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Chair: John A. Hall
Professors J. L. Campbell, J. A. Hall, M. Parsa; Associate Professors D.
L. Anthony, D. K. King; Assistant Professors M. R. Herman, M. N. Hollister , K.
J. Lively; Visiting Assistant Professor C. Gomez; Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellow
L. R. Clawson; Post-Doctoral Fellow M. E. Wooten; Adjunct Professor A. B.
Flood.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STANDARD MAJOR
The standard major in Sociology consists of ten courses, to be selected as
follows:
1. Prerequisite: one introductory level course, either Sociology 1 or 2.
2. One theory course: Sociology 11 or 12.
3. One methods course: Sociology 10, 16 or 17. With approval of the Chair, a
major may substitute one of the statistical analysis courses offered by the
other social science departments or programs.
4. Seven additional courses in Sociology numbered 10 or higher. Majors are
encouraged to identify an area of concentration within Sociology.
5. Standard majors must satisfy the culminating experience requirement by
successfully completing any one of the following three options: Senior
Independent Study Project (Sociology 90), The Sociological Imagination
(Sociology 91) or Honors Thesis (Sociology 98). Brief descriptions of each
option may be found under the course listings. Please consult the Department
regarding specific procedures for each option. The culminating experience may
be counted as one of the seven additional courses in Sociology
numbered 10 or higher that are required for completion of the major. Note:
Senior fellows who elect to complete a sociology major may fulfill this
requirement through the successful completion of the senior fellow project.
Major schedules must be approved by a department faculty member.
NOTE: Except for introductory-level courses, higher course numbers
DO NOT necessarily correspond with more advanced courses.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MODIFIED MAJOR
The modified major in Sociology consists of twelve courses, to be selected
as follows:
1. Prerequisite: one introductory level course, either Sociology 1 or 2.
2. One theory course: Sociology 11 or 12.
3. One methods course: Sociology 10, 16 or 17. With approval of the Chair, a
major may substitute one of the statistical analysis courses offered by the
other social science departments or programs.
4. Five additional courses in Sociology numbered 10 or higher. Majors are
encouraged to identify an area of concentration within Sociology.
5. Modified majors, must satisfy the culminating experience requirement by
successfully completing any one of the following three options: Senior
Independent Study Project, The Sociological Imagination or a Honors Thesis.
Please consult the Department regarding specific procedures for each
option.
6. Four related courses taken in one or more departments or programs.
Students establishing a modified major must submit a written statement of
the proposed field or topic, plus a list of all courses to be taken for credit
toward the modified major. The proposal should address the intellectual
coherence of the proposed course of study. All modified majors must be approved
by the Chair of the Sociology Department; and, when modified by a single
department or program, by the chair of that department or program.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BASIC MINOR
The basic minor in Sociology consists of six courses, to be selected as
follows:
1. Prerequisite: one introductory level course, either Sociology 1 or 2.
2. Five additional courses in Sociology numbered 10 or higher.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR IN MARKETS, MANAGEMENT AND THE ECONOMY
The Minor in Markets, Management and the Economy consists of six courses, to
be selected as follows:
1. One introductory course, either Sociology 1 or 2.
2. Five of the following courses, two of which must be Sociology 22, 27, or
66
20 Sociology of Law
22 Markets and Management
23 Power, Politics and the State
27 Organizations in Society
28 Health Care and Health Care Policy
41 Capitalism, Class and Race
62 Urbanism and Urbanization
66 The Sociology of International Development
80 Independent Study (in Markets, Management and the
Economy)
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR IN SOCIAL INEQUALITIES
The Minor in Social Inequalities consists of six courses, to be selected as
follows:
1. One introductory course, either Sociology 1 or 2.
2. Five of the following courses, one of which must be Sociology 40, 41, or
42
(courses must be taken from at least two subtopics):
12 Sociological Classics
20 Sociology of Law
40 The Structure of Inequality
41 Capitalism, Class and Race
42 Constructing Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.
43 Dangerous Intersections: Race, Class and Gender
44 Complexities of Latino Identity in the U.S.
45 Educational Issues Among Immigrant Children
46 Constructing Black Womanhood
60 Gender, Marriage and Brave New Families: Sociology of Reproduction
61 Women, Society and Change
62 Urbanism and Urbanization
63 The North American City
64 Immigration, Race and Ethnicity
67 Social Movements
78 Advanced Course: Intergroup Conflict in Multinational States
80 Independent Study (in Social Inequalities)
Subtopics: Class and General Inequalities:
Sociology: 20, 40, 43, 63, 67, 78
Ethnicity: Sociology 42, 44, 45, 46, 64
Gender: Sociology 46, 60, 61
All minors must be approved by a departmental faculty member.
OFF-CAMPUS STUDY
Off-Campus Program in Copenhagen
Students in any social science major may apply to participate in the
Sociology Department's off-campus student exchange program, which is held
during the Fall term at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. The University
of Copenhagen offers a special set of social science courses taught in English
by Copenhagen faculty. Students may choose courses in sociology, anthropology,
government and economics, and take the normal course load of a full-time
student. Applications are received in early February and selections are made
during that term. Students who apply are required to have an overall grade
point average of at least 3.0. For further information, see Professor
Campbell.
