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UNDERGRADUATE
COURSES
SOCI 001-401 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR BOTH THE LECTURE AND A RECITATION SECTION
Cross Listed: AFRC-002
Society Sector
Sociology provides a unique way to look at human behavior and the world. Sociology is the systematic study of the groups and societies in which people live. In this introductory course, we examine and analyze how social structures and cultures are created, maintained, and most importantly, how they affect behavior. The course deconstructs our taken for granted world of social interactions and behaviors and examines what theory and research can tell about human social behavior.
MW 11- 12 ZUBERI
401 - REC F 12-1 STAFF
402 - REC W 3-4 STAFF
403 - REC F 11-12 STAFF
404 - REC M 4-5 STAFF
SOCI 001-301 INTRODUCTION TO THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
Benjamin Franklin Seminar
Freshman Seminar
In an investigation into “nation building”, in accord with the logics of the 17 th and 18 th Century Enlightenment Project, we will read three short preparatory books and then embark on a very “close reading” of Alexis deTocqueville’s classic, Democracy in America 1835. Our current adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan will afford us weekly opportunities to consider a number of recent historical and comparative dimensions of ‘nation building’ in contrast with deT’s report, early in the 19 th Century, as we observe our 2008 federal election and the campaign that brings us another chapter in the story of our own development as a democratic (and economic) republic; readers of a major newspaper, especially, will enjoy this prospectively measurable experience! (Non-honor students admitted by permission)
W 2-5 BERG
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SOCI 004-401 THE FAMILY
REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR BOTH THE LECTURE AND A RECITATION SECTION
Cross Listed: WSTD-004
Fulfills College Quantitative Data Analysis Requirement
Society Sector (All Classes)
This introduction to the sociology of the family explores historical, economic, and cultural changes that have shaped the past and present form of the American kinship system. It will also compare demographic and social trends and consequences of family patterns across societies, providing a perspective on differences and similarities between the U.S. family system and other nations. Students will have an opportunity to engage in research on topics of special interest.
MW 2-3 FURSTENBERG
402 – REC F 2-3 STAFF
403 – REC F 12-1 STAFF
404 – REC M 3-4 STAFF
405 – REC W 4-5 STAFF
SOCI 005-001 AMERICAN SOCIETY
Society Sector (All Classes)
An introduction to basic concepts in political science, anthropology, sociology and economics applied to our public and private corporate systems of government and the allocations of distributive justice by public and private “governors”. The course is targeted on gaining understandings of the nation we have already built with half an eye (1) on our current “nation building” adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan, and (2) on running commentaries about public and private policies during Mr. George W. Bush’s presidency. These ‘extras’ will enable us to compare what has been truly settled, in our nation’s past, by way of our institutional development (in our readings) on one side and what remains problematical in our continuing development in the first years of the still new Century, on the other side. Six quizzes and an optional paper; the instructor will conduct pre-quiz reviews.
TR 12-1:30 BERG
SOCI 009-301 POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION
Fulfills the Critical Writing Requirement
Freshman Seminar
In every society, resources, power, and prestige are distributed unequally. This writing seminar will take as its topic the ways in which certain segments of the U.S. population lack access to societal goods, to positions of power, and to social and economic mobility. We start by examining who lacks access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, and health care. Then, we consider who has access to the best neighborhoods and the best schools and the processes by which others are excluded. We will also discuss who performs the most dangerous and the lowest paying jobs in the U.S. labor market and who lacks access to jobs of any type. Writing assignments and discussions will be organized around readings and case studies.
T 1:30-4:30 HARKNETT
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SOCI 010-001 SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
Society Sector (All Classes)
The American Dream highlights opportunity for individuals to achieve success based on their own ability and initiative. How well does our society live up to this ideal? Who gets ahead, and who falls behind? Topics include factors that affect life chances in contemporary society: education, social class, race, ethnicity and gender.
