Sociology 1
Sociology 2
Freshman Seminar "Poverty in the US"
Freshman Seminar on "20th Century Revolutions"
Freshman Seminar on Multiracial Identity
Freshman Seminar "This Generation"
Freshman Seminar on "Healthcare in the US"
09F: 9L
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; WCult: W. Campbell.
10W: 10A
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; WCult: W. Anthony.
08W, 09W: 2A
Approximately one in eight Americans live in poverty and more than one in six children are poor. This reality seems very distant, though, from within the Dartmouth bubble. This course will explore poverty in the United States from a variety of perspectives. We will discuss such questions as: How do we measure proverty? How has the poverty rate changed over time? What are the possible causes of poverty in the US? How does the experience of poverty vary under different circumstances? How is poverty portrayed in the media? What are the major anti-poverty policy programs? The course will explore poverty both nationally and in the local context. Students may pursue a service-learning option, using community service work as the basis for one or more of the class assignments. Dist: SOC; WCult: CI. Hollister.
09F: 2A
The twentieth century has witnessed tumultuous social and political upheavals, ranging from the rise and demise of the Bolshevik communists to the challenge of Islamic fundamentalism. The examination of these upheavals will form the core of this course. Using a comparative framework, we will analyze critical political developments in Russia, Iran, Nicaragua, and the Philippines. Before their political breakdown, authoritarian states in these countries generated impressive economic growth and development. We will examine the factors that led to the rise of social conflicts and the eventual collapse of these states. We will also analyze the causes of the different outcomes that emerged: Bolsheviks in Russia, Islamic fundamentalism in Iran, revolutionary socialism and its subsequent collapse in Nicaragua, and the restoration of liberal democracy in the Philippines. Finally, we will investigate the position taken by the United States in these revolutionary upheavals. Dist: SOC; NW. Parsa.
09S: 2A
In the 1970's, one in 100 children was born in the United States to parents who were not of the same race. Now, thirty years later, that ratio is on in nineteen. 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? We will consider how schools, families, peer groups, and neighborhoods influence the development of biracial adolescents. Dist: SOC. Herman
Your generation is unique. Your life has been shaped by unprecedented historical events and social forces. Technology has transformed your daily interactions. Your future is more connected to global possibilities. Because you are immersed in your generation, it is difficult to fully understand. This class will use research, writing and discussion to help you develop your own perspective on your generation.
not currently offered
This course examines the health care system in the United States, focusing in particular on how health care institutions and providers are organized to practice medicine and deliver health care. We will begin the course by examining the historical development of medicine, and its relationship to both disease and broader social changes. We will examine the organizational structure of the current health care "system" in the U.S. We will also explore social differences in health and access to health care for various groups in society. Finally we will examine recent policy changes and debates about reforming health care in the U.S.