SOCIOLOGY HONORS
The Honors Program in Sociology consists of advanced independent study under
the direction of a faculty supervisor, culminating in the completion and
presentation to the department of an honors thesis. A major who successfully
completes an honors thesis in Sociology will also satisfy the culminating
experience in the major. The program is open to any major who satisfies the
minimum college honors requirements, including a 3.0 GPA overall, has a 3.3 GPA
in the major, and has completed all theory and methods requirements for the
major prior to submission of the thesis proposal.
Toward the end of the junior year a prospective honors major should identify
a faculty member in the department who is willing to serve as a thesis advisor
in order to discuss the proposed thesis. Advisors must confirm that they will
be on campus during the two terms in which the student takes Sociology 98
(sociology honors credits) unless other arrangements are made. A written thesis
proposal must be submitted to the advisor no later than the end of the third
week of the third term prior to graduation (typically fall term, senior year),
and preferably earlier. After the proposal has been approved by the advisor and
a copy filed with the department the student is accepted into the honors
program.
All honors majors must take Sociology 98 twice for thesis credit during the
senior year, although exceptions may be permitted. Because only one term of
Sociology 98 counts as one of the seven additional courses numbered 10 or
higher that are required for completion of the major, taking a second term of
Sociology 98 means that Honors students will typically take at least 11 course
credits in Sociology. At the end of the first term of Sociology 98 the
student's progress toward the completion of the thesis is evaluated by the
advisor in consultation with the department. If satisfactory progress is not
being made, then the thesis project may be terminated and a grade given for the
first term of thesis credit.
A preliminary draft of the thesis must be turned into the thesis advisor no
later than the end of the fifth week of the second term of Sociology 98, and
preferably earlier. Once revisions have been made, two (2) copies of the
completed thesis (one bound and one unbound) must be turned into the thesis
advisor no later than the end of the eighth week of the second term of
Sociology 98. Another bound copy must be brought to the Rauner
Library. The thesis will be graded by the thesis advisor and a second reader
appointed by the department. Students receiving a B+ (3.33) or higher on the
thesis will receive honors recognition in the major. High honors may be awarded
by faculty vote for truly exceptional work.
Students interested in participating in the program should obtain the
handout "The Sociology Honors Program" from the Department Office.
Students can also consult the website: www.dartmouth.edu/~socy/honors.html.
TRANSFER CREDITS
Upon approval by the Chair, a maximum of two course credits for work taken
elsewhere may be counted toward the major and a maximum of one course credit
for work taken elsewhere may be counted toward the minor. Modified majors must
complete at least five sociology courses at Dartmouth, beyond the
prerequisite. Also, certain courses, such as Sociology 1, 2, 10, 11 and 12 are
almost always required to be taken at Dartmouth. Typically, transfer credit
will only be approved for sociology courses not regularly offered by the
Department. Students contemplating taking major, modified major and minor
courses elsewhere should thus consult the Chair well in advance, to assure that
appropriate transfer credits will be accepted.
I. INTRODUCTORY COURSES
1. Introductory Sociology
06F, 07F: 9
What is Society? How have societies developed historically? How do they
distribute wealth, income and other resources? How do they organize political
authority and economic power? How do they coordinate work? How do they
socialize people to "fit in" with those around them? How do they
produce popular culture? This course provides answers to these questions in
ways that provide an introduction to the field of sociology. It focuses on a
broad range of theory and research showing how sociologists think about and
study these questions. In many cases, the topics covered in the course reflect
the research interests and course offerings of faculty in the sociology
department at Dartmouth. As a result, the course also provides an introduction
to some of the curriculum offered in the department.
Open to all classes. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier:
WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W. Campbell.
2. Social Problems
07W, 08W: 10
Daily news reports direct much of our attention to social problems such as
crime, poverty, prejudice and political corruption. Yet rarely are such reports
accompanied by a discussion of the systematic causes of these problems. More
often we become witness to an endless stream of media coverage reporting
seemingly isolated incidents. Seldom are we informed of the decision-making
process by which some social problems become selected for coverage, while
others are ignored. The purpose of this course is to subject the coverage of
modern social problems to an in-depth, critical analysis. We will attempt to
answer such questions as: "how does a social problem become defined as
such?" and "what are the causes or sources of various social
problems?" Open to all classes. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and
earlier: WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W.
Anthony.
7. First-Year Seminars in Sociology
Consult special listings
II. THEORY AND METHODS
10. Quantitative Analysis of Social Data
06F, 07F: 10A
This course provides an introduction to the methods and statistical
techniques of quantitative analysis. The first part of the course deals with
the methods of quantitative analysis (research design, conceptualization,
operationalization, and measurement). The second part of the course introduces
students to parametric and nonparametric statistics (frequency distributions,
crosstabulations, measures of association, tests of significance, correlation,
and bivariate regression). There is a strong emphasis in this course on
applying the methods and techniques learned to actual social science data. No
previous statistical or advanced mathematical training is assumed, but solid
arithmetic and basic algebraic skills are necessary. Prerequisite: Sociology 1
or 2, or permission of the instructor. Because of the large overlap in material
covered, no student may receive credit for more than one of the following
courses: Economics 10, Government 10, Mathematics 10, Psychology 10, Social
Sciences 10, Mathematics and Social Sciences 15 or Sociology 10 by special
petition. Dist: QDS. Hollister.