TR 10:30-12 JACOBS
SOCI 011-401 URBAN SOCIOLOGY
Distribution I: Society
Cross Listed: URBS-112
A comprehensive introduction to the sociological study of cities. Topics will include theories of urbanism, methods of research, migration, history of cities, gentrification, poverty, urban politics, suburbanization and globalization. Philadelphia will be used as a recurring example, though the course will devote attention to cities around the U.S. and the world.
W 2-5 ANDERSON
SOCI 012-401 GLOBALIZATION
REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR LEC, REC FROM WITHIN GROUP 1 SECTIONS
Society Sector (All Classes)
This course uses data from what is actually happening in the course of the semester to introduce the concepts and methods of the social sciences. It analyzes the current state globalization and sets it in historical perspective. We will focus on a series of questions not only about actual processes but about the growing awareness of them, and the consequences of this awareness. In answering these questions, we will distinguish between active campaigns to cover the world (e.g. Christian and Muslim proselytism, opening up markets, democratization) and the unplanned diffusion of new ways of organizing trade, capital flows, tourism and the internet. The body of the course will deal with a series of analytical types of globalization, reviewing both the early and recent history of these processes. The overall approach will be historical and comparative, setting globalization on the larger stage of the economic, political and cultural development of various parts of the modern world. The course is taught collaboratively by two social scientists: an anthropologist and a sociologist, offering the opportunity to compare and contrast two distinct disciplinary points of view. It seeks to develop a concept-based understanding of the various dimensions of globalization: economic, political, social, and cultural. At the end of the course students will understand the significance of globalization in the modern world, and be able to compare the approaches of different social sciences.
M 2-4 SPOONER/GUILLEN
GROUP 1 SECTIONS
REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR LEC & 1 REC FROM WITHIN THIS GROUP OF SECTIONS
402 – REC W 2-3 STAFF
403 – REC W 2-3 STAFF
404 – REC W 3–4 STAFF
405 – REC W 3-4 STAFF
406 – REC F 2-3 STAFF
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SOCI 041-401 HOMELESSNESS AND THE URBAN CRISIS
Freshman Seminar
This seminar in Urban Studies introduces students to many of the social issues confronting our nation’s cities by focusing specifically on the problem of urban homelessness. The course examines the treatment of homelessness and extreme impoverishment as social problems historically, as well as through contemporary debates. Several areas of intense study will include the prevalence and dynamics of homeless, the affordable housing crisis, urban labor market trends, welfare reform, health and mental health policies, and urban/suburban development disparities. Particular attention is also paid to the structure of emergency services for people who have housing emergencies. This course concludes by examining current policies and advocacy strategies.
M 2-5 CULHANE
SOCI 067-001 SOCIAL INTERACTION Cancelled
This course combines the study of social psychology with that of social interaction. Its primary focus is on the forces shaping individual action in a variety of face-to-face settings, whether in informal groups, in classrooms, in work environments, in urban public spaces and other kinds of situations. We will begin with more general concepts and approaches and then venture into the realm of emotions and “feeling rules” that seem to operate in both private and public relationships before ending with a discussion of how face-to-face encounters interact with the social inequalities of gender, class and race. There will be no exams. Instead, students will conduct a series of six observation-based exercises. The data collected through these exercises will be written up and integrated with the concepts and theories discussed in class and in the readings.
TR 1:30-3 NELSON
SOCI 100-001 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Fulfills College Quant. Data Analysis Req.
Distribution I: Society
Cross Listed: HSOC-100
SYLLABUS 
This course provides a broad overview of how sociologists gather and analyze information to generate and test hypotheses about the social world. We begin by covering some key building blocks of sociological research: theory, measurement, and sampling. Then, we review a variety of research designs and analytic approaches. Finally, we take a critical perspective on social research discussing topics of research ethics, objectivity, and whether research findings should be used to inform policy. The emphasis in the course will be on training students to develop a healthy skepticism and to be intelligent research consumers, and we will regularly discuss and evaluate research examples found in mainstream news sources. Students will also gain hands on experience with survey and qualitative research through course research projects.
TR 10:30-12 HARKNETT
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SOCI 100-401 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Fulfills College Quant. Data Analysis Req.
