.