Fall 2024

The peculiarity of the "modern" Western family system in historical and cross-cultural perspective; focus on the "postmodern" family crisis in the United States.

Basic concepts of sociology with special reference to group life,social institutions, and social processes.

Science and technology change society and how we understand ourselves. In turn, social struggles influence science. We will explore the interplay between these forces.

Sociological and demographic concepts focusing on the causes of disease, health and wellness. Empirical analysis of population composition and its connection to health.

Theory and history behind the ideal of "the local, grassroots volunteer": a direct link between theory and research using Los Angeles as a case study.

Historical and contemporary approaches to sociological theory; analysis of conceptual frameworks applied to the study of society and social interaction.

Exploration of the ways in which developments and policies, including neoliberalism, the carceral state, and economic precarity, are connected and gendered.

Logic of theory construction, research design, elementary data collection and analysis.

Sociological measurement, univariate description, elementary correlation, introduction to statistical inference.

Use quantitative or qualitative analysis skills to study major social issues using large existing survey data sets or qualitative methods. Become conversant in describing data to a variety of audiences.

Cross-cultural notions of the body, health, and healing; historic and cultural variability of ideas of reproduction, birth, sexuality, mental illness and disability.

Construction of meanings of adolescence, social change and social control. Examines how social institutions such as school, law enforcement, and the state impose social control and how this varies by race, class and gender.

Inequalities in wealth, prestige and power in the United States; the American class structure and the extent of upward mobility in that structure.

Changing family patterns; personality development; family unity, predicting success in marriage; the family in transition; crises such as economic changes, death, divorce; family reorganization.

An investigation into inter-ethnic, interracial, and inter-religious marriage in the 21st century.

The development of American expressions of Judaism as part of the American religious context, from the perspective of the social scientific study of religion.

Classical and contemporary theories of power, inequality, sociability, symbols and language in market, state, political and civic organizations.

Overview of contemporary patterns of international migration and its implications for receiving and sending countries, with a special emphasis on immigration to the United States.

Social and cultural factors in causation of disease, health care utilization and health care delivery.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Introduces students to the theoretical questions and methodological approaches that comprise the discipline of sociology. Experts in each subfield share their latest research with students.

Developments in sociological theory from the discipline's nineteenth century origins to World War II.

Introduction to the logic and tools of quantitative analysis in sociology; covers the basic elements of designing research, summarizing and exploring patterns in data, and making generalizations about populations based on characteristics of samples.

Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Practical principles for the long-term development of effective teaching within college disciplines. Intended for teaching assistants in Dornsife College. Graded CR/NC.

Seminar and practicum in conducting and interpreting original qualitative research. Prerequisite: SOCI 520. Duplicates credit in former SOCI 524.

Current racial problems in the United States and other countries; critiques of literature on race relations. Duplicates credit in former SOCI 555.

Cultural theories and forms of cultural analysis appropriate for sociological research; critical examination of theory and research on how culture relates to social structure, social inequality, politics, institutions, and everyday interaction. Recommended preparation: SOCI 510 or prior undergraduate or graduate coursework in social science or communication studies. Duplicates credit in former SOCI 535.

Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation.

Credit on acceptance of dissertation.