Distribution I: Society
Cross Listed: HSOC-100
As a science, sociology uses various tools to establish knowledge about the social world, as one step in the process of producing explanatory (and ideally, predictive) theory. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to different sociological methods, including survey research and associated quantitative/statistical analysis, interviewing, ethnography, historical-comparative and archival research, experimentation, and computer simulation. We will review basic mechanics for applying these methods, and discuss the assumptions behind each, and the kind of insight each yields. Students gain hands-on experience in applying several of these methods through class assignments
MW 3:30-5 GIBSON
SOCI 101-401 BIOETHICS
REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR LEC & REC
Distribution I: Society
Cross Listed: HSOC-102
Bioethical conundrums such as cloning, stem cells, transplantation, the use of psycho pharmaceuticals, end-of-life technologies, preimplantation diagnosis of embryos, artificial reproductive technologies, and the genetic manipulation of life will challenge policy-makers and moral thinkers throughout the twenty-first century. In this course, a philosopher and a sociologist team up to frame and explore these important issues. Guest lecturers, multimedia presentation, and spirited debate will allow the student to understand science, the social implications and the philosophical, ethical and religious implications of the coming biotechnological revolution.
MW 2-3 WOLPE
402 – REC F 2-3 STAFF
403 – REC F 2-3 STAFF
404 – REC F 11-12 STAFF
405 – REC F 12-1 STAFF
SOCI 111-401 HEALTH OF POPULATIONS
Fulfills College Quant. Data Analysis Req.
Cross Listed: HSOC-111
This course develops some of the major measures used to assess the health of populations and uses those measures to consider the major factors that determine levels of health in large aggregates. These factors include the disease environment, medical technology, public health initiatives, and personal behaviors. The approach is comparative and historical and includes attention to differences in health levels among major social groups.
MWF 11-12 PRESTON
SOCI 120-001 SOCIAL STATISTICS
Gen Req IV: Formal Reasoning & Analysis
Registration Required For Lec, Rec From Within This Group Of Sections
This course offers a basic introduction to the application/interpretation of statistical analysis in sociology. Upon completion, you should be familiar with a variety of basic statistical techniques that allow examination of interesting social questions. We begin by learning to describe the characteristics of groups, followed by discussion of how to examine and generalize about relationships between the characteristics of groups. Emphasis is placed on the understanding/interpretation of statistics used to describe and make generalizations about group characteristics. In addition to hand calculations, you will also become familiar with using PCs to run statistical tests.
MW 2-3 PARK
Group 1 Sections
Registration Required For Lec, Rec From Within This Group Of Sections
201 – REC F 3-4 STAFF
202 – REC W 4-5 STAFF
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SOCI 120-401 SOCIAL STATISTICS
Fulfills College Quant. Data Analysis Req.
Gen Req IV: Formal Reasoning & Analysis
CROSS LISTED: AFRC-120
Registration Required For Lec & Rec From Within This Group Of Sections
This course offers a basic introduction to the application/interpretation of statistical analysis in sociology. Upon completion, you should be familiar with a variety of basic statistical techniques that allow examination of interesting social questions. We begin by learning to describe the characteristics of groups, followed by discussion of how to examine and generalize about relationships between the characteristics of groups. Emphasis is placed on the understanding/interpretation of statistics used to describe and make generalizations about group characteristics. In addition to hand calculations, you will also become familiar with using PCs to run statistical tests.
MW 10-11 CHARLES
Group 2 Sections
Registration Required For Lec, Rec From Within This Group Of Sections
402 – REC F 10-11 STAFF
403 – REC F 11-12 STAFF
SOCI 125-001 CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
Distribution I: Society
This course will cover the founding classics of the sociological tradition including works of Tocqueville, Marx and Engels, Weber, Durkheim, Mauss, Simmel, and G. H. Mead. We will also examine how the major traditions have continued and transformed into theories of conflict, domination, resistance and social change; social solidarity, ritual and symbolism; symbolic interactionist and phenomenological theory of discourse, self and mind.
