Florida Public Universities Remove Sociology in Core Curriculum, Replace it with US History Course

Students attending 12 Florida public universities will see changes in their general education core curriculum as the state university system's board of governors announces the substitution of sociology with American history, HuffPost reports.

This decision aligns with a recent move by the Florida Board of Education, which prohibited the use of public funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in state colleges.

The Principles of Sociology course, formerly fulfilling the core curriculum's social sciences requirement, will now be replaced by the Introductory Survey to 1877.

This new option aims to provide a historically accurate account of America's founding, the challenges of slavery, the subsequent Civil War, and the Reconstruction era, according to the Board of governors.

Chancellor Ray Rodrigues expressed pride in the decision, anticipating a positive impact on students' education.

He stated that Florida's State University System students will now have the opportunity to learn about the nation's creation and development through the core course options.

Challenges to Sociology and Responses

Efforts to defend sociology in Florida have been ongoing since November, with some within the discipline contributing to the critique, according to Common Dreams.

Sociology professor Jukka Savolainen from Wayne State University characterized the field's shift from scientific study to left-wing advocacy.

Sociology professor Heather Gautney from Fordham University expressed concern about the ease with which suppression is occurring, noting the crucial role sociology plays in offering systematic analysis, understanding, and policy solutions.

"It's not surprising that people in power would actively suppress efforts to question their power and expose the dynamics underlying it," Gautney said.

The move has prompted concerns about declining enrollments, potential major recruitments, and the vulnerability of sociology departments to elimination and faculty layoffs.

Anne Barrett, a sociology professor at Florida State University, warned that these policies could have devastating effects on sociology in Florida, anticipating a decline in enrollments and diminished opportunities for recruiting majors.

She highlighted the broader societal impact, emphasizing that sociology equips students with the skills to assess claims about the social world, critique power distribution, and be engaged citizens.

United Faculty of Florida's Condemnation

Teresa M. Hodge, president of the United Faculty of Florida, a union representing educators in the system, voiced disappointment in the decision, emphasizing that both boards prioritize political games over students' robust education.

The United Faculty of Florida, representing over 25,000 faculty members, condemned the decision to remove 'Principles of Sociology' as a general education core course option, per WQCS.

They expressed disappointment, noting that Florida is now the only state in the nation no longer including sociology in its general education curriculum.

Meanwhile, Florida's Education Commissioner, Manny Diaz, supported the removal, citing sociology's theoretical nature and departure from scientific roots.

"When you look at the concepts that are discussed in sociology, they're very theoretical. While that field was very scientific, at one point, it has moved away from that."

The decision raises concerns about the diversity and critical thinking opportunities available to students in Florida public universities.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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