Position:  Sociology Sessional Instructor
Office:     301B Isbister Building
Phone:    (204) 474-9186
Email:      millers@cc.umanitoba.ca

Education

1991-1993  PhD Programme   University of Calgary
                   (Completed course work and Stats/Methods comprehensive exam)

1991           Master of Arts
                   Sociology    University of Calgary

1987           Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
                   Religious Studies    University of Calgary

Courses Taught at UM

I generally teach Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1200) as well as, periodically, Selected Social Problems (SOC 2310).

Teaching Introduction to Sociology (SOC1200)

While I am interested in several different areas within sociology, such as the Sociology of Religion (possibly because my Bachelor’s degree is in Religious Studies) and Race and Ethnic Relations, I get most excited about teaching the Introductory course.  Teaching Introduction to Sociology gives me the chance to talk about a host of topics, from world religions to sexual orientation to ethnic relations to deviance to socialization to the environment and beyond.

I believe that, as an instructor of a first year university course, a big part of my job is to prepare students to succeed in years 2, 3, and 4.  As such, I aim to help students think critically about the world around them and help them see sides of specific topics that they may not have previously considered.

Further, I feel it is essential that students learn to improve their writing skills. Success at university, and in life and work after university, depends more than you might think on the ability to communicate effectively with others. It does not matter how creative and brilliant your ideas are if others cannot comprehend what you are saying.  Sometimes it is something as simple as an email sent internally to colleagues at work or something as important as a business proposal in order to gain new clients.  In these cases, and others, written communication (which includes spelling, grammar and punctuation) is essential to communicate your ideas to others.  To this end, students in Intro Sociology will be required to write a paper of some sort (it changes from year to year) and are expected to do some writing on tests.  Practice is the only way to improve your written communication skills!