Teaching
Sample syllabi and assignments are available upon request via email .
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching focuses on helping students actively engage with sociological ideas and apply them to real-world questions about inequality, work, and social change. I design courses that balance clear structure with intellectual challenge, encouraging students to participate, collaborate, and defend their reasoning using evidence. Across course levels and formats, I emphasize consistent engagement, transparent expectations, and applied learning activities that connect sociological concepts to students’ everyday experiences. My goal is to help students build confidence in their analytical abilities while developing skills that extend beyond the classroom.
Courses Taught
| Course | Modality | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Sociology | Online; In-person | Fall 2024; Spring 2025 |
| Social Research Methods | In-person | Fall 2023; Spring 2024; Spring 2025 |
| Statistics for Sociologists | Online; Hybrid (co-taught) | Spring 2022; Summer 2023; Summer 2025 |
| Sociology of Work | Online | Fall 2025; Spring 2026 |
| Introduction to Statistics in Criminal Justice | In-person | Fall 2025; Spring 2026 |
Pedagogical Strengths
Active participation and collaborative learning
I design courses around structured group activities that require students to discuss concepts, articulate their reasoning, and work toward shared conclusions. These collaborative exercises encourage active participation and help students learn from one another, particularly in courses that involve complex or unfamiliar material.
Engaging and inclusive classroom environments
I foster classrooms where students feel comfortable contributing ideas, asking questions, and taking intellectual risks. Course discussions emphasize respectful dialogue and evidence-based reasoning, creating an environment in which diverse perspectives are valued.
Applied learning and real-world engagement
Assignments are designed to connect sociological theories and methods to students’ lived experiences, helping students see how abstract concepts operate in everyday social contexts.
Structured support for challenging material
In research methods and statistics courses, I break complex concepts into manageable components, reinforce learning through frequent low-stakes assignments, and align lectures, homework, and assessments closely.
Consistency across teaching modalities
Whether teaching in-person or online, I use clear organization, predictable pacing, and transparent expectations to support sustained student engagement and learning.
Evidence of Effective Teaching
Recent instructor ratings consistently above 4.4, with a 4.67 / 5.0 instructor overall rating in Social Research Methods (Spring 2025).
Selected Student Comments
“Class is very challenging but taught well. She allowed all types of different answers no matter how far off they were and showed us how to get to the right answer!”
“I thought that Professor Shin was very nice and heard students and their ideas out during the course. The course challenged you and your team to work together to come up with a consensus for your answers. I liked the way the course was organized and challenged you. I would take a course with Professor Shin again.”
“The first homework assignment had me thinking about my life and how it shaped my view of society growing up. Also how it differs from the society of the US for children. It was a photo essay and I have found myself referring back to this theme of community in my exam answers as well, making myself deep dive into how much impact having a community around someone can affect.”
“I like how the mini-assignments were spread out throughout the week. It gave us enough space but also gave us a grounded deadline.”
“I was nervous about taking this course at first, but my professor genuinely helped me understand the material really well and gave me great feedback on my exams. This helped me improve my test scores and confidence in the class.”
“I found the community most valuable, I love how Prof. Shin established groups, I have made trustworthy, hard-working friends, and it allowed us to study together to be more prepared.”