11. Social Organization
06F, 07F: 11
How are societies organized? This course examines how social scientists
answer this question by exploring a variety of contemporary theoretical
perspectives, including those that focus on how conflict, functional needs,
individual self-interest, cognitive perceptions, culture or symbolic
interpretations organize society. Students compare, contrast and evaluate these
and other theories of social organization in light of empirical studies that
have tried to explain the genesis and dynamics of groups, formal organizations,
social classes, nation states and global systems. Prerequisite: Sociology 1 or
2, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC. Campbell.
12. Sociological Classics
07S, 08S: 10A
This course introduces and criticizes the work of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim,
and Max Weber, three seminal writers whose ideas are still of enormous
significance in shaping perspective and framing terms of argument among many
major contemporary social and political thinkers. Among specific subjects to be
covered are the following: class and class conflict; culture and ideology;
forms and symbols of social solidarity; and questions of how shared ideals or
divisive interests affect not just the study of human society, but the course
of history itself. Prerequisite: Sociology 1 or 2, or permission of the
instructor. Class of 2007 and earlier: Dist: PHR. Class of 2008 and
later: Dist: TMV. J. Hall
16. The Logic of Social Inquiry
08W: 10A
This course is designed to provide students with the practical tools of
doing social science research and the theoretical background for scientific
inquiry into social issues. In the first part of the course we will discuss the
research process itself, as well as conceptual issues in theory building and
hypothesis testing. In the second part, students will devise and carry out
group and individual research projects around a substantive topic. Each project
will involve a variety of research techniques, the exact use and applicability
of which will be the topic of class discussions. In addition, we will discuss
ethical issues and the relevance of social science research for policy making
and for advocacy. Dist: SOC. Lively.
17. Survey Methods and Analysis
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
This course covers the conceptual and applied aspects of the survey process.
Topics include deriving hypotheses from theories and conceptual models,
operationalizing concepts, sampling, survey construction, data management, and
statistical analysis. The course will focus on the entire survey process from
the initial construction of the survey to the analysis of the survey's data.
The course does not require a background in statistical analysis nor more
mathematical background than high school algebra. The primary goal of the
course is to enable students to be critical users of survey methods. Students
will gain both a familiarity with the strengths and weaknesses of these methods
and become reasonably proficient with using a statistical package (SPSS) to
manage data, analyze, and derive meaningful conclusions about social phenomena.
Dist: TAS.
19. Special Topics in Theory and Methods
06F: 2A
In 06F, Selected Topics in Sociological Theory. 'Sociological
Theory' is all-too-often taken to mean Marx, Weber and Durkheim. This absurdly
narrow focus has been partially addressed in Sociology 12 by including within
the classical canon Montesquieu, Smith and Tocqueville. But that change does
not exhaust the richness of sociological theory. This course considers various
theories, setting each within the context of later empirical research. The
thinkers include Edward Gibbon (on empires and on nomads), Karl Polanyi, Ernest
Gellner, Fred Hirsch, Georg Simmel, Alexander Gershenkron and Karl Popper. J.
Hall.
III. INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS
20. Sociology of Law
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
This course will consider the relationship between law and society,
analyzing law as an expression of cultural values, a reflection of social and
political structure, and an instrument of social control and social change.
Complementing this general perspective will be a more detailed examination of
selected legal institutions, such as the court system, the police, regulatory
agencies, and the legal profession. Readings will include both theoretical
works and empirical studies. Prerequisite: Sociology 1 or 2, or permission of
the instructor. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult:
NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W. King.
21. Introduction to Political Sociology
07S: 2A 07F: 10A
This course examines the relationship between the social and political order
with a view towards identifying and examining how politics is shaped by other
events in societies and in turn shapes them. Readings and discussions will
focus on the close connection between the political arena and its actors and
social institutions. Attention is given to sociological aspects of the family,
communities, economic institutions, and political parties. Special emphasis is
placed on the dynamics of political power, participation, socialization,
communication, and recruitment. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier:
WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W. J. Hall.
22. Markets and Management
07W: 11
What is money? How do people find jobs? Are markets competitive or
cooperative? This course examines these and other questions about how economic
behavior is organized, operates and changes historically. It recognizes that
economic activity is socially organized and guided by political, cultural and
normative as well as economic principles. It explores how economic activity
takes many forms, including groups of small competitive firms, large and
powerful corporations, and diffuse networks of companies tied together through
inter-firm alliances, business associations and other sorts of cooperative and
competitive relations with each other, unions, government agencies and
universities. It examines the organization and operation of different kinds of
markets, different theories of how economic activity is organized, and the
social factors that contribute to economic success or failure. It also
investigates how managers, unions, policy makers and governments are coping
with recent economic challenges, such as those posed by technological change
and the globalization of economic activity. Because this is a course in
economic sociology-not economics-no background in economics is required.
Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: EU or NA. Class
of 2008 and later: WCult: W. Campbell.
