Concepts and methods of qualitative research will be discussed for their relevance and utility in sociological analysis. Representative studies will be examined for the adequacy of their procedures and techniques, as well as the kind of knowledge which they provide.
3 hr./wk.
This course introduces the science and craft of social research. Partly this is a class about the scientific method, partly this is about learning the basic statistics that sociologists most often use, but there will also be an emphasis on doing research, and learning the tricks and traps of the trade. We will focus on learning quantitative research methods and survey design, but will also discuss experiments and qualitative research.
Open only to program majors OR with Departmental permission.
3 hr./wk.
This course continues the introduction to research methodology, with a focus on qualitative research and the research process, examining the steps toward developing a sociological research project. A formal proposal for the capstone paper will be the final paper for the course.
3 hr./wk.
A comparative overview of various current models of sociological analysis, including functionalism, ethnomethodology, and evolutionary schools.
3 hr./wk.
Marriage and the family as social institutions. Changing family forms in Western civilization. Demographic trends and family size. The modern family and its relation to the total society. Marriage and divorce. Selected problems for discussion and research. Offered in cooperation with the School of Education.
3 hr./wk.
Individualized research on specific projects, under the direction of a graduate professor. Maximum of 6 credits.
Approval of a faculty member and Chair of Graduate Committee required.
Conferences to be arranged.
Description and classification of whole societies viewed as dynamic social systems in the relevant environmental setting, geographic and historical. Case studies will be selected from the American Indian, African, Oceanic, Asiatic, and European fields. The course is designed to prepare students for an understanding of their own contemporary society.
3 hr./wk.
This course examines theories of urbanization and urban life and current policy issues.
3 hr./wk.
An analysis of the many subgroups that live in New York City. This includes but is not limited to African and Hispanic Americans, Italians, Jews, Irish, etc. Focus on how the city developed historically, its spatial structure, its expansion, and its political, social, and economic life.
3 hr./wk.
Overview of criminology from the historical background to contemporary theories of criminological thought. Specific case studies will be used to illuminate the limitations and applicability of those theories.
3 hr./wk.
Overview of historical and contemporary approaches to defining and understanding deviance. Focus on development of those understandings and their repercussions for individuals and society.
3 hr./wk.
The social bases of political participation and ideology will be explored within the context of modern industrial society. The problem of establishing, maintaining and dissolving political institutions will be examined as well as the relationships between the legitimacy and the effectiveness of political institutions. The social origins of democracy, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism. New approaches to the study of mass movements and collective behavior.
3 hr./wk.
Socialization processes occurring and associated with infancy, childhood, adolescence, student status, and various stages of adulthood. Secularization of various benchmarks in the life cycle. Special characteristics of each age group, their potential for intergenerational conflict and accommodation, and their relationship to social institutions. Contemporary modifications of age-graded experiences by social structure.
3 hr./wk.