Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a section of Sociology 389 that works for me?

Think about what topics interest you most, or what would you like to learn more about. What kind of community interactions would you like to have? Sociology 389 has over 30 community service locations with each section of the course having a unique site option.

Through Wolverine Access, you can find a program area that interests you (Education, Public Health, Gender and Sexuality, Criminal Justice, or Organizing for Social Justice), as well as the specific sections Project Community offers at the various service sites (for example, Jail Creative Writing). For more information, a detailed description of each section can be found in the LSA Course Guide. The description will include the community service scheduling requirements, as well as any training times required by the site. You will need to be available for these times, as well as for the weekly 90-minute seminar (which is the class time indicated on Wolverine Access), so it is important that you look at the LSA Course Guide before you register for a section. If permission is needed to register for the section, the description will also tell you how to start that process.

What if I want to take more than one section of Sociology 389?

It is possible, if the seminar and site times do not conflict. For example, a student could enroll in one of the M 4-5:30 seminars AND one of the Tu 4-5:30 seminars IF the requirements for BOTH seminars could be fulfilled (i.e., the site times do not conflict). However, the same student CANNOT enroll in sections 100 and 101, for example, because both seminars meet M 4-5:30. Also, please note that LSA allows a maximum of 8 credit hours in Soc 389 (top)

What if I have taken Sociology 389 before?

Students may elect Soc 389 for up to 8 credits. Students who have taken Project Community before are encouraged to interview for a peer facilitator position. (top)

How do I travel to the community service location? Do I need a car?

Students are advised to use our Project Community transportation system for any fieldwork beyond walking distance from campus. We discourage students from driving their own vehicles on/to their site visits. Our primary reason for discouraging personal vehicle use is for liability reasons. However, we also discourage this because our budget only allows reimbursement for gas in University vehicles. If a student does not drive, she or he is encouraged to select either a section that is within walking distance, or a section where the seminar visits the site as a group. Click here for more information on the transportation system. (top)

What if I want to take a particular section for fewer credits?

In general, the number of credits for a particular section is set and cannot be modified. (top)

What are the course requirements? Is there anything more to the class than my community service?

Students enrolled in Sociology 389 are responsible for regular attendance in a weekly seminar as well as participation at a designated community service site for approximately 4 hours each week. In addition, students will complete weekly readings & reflective journal assignments, a mid-term assignment, and a final paper/project. The Sociology 389 curriculum was developed by the Project Community faculty, staff, and graduate student instructors, these requirements enable the student to extract the educational experience from the community service and utilize it to enrich the academic learning. Students read and discuss academic theory, test and apply theory and experience, formulate personal knowledge, and critically examine prior assumptions, values, and ideology. The sociological perspective facilitates students' capacity to "look upstream" at structural forces to understand individual biographies. The educational perspective facilitates students' capacity to critically analyze their classroom placement experience. (top)