23. Power, Politics, and the State
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
Since the 1970s, politicians in the United States have called for tax cuts,
less government spending, and fewer regulations-a program that is now known as
"neoliberalism." This course explores the rise of neoliberalism in
the United States and the political struggles that have emerged around these
policy issues and that have persisted into the 21st century. We will study
several theoretical perspectives and research findings that show how business,
labor, citizen groups, political elites, political action committees, political
parties, and political institutions have affected the situation, and how their
influence has changed during the last 35 years. In particular, we will focus on
reforms in tax policy, social policy, and industrial policy. While the course
is largely concerned with the United States, comparisons to other advanced
capitalist countries will be explored occasionally to highlight important
features of the U.S. case. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier:
WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W. Campbell.
24. Education and Inequality
08S: 2A
This course is a survey of selected sociological concepts, theories, and
their applications to problems in the sociology of education. The field of
sociology of education is too broad to cover in a single course. Instead we
will focus on a few topics in the field.This focus will provide the opportunity
to analyze some highly controversial issues in a systematic and rigorous
manner, and examine areas of current research interest and activity. Major
topic areas include theories of achievement and educational attainment,
tracking, inequality in school, inequality in the classroom, school
organization, public vs. private: the great voucher debate, and race. Not open
to first-year students. Prerequisite: one introductory Social Science course.
Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of
2008 and later: WCult: W. Herman.
25. Democracy and Democratization in Developing Countries
07S, 08S: 2A
The road to democratization in most countries in recent years has been
marked by large-scale social movements. This course will begin with an
examination of various theories of democracy and democratization. It will
specifically analyze the role of class, culture, ideology, and religion in the
democratization process. Finally, we will apply the theories to the three cases
of South Korea, Indonesia, and Iran, three countries with mixed successes.
Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Parsa.
26. Trust in Society
07W: 12
Social science and popular press literature of the past decade suggests that
trust is the cause of many "good" things, such as the source of group
cooperation, the basis of democracy, the foundation of the market economy, the
source of national economic power, the key, even, to morality itself. Given its
relation to all things good, it is not surprising that some commentators speak
with alarm when they claim that "trust is declining" in society. Is
trust declining? What exactly is trust anyway, and why does it matter? In this
course we explore the concept of trust by reading and discussing theoretical
and empirical research from across the social sciences. Prerequisite: Sociology
1 or 2 and one other Sociology course. Dist: SOC. Anthony.
27. Organizations in Society
06F, 07F: 12
Much of modern life takes place within a wide variety of complex, formal
organizations, from multi-national corporations, to churches, from social
service agencies to volunteer organizations. In this course we will learn about
the structure, internal processes, and environments of different forms of
organization. Our focus is on sociological theories and empirical research,
from a macro-sociological perspective. Our objective will be to learn about how
organizations work, as well as to gain an understanding of the impact of
organizations on society and in our lives. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007
and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W.
Anthony.
28. Health Care and Health Care Policy
08W: 12
This course examines the health care system in the United States, focusing
on the roles and operations of health care institutions and providers. The
objective throughout the course is to develop a comprehensive and critical
perspective on current fields and issues in medical sociology. The course
consists of five sections, progressing from macro-level to micro-level analyses
of the delivery of health care, and returning to the macro-level to discuss
recent policy changes and debates in the health care system. Dist:
SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and
later: WCult: W. Anthony.
29. Sport and Society
Not offered in the period from 06F
through 08S
The sociological study of sport in society can be
approached in a number of ways: as a mechanism for the transmission of societal
values; as a means of social participation; as a collective symbol and ritual;
as an organized pattern of legitimated conflict and violence; as a group
boundary reinforcing activity; as an alternate channel of social mobility; and
as a social problem. From these general themes specific sociopsychological
topics such as leadership, socialization, communication, conflict, and
cooperation can be emphasized, along with issues of race, sex, 'sport
politics,' and the ubiquitous problem of social inequality. This course
examines sport as a complex socio-cultural phenomenon possessing political and
economic consequences for individuals, groups, and society as a whole.
Prerequisite: Sociology 1 or 2. Not open to first-year students. Dist:
SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and
later: WCult: W.
30. Deviance and Social Control
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
Students of society seem always to have been fascinated with explaining why
some members deviate from commonly accepted rules. This course examines the
major sociological explanations of deviance. We will explore the identification
of certain behaviors as deviant, the process of becoming deviant, the
management of a deviant identity, and the development of deviant subcultures.
The course concludes with an examination of societal reactions to and the
treatment of deviance and deviants. Examples of deviant and social control
activities that may be considered include prostitution, religious cults, youth
gangs, witchcraft, the handicapped, and asylums. Open to sophomores, juniors
and seniors only. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult:
NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W. King.
31. Prisons: The American Way of Punishment
07S: 11 08S: 12
Prison as a place of confinement, punishment and rehabilitation is the focus
of this survey of the history, philosophies, structure and operation of
corrections in the United States. The course critically examines the concept of
prison as a total institution and its panopticism as a model of social control
that extends to other social contexts. The course will explore the world of
inmates and their strategies of subcultural adaptations to and resistance
against incarceration; as well as the role of the prison staff. Particular
attention will be paid to how gender, race, economics and politics structure
prison policies and dynamics. Specific topics may include cultural
representations of prison life, implications of current sentencing practices,
privatization and the prison-industrial complex, incarcerated mothers, capital
punishment, juvenile justice, and alternatives to incarceration. Open to all
classes. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: NA.
Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W. King.
32. The Social Meaning of Home
07W, 08W: 11
This course is an
exploration of the economic, cultural, social and political dynamics of
"home" in contemporary U. S. society. The concept, "home"
invariably invokes multiple and sometimes conflicting ideas-a physical
dwelling, family, economic property, birthplace, nationality, environment,
haven, etc. We speak of "home sweet home," "dream home,"
"home is where the heart is," "sweet home Alabama"
"homeland," "there's no place like home," and
"homies." In the course, we will consider the home as a social
context that profoundly shapes our personal and collective identities, gender
roles and interpersonal relationships, class status and divisions,
racial-ethnic memberships and conflicts, plus values and political ideals. The
course will emphasize the homestead as economic property and the implications
of its location, design, artifacts and domestic lifestyles for the cultivation
of model subjects, consumers or citizens. Theoretical, empirical and
interpretative materials in the course may touch on subjects as varied as
housing and home ownership, shopping and hyperconsumption, food and kitchen
culture, family values and the modeling of marriage and family life, the home
improvement industry, and home and self makeovers on reality television.
Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of
2008 and later: WCult: W. King.
38. Advanced Course: Corporate and Governmental Deviance
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
The purpose of this seminar is to explore the area of social behavior
commonly known as white-collar crime. More specifically, the course examines
the social, economic, political, and legal dynamics that contribute to the
occurrence of professional and organizational misconduct in corporate,
governmental, and non-profit settings. The course will also assess various
legal and extralegal strategies for controlling such behaviors. Readings will
include case studies of antitrust violations, environmental pollution,
defective products, political corruption, scientific frauds, and unethical
professional behavior.
39. Special Topics in Institutions and Organizations
06F: 10, 2A 07W: 10A, 2A 07F: 10, 12 08W: 10A
In 06F and 07F at 10, Global Health
Systems. Health care
systems are unique to the culture and history of each nation. However, all face
similar challenges. This course examines health systems across developed and
developing nations. Comparisons will
be made in terms of: (a) population health, (b) health care organization, (c)
health care financing, (d) health professionals and their patients, and (e)
health system performance and reform strategies. Understanding how health care
is delivered around the world will lead to a better understanding of the
relative merits and limitations of various systems. The course is structured as
a seminar in which students will be expected to discuss course readings
in-depth, as well as develop and present their own research on specific
countries of interest. Anthony.
In 06F at 2A, Religion and Public Engagement in the United States.
Many central debates within American religious groups in the past century have
focused on the degree to which religious institutions and people are or are not
engaged and the means by which they participate in public and political life.
How have broad religious movements, denominations, and congregations dealt with
public life and modernity during this period? How have periods of upheaval in
the world been reflected in and dealt with by religious groups? How do emerging
forms of religious organization, such as the megachurch, shape engagement with
public life? Clawson.
In 07W at 2A, Sociology of the Family. This course considers the
family as a central social institution structuring our lives. Family life is
often considered quintessentially private, but it is also shaped by broader,
seemingly impersonal forces. What is the relationship between family life and
social arrangements outside the family (e.g. in the workplace, the economy, the
government)? How is the division of labor in the family related to gender,
class, and racial or ethnic identity or inequality? Topics will include the
gendered division of household labor, childrearing, the difficult balance
between work and family obligations, single parenthood, and divorce.
Clawson.
In 07W and 08W at 10A, Poverty, the New Economy, and Employment
Policy (Identical to Public Policy 81.5). The most obvious
solution to the problem of poverty is to give someone a job. More than four
decades of employment programs have shown, however, that this is not as easy as
it sounds. Recent changes in the economy (downsizing, globalization,
technological change) make this situation even more challenging. This course
examines the past and future of employment policies as poverty alleviation
strategies. It brings together theories of poverty and employment, an analysis
of current trends in the economy, and an overview of past and current
employment programs. Hollister.
In 07F at 12, The Sociology of Work. This course examines the
sociological dimensions of work, occupations, and employment relations.
Specific topics may include: the structure of work, historical and contemporary
changes in the organizational context of work, ways in which work both creates
and reflects social divisions, occupations and professions, occupational
socialization and choice, and the intersection of work and family.
Hollister
IV. INEQUALITY, IDENTITY, CULTURE
40. Identity and Social Interaction of Multiracial Americans (Pending
Faculty approval)
08S: 10A
The 2000 Census revealed that nearly 4% of youth and 2% of adult Americans
belong to more than one racial category. What are the social, historical, and
biological meanings of the term multi-racial? What are the challenges and
benefits associated with belonging to more than one race group? How do
multi-racial youth negotiate the path to developing a healthy identity
differently than mono-racial youth? How has the social context of race changed
the way multiracial people identify? We will consider how schools, families,
peer groups, and neighborhoods influence the development of biracial Americans.
Herman.
41. Capitalism, Class and Race
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
This course will examine the impact of capitalist economic development on
class and race in the United States. Topics to be explored in the course
include inequality, mobility, and conflict. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007
and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult:
W.