TR 3-4:30 COLLINS
SOCI 135-401 LAW & SOCIETY
Distribution I: Society
Cross listed: AFRC135
After introducing students to the major theoretical concepts concerning law and society, significant controversial societal issues that deal with law and the legal systems both domestically and internationally will be examined. Class discussions will focus on issues involving civil liberties, the organization of courts, legislatures, the legal profession and administrative agencies. Although the focus will be on law in the United States, law and society in other countries of Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America will be covered in a comparative context. Readings included research reports, statutes and cases.
MW 5-6:30 FETNI
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SOCI 137 SOCIOLOGY OF THE MEDIA & POPULAR CULTURE
ARTS & LETTERS SECTOR (ALL CLASSES)
REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR LEC & REC
Cross listed: FOLK 137
SYLLABUS
This course relies on a variety of sociological perspectives to examine the role of media and popular culture in everyday life, with a particular emphasis on the organization of the mass media industry, the relationship between cultural consumption and status, and the social significance of leisure activities from sports to shopping. Specific course topics will include the rise of tabloid TV talk shows; the marketing of Disney, Nike and Starbucks; the excessive media coverage of contemporary celebrities; the blurring of boundaries between news and entertainment; and the rise of new media technologies in the digital age.
401 - LEC MW 11-12 GRAZIAN
402 – REC W 5-6 STAFF
403 - REC F 11-12 STAFF
404 - REC W 4-5 STAFF
405 - REC W 4-5 STAFF
406 - REC F 1-2 STAFF
407 - REC F 2-3 STAFF
408 - REC W 4-5 STAFF
409 - REC F 1-2 STAFF
410 - REC F 1-2 STAFF
411 - REC R 4:30-5:30 STAFF
412 - REC F 12-1 STAFF
413 - REC R 5-6 STAFF
414 – REC F 11-12 STAFF
415 - REC F 12-1 STAFF
416 - REC R 5-6 STAFF
417 - REC W 5-6 STAFF
NOTE: You MUST take BOTH THE LECTURE AND A RECITATION.
If you need to switch your recitation section, please make sure there is an available slot BEFORE dropping your section and switching to another one, as the SRS system will drop you from the course altogether if you’re not registered for both lecture and recitation. As slots become available, you may register for them through Penn In Touch.
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SOCI 150-401 INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE AND MULTIRACIALS
Cross listed ASAM 150
The increasing visibility of interracial marriages indicates a slow and profound shift in race relations, and adds a layer of complexity to how Americans view race. Since racial and ethnic diversity is not new to U.S. history, why is it that interracial marriage and the presence of multiracials are now capturing the interest of mainstream culture? We will examine the critical role of history in shaping race relations over time to further understand why interracial marriage seems so novel in contemporary society, and why more Americans are self-identifying with more than one race. The goal of the class is to infuse history, social theory, and cutting-edge research to form a holistic picture of what race is, what interracial marriage is in addition to its changing meaning and significance, and to begin conceptualizing what it is we mean by "mixed-race" is the U.S. The concepts that will be explored include: the changing meaning of race, the legalization of interracial marriage, and theories and realities about mixed-race individuals.
TR 10:30-11:50 DOYLE
SOCI 222-001 FIELD METHODS OF SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Distribution I: Society
This class is intended as an introduction to the field methods of sociological research, with a focus on ethnographic observation and interviewing. The beginning of the course will emphasize the history and current status of these methods in the discipline of sociology, while at the same time preparing students for their own field studies. Students will conduct a piece of original research as a part of the course, from data collection through analysis and written results. Along the way, we will discuss issues such as the social role of the field researcher, the ethics of field research, and the strengths and limitations of field methods.
