Putting Sociology to Work: The Value of Experiential Learning for Developing Career Readiness

• In Event: Teaching and Learning Symposium Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 1: Experiential and Community-Engaged Pedagogy

Abstract

Sociology faces intensifying attacks on its legitimacy at the very moment when students—especially first-generation and marginalized students—most need evidence that their education can translate into meaningful careers. Drawing on the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ (NACE) eight career-readiness competencies, this project “puts sociology to work” by intentionally embedding and assessing career-ready skills across the sociology curriculum. Using survey data from students enrolled in lower- and upper-division sociology courses over four semesters (n=1394), we examined self-reported growth in the eight NACE competencies and connect these gains to specific pedagogical practices, with a focus on experiential and community-engaged learning. Our findings indicate students report meaningful improvement in all eight competencies across the curriculum, with the greatest gains in courses that integrate structured experiential components such as community-based projects and internships. These results suggest that deliberately using experiential learning around real-world problem solving not only strengthens students’ career readiness and professional confidence but also demonstrates the value of Sociology to students, administrators, and external stakeholders.

Authors

• Daniela Franziska Jauk-Ajamie, University of Akron

• Stacey Nofziger, University of Akron