42. Constructing Race and Ethnicity in the U.S. (Identical to Latino
Studies 31)
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
What is ethnicity? What is race? What are the boundaries and markers for
being a member of an ethnic or racial group? This course examines the
development, maintenance and relevance of panethnic groups in the United
States. Specifically it focuses on African-Americans, Latinos, and
Asian-Americans. The course begins with a review of the theories on ethnic and
racial identity. The class will spend several weeks on each panethnic group
addressing the following questions: What does it mean to be African-American,
Latino, or Asian-American? Who belongs to that group and why? Does the
panethnic label capture the complexity of the group? Why is it necessary to
construct panethnic identities and who benefits? What are the political
ramifications of using panethnicity? Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and
earlier: WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W.
Gomez.
43. Dangerous Intersections: Race, Class and Gender
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
Race, class or gender have, to varying degrees, traditionally been employed
within the academic disciplines as separate variables or distinct categories of
analysis. Increasingly, however, there are calls for and attempts at
understanding the relationships among systems of race/ethnicity, sex/gender and
class differentiation. Through engaging both theoretical and empirical works,
this course will examine the ways in which the simultaneous and interdependent
dynamics between these systems shape identity formation and life chances,
relationships of marginality and privilege, social continuity and social
conflict. It will critically explore the challenges and advantages of
intersectional analysis in such contexts as play and leisure, economic roles,
sexuality, and law. Dist: SOC. King.
44. Complexities of Latino Identity in the U.S. (Identical to Latino
Studies 5)
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
The Latino population currently consists of approximately 30 million people
in the United States and by the year 2050 the Census estimates that they will
makeup at least 25 percent of the total U.S. population. This diverse group
traces its origins to a variety of countries and their experience in the United
States is quite varied. This seminar explores issues of race, class, and gender
within the Latino community in the United States. The class will spend several
weeks on various Latino groups (Chicanos, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans,
Central and South Americans) examining their socio-economic experiences. Topics
of discussion include issues of pan-ethnicity, representation of group
politics, language, gender and class conflicts. Dist: SOC. Class of
2007 and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W.
Gomez.
45. Educational Issues Among Immigrant Children (Identical to Latino
Studies 34 and Education 10)
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
This course examines some of the major issues immigrant children, especially
Latinos in the United States face in the educational system, including
bilingual education, tracking, dropouts/pushouts, retention, and access to
higher education. The school as an organization will be analyzed as an
institution of socialization, selection, and stratification. Other topics
discussed are the nature of interpersonal encounters within the classrooms, the
nature of pedagogy, and the opportunities for learning and development. This
will be both a lecture and discussion course. Strong participation from
students is expected. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult:
NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W.
46. Constructing Black Womanhood (Identical to African and African
American Studies 25 and Women's and Gender Studies 33)
08W: 2
This course is a critical examination of the historical and contemporary
status of black women in the United States, as presented in fiction, primary
accounts, and social science literature. We will explore the nature, extent,
and consequences of the multiple discriminations of race, sex, and class, as
the context in which these women shaped their social roles and identities
within the black community and the larger society. We will consider the themes
of family, motherhood, and sexuality; educational, economic and political
participation; aesthetics and religious traditions; self and social images.
Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of
2008 and later: WCult: CI. King.
47. Self and Society (title change pending Faculty approval)
07S, 08S: 2A
Social Psychology is the study of the relationships between the individual
and society. It is an interdisciplinary field to which the work of
sociologists, psychologists, and occasionally scholars from other disciplines
is relevant. This course introduces students to social psychology primarily,
although not exclusively, from a sociological perspective. First, the course
will acquaint students with the range of theoretical perspectives that have
been used to study social psychology. Second, it will familiarize students with
empirical research that has been done to examine these theories. Third, it will
permit students to explore particular social psychological issues in greater
depth both within and across particular perspectives within social psychology.
Lastly, the course will illustrate the relevance of sociology per se for social
psychology as well as the relevance of social psychology for sociology. In sum,
this course is a general survey of the field that enables students to develop a
critical but constructive sense of the theoretical and methodological issues in
social psychology, and an understanding of the relevance of social psychology
for other aspects of sociology. Dist: SOC. Herman (07S), Lively
(08S).
48. The Sociology of Emotion
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
Most people think of emotions as a purely internal experience, composed
solely of physiological elements. Recently, however, sociologists have begun to
emphasize and explore the social side of emotion-for example, how emotions are
shaped socially and culturally, how emotions are socially controlled, and the
consequences of emotion for social life. We will examine these and other
sociological aspects of emotional experience in this course, including
exploring current debates about the social functions of emotions, especially as
they pertain to the substantive areas of work and family. Topics include the
social causes of emotion; cultural variations in feeling and expression norms
(especially in regard to love and anger); changes in American norms over time;
the shaping of children's emotions through socialization; individual and social
techniques of emotion management; the social distribution of emotional
experience; the social functions of emotion; emotional deviance; and the
individual and social consequences of emotional display. Lively.
49. Youth and Society
07S: 10
This course is designed to acquaint students with selected sociological
concepts, theories, and their applications to problems in the sociology of
developing adolescents. We will focus on a few topics in the field providing
the opportunity to analyze some highly controversial issues in a systematic and
rigorous manner, and examine areas of current research interest and activity.
Major topic areas include theories of achievement and educational attainment,
tracking, peer interaction, minority youth, girls, adolescent sexuality, and
identity. Dist: SOC. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: CI.
Herman.
59. Special Topics in Inequality, Identity, Culture
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
V. SOCIAL CHANGE
60. Gender, Marriage and Brave New Families: The Sociology of Reproduction
(Identical to Women's and Gender Studies 33)
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
In this course we will examine issues concerning reproduction. We will
explore and discuss ideas about sexuality, motherhood, birth, eugenics,
population control, new reproductive technologies and reproductive freedom as
well as uncover the role of the state, medical institutions and women
themselves as they struggle over, and shape such issues. Our emphasis will be
on understanding the socially constructed nature of these practices as well as
the power relations embedded in them. The focus is on the U.S. but we will
occasionally look to other countries for examples. Dist: SOC.
61. Women, Society and Change
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
This course will explore the nature, extent, and consequences of sexual
inequalities in society. Sex roles will be examined in relation to class and
race, the origins of patriarchy, the socialization process, the experience of
women in the family, and the experience of women as paid and unpaid workers
under both capitalism and socialism. Finally, we shall analyze feminism as a
social movement, looking particularly at its history and ideology, its
underlying assumptions, and its implications for social structural change. Open
to all classes. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult:
NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W.
62. Urbanism and Urbanization
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
This course examines the causes and consequences of urbanization. Utilizing
urban spatial analysis as the principal theoretical model to examine and
explain urban dynamics, the primary focus of the course is on American cities,
although comparative features of the urbanization process are highlighted as
well. Sociological topics addressed include the following: urban theory;
American urban history, urban locality groups; urban power structures; 'urban
psychology'; urban fiscal policy. Each time the course is given a special urban
problem is addressed. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult:
NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W.
63. The North American City
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
For generations of immigrants America's cities were representative of the
American Dream. While its streets may not have been 'paved with gold', they led
to factories and jobs and the opportunity to rise up the socioeconomic ladder.
The city was America's vehicle for advancement and assimilation - the classic
melting pot. Today, most Americans live and work in the suburbs that stretch
for miles away from the central city. For that portion of the population denied
this opportunity (poor, minorities), the American Dream remains unrealized.
This course will examine the North American city, from its poorest and most
violent inner city neighborhoods to its most affluent suburbs. Special emphasis
will be placed upon the impact that demographic, economic, and technological
changes have had upon its spatial and social structure. Dist: SOC.
Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and later:
WCult: W.
64. Immigration, Race and Ethnicity (Identical to Geography 28 and
Latino Studies 40)
06F, 08S: 10
This course examines twentieth-century immigration to the United States.
This course pays special attention to issues of race and ethnicity. The course
begins with a brief history of US immigration and then thematically covers
specific topics such as economic impacts and costs, social mobility,
citizenship, transnationalism, assimilation, and religious issues and their
relationship to the immigrant experience. We highlight differences within and
between Latino, Asian, and European groups throughout the course. The class
will be a combination of lectures, discussions, and video/film presentations.
Class members are expected to have read material thoroughly and be prepared to
discuss readings in class. On occasion students will be asked to present
readings to the class and prepare discussion questions. Dist: SOC.
Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of 2008 and later:
WCult: CI. Wright.
65. Social Conflict in Comparative Perspective
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
This course examines the patterns and processes of the major forms of
large-scale social conflict-ethnic, religious, racial, territorial, and
linguistic - in a select number of multinational states. In this age of
globalization, of modern science and technology, of space exploration, these
forms of conflict still account for the absence of peace and the ubiquity of
social conflict in the vast majority of nations in the international system. In
order to help us better understand social conflict, attention will be given to
competing theories of human nature, social and political power, social
inequality, resource competition, conflict resolution and so forth. Dist:
INT.
66. The Sociology of International Development
08W: 10A
This course will introduce students to the major sociological perspectives
on economic and political development, with emphasis on developing countries.
Among the views to be considered are modernization, which assumes that
later-developing countries will follow paths once traveled by today's advanced
countries; and dependency and world system theories, which view the integration
of less developed countries into the world market as problematic and, under
certain conditions, even disadvantageous. We will test these theories by
applying them to specific cases. A major part of the course will focus on the
economic 'miracle' of East Asian countries, as well as cases that have not been
so successful. Other important topics to be studied include the influence of
states, markets, and multinational corporations in economic development; the
relationship between different modes of development and income distribution;
and political development and the prospects for democratization. Open to all
classes. Dist: INT. Parsa.
67. Social Movements
08S: 10A
Social movements are defined as non-institutionalized collective action
geared to promote or resist change in social structures. Based on the premise
that a large part of significant social change in modern societies stems from
collective action, this course starts by examining various theories of social
movements. These theories will then be examined in light of specific American
social movements, such as the civil rights movement, the labor movement, the
women's movement, as well as others such as the KKK and the John Birch Society.
For each of these cases, we will analyze the conditions leading to their rise,
ideology, composition, course of development, and current status. Finally, the
course will analyze conditions that lead to the formation of social movements
that attempt to seize state power and transform the entire social structure. As
an example, we will study the Russian revolution. Open to all classes.
Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: NA. Class of
2008 and later: WCult: W. Parsa.
68. Social Change: Iran, Nicaragua, and the Philippines
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
This course begins with a theoretical investigation of large-scale social
transformations, such as the rise of capitalism, industrialization, and the
formation of alternative patterns of political systems. We will then analyze
the social structures of three case studies: Iran, Nicaragua, and the
Philippines, and the factors that led to change in each. The central themes
include the patterns of economic development, the role of the state in
promoting social change, the distribution of resources, and the nature of
social conflicts and their outcomes. Dist: INT; WCult: NW.
Parsa.
69. The Sociology of Globalization
08W: 11
The international scope of political, economic, and cultural activity has
increased dramatically during the late twentieth and early twenty-first
centuries. But how extensive has the trend toward "globalization"
been? Is it really a new phenomenon? Has globalization changed societies? If
so, how? If not, why not? Are societies becoming more alike because they
experience common globalization pressures or do they retain their unique
national characteristics? This course examines these questions and more.
Specifically, we will look at how globalization has affected business, states,
labor movements, social inequality, social welfare, citizenship rights, the
environment, culture, national security, and other aspects of society.
Dist: SOC or INT. Campbell.
77. Advanced Course: Collective Behavior
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
Collective Behavior is concerned with those collectivities whose episodes
may be distinguished as relatively spontaneous and transitory, falling outside
the framework of generally accepted social and institutional behavior. Shared
norms and enthusiasm in collective gatherings are among the most important
forces affecting individual behavior in contemporary societies. Examples of
this behavior are found in riots, crazes, panic flight, mobs, rumor, fashion,
public, and mass. Members of the groups in which collective behavior takes
place usually lack established procedures for making decisions, selecting
members and leaders, and pursuing shared goals. This course will focus on
theories and definition of the development, content, and social control of
collective behavior. Prerequisites: Sociology 1 or 2 or Psychology 1 or
permission of the instructor.
78. Advanced Course: Intergroup Conflict in Multinational States
Not offered in the period from 06F through 08S
This seminar examines the sources of social conflict in multinational
states, particularly those composed of multiple ethnic, racial, religious, and
linguistic groups. Dist: INT. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: EU
or NA. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W.
79. Special Topics in Social Change
08S: 2A
In 08S, War and Society. Sociologists tend to see social change as
the result of socio-economic pressures within societies. This course suggests
an alternative: that much social change comes about as the result of
geopolitical conflict. Accordingly, one element within this course is the
re-analysis of key social concepts, such as revolution, nationalism, welfare,
and democracy, in light of geopolitical history. A second element is that of
seeing whether sociology has something to contribute to understanding war and
peace. Here the argument is simple: it has. Dist: SOC or INT.
Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: EU. Class of 2008 and later:
WCult: W. J. Hall.
VI. SPECIAL COURSES
80. Independent Study
All terms: Arrange
This course offers the qualified student an opportunity to pursue a subject
of special interest, under the direction of a faculty adviser assigned to the
student for periodic (usually weekly) conferences. Ordinarily at least one
formal paper embodying the results of the reading or research is required. In
special situations students may work as a team on a single project.
Occasionally credit may be given in Sociology 80 for a research project done in
an off-campus term, provided arrangements are made well in advance and adequate
off-campus supervision can be assured. Although every effort will be made to
accommodate qualified students desiring to carry an independent study, there is
no guarantee that independent study can be arranged for any given student in
any given term, and preference is given to senior and junior Sociology majors.
Normally no student may take Sociology 80 more than twice during the
undergraduate career. By permission of a Sociology faculty member
prior to registration.
90. Senior Independent Study Project
All terms: Arrange
Independent work under the direction of a member of the Department and with
Departmental approval may satisfy the culminating requirement in the major.
Those interested should develop their plans with a prospective faculty adviser
and must submit and have approved a written proposal at least one term prior to
the term in which the course will be elected. Open only to senior majors. By
permission of a Sociology faculty member prior to registration.
91. The Sociological Imagination
07S: 3A 08W: 2A 08S: 3A
C. Wright Mills described "the sociological imagination" as that
quality of mind with the ability to grasp the interplay of biography and
history, of self and social structure, of private troubles and public issues.
As we approach the end of the 20th century, various issues of class, race and
gender inequalities and conflicts appear to dominate popular discourse and
policy debates. This capstone seminar will explore current substantive and
theoretical expressions of the sociological imagination for providing critical
assistance in understanding some of the major social issues of our time. The
seminar is designed to emphasize critical discussion through active
participation and class presentations. Each student will complete a significant
intellectual project which reflects her or his own sociological analysis about
an important social issue. Open to senior sociology majors, and others only by
per mission of the instructor. Satisfies the Culminating Experience
Requirement. Dist: SOC. Class of 2007 and earlier: WCult: NA.
Class of 2008 and later: WCult: W. King (07S, 08S), Lively (08W).
98. Honors Thesis
All terms: Arrange
Open only to, and required of all, Sociology honors majors, this course
involves independent work under the direction of a faculty adviser, culminating
in the preparation and presentation of an honors thesis. Sociology honors
majors normally elect Sociology 98 twice: once during the last term in
residence and once during a preceding term. Exceptions to this pattern are,
however, permitted if circumstances warrant. Honors students are normally
expected to publicly present their thesis to the Department during the term in
which it is completed.
By permission of a Sociology faculty member prior to registration.
See "The Sociology Honors Program" handout in the Main Office (111
Silsby).
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