M 2-5 KOPPEL
SOCI 230-401 SOCIAL ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY KOREA
Distribution I: Society
Although the remarkable economic achievement of South Korea over the last few decades has received serious attention of academic and policy communities, dramatic social changes Korea has experienced in such areas as occupation, education, and family, gender, and population have not been widely discussed. Korea is one of the countries with the highest proportion of young people who have college degrees in the world. Korean women show the lowest level of fertility in the world. Korea surpasses Japan in the speed of population aging. Korea now shows a higher (crude) divorce rate than most North American and European countries except for the U.S. In this course, we will address various issues related to social changes in Korea such as: what are the implications of recent rapid population aging for labor supply and immigration policy in the near future? What are the consequences of recent rapid increase in divorce rate for children’s well-being? How has women’s economic participation changed along with their increasing levels of educational attainment? How has the expansion of education among Korean women affected the traditional cultural norm surrounding marriage and family? Why are Korean mothers so actively involved in their children’s education?
T 1:30-4:30 PARK
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SOCI 233-401 CRIMINOLOGY
Society Sector (All Classes)
Cross listed: CRIM 100
This introductory course examines the multi-disciplinary science of law-making, law-breaking, and law-enforcing. It reviews theories and data predicting where, when, by whom and against whom crimes happen. It also addresses the prevention of different offense types by different kinds of offenders against different kinds of people. Police, courts, prisons, and other institutions are critically examined as both preventing and causing crime. This course meets the general distribution requirement.
TR 3-4:30 LAUFER
SOCI 275-401 MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY
Distribution I: Society
Cross listed: HSOC 275
This course will give the student an introduction to the sociological study of medicine. Medical sociology is a broad field, covering topics as diverse as the institution and profession of medicine, the practice of medical care, and the social factors that contribute to sickness and well-being. Although we will not explore everything, we will attempt to cover as much of the field as possible through four thematic units: (1) the organization and development of the profession of medicine, (2) the delivery of health-care, (3) the social and cultural factors that affect how illness is defined, and (4) the social causes of illness. Our discussions will explore the sociological perspective and encourage the application of such a perspective to a variety of contemporary topics in medicine.
MWF 10-11 SCHNITTKER
SOCI 280-401 SOCIAL ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY CHINA
Cross Listed: EALC-048 SOCI-580
China's transition to a market-oriented society has effected fundamental changes in the lives of citizens. This class will consider pressing social concerns that China must struggle to address as it continues down the path of market reforms. Using topical problems to illustrate broader issues of social inequality along lines of gender, ethnicity, residence status, and poverty status, we will consider questions such as the following: How are women and men faring differently in China's new labor market and workplaces? Are rural peasants and the emerging underclass of urban laid-off workers being left behind by market transition? How are minorities faring in China's transition? How does the emerging digital divide play into the dichotomies of east-west and urban-rural in China? What is the plight of millions of "floaters" migrating into China's cities, with minimal legal rights and protections? Can China's rapidly-changing public health system handle emerging diseases such as SARS and AIDS? How has the one-child policy affected women, children, and society in China? Who are the "missing girls" of China, and what are the social implications of their disappearance? How has the welfare of children and adolescents changed with market reforms? The class will combine lectures, academic readings, case studies, films, and discussions.
MW 2-3:30 HANNUM
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SOCI 300-301 SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR
THESIS WORKSHOP
Sociology Majors Only
The purpose of this course is to guide senior sociology majors in writing a research proposal for a senior honors thesis. Students will learn about various research approaches, how to write a focused literature review, and kinds of data necessary to answer a wide variety of research questions, including their own. Throughout the course, students will work on designing a research question, generation researchable hypotheses, and coming up with a design for their proposed study. The final paper for this course will be a research proposal that is the basis for students’ independent research project. This course satisfies the research requirement for sociology majors and is designed primarily for seniors who are planning to write an honors thesis.
W 2-5 LEIDNER
SOCI 336-401 CULTURE, ARTS AND MEDIA IN URBAN CONTEXT
Cross Listed: URBS 336
SYLLABUS
The purpose of this ABCS course is to examine the development of art, culture and media in cities, with an emphasis on the role that local organizations play in neighborhood communities and art publics. Through classroom readings and discussions, students will explore a variety of sociological approaches to the analysis of urban culture, neighborhood life and public policy, and develop a set of fieldwork tools useful for the ethnographic study of local urban processes. Upon acquiring these research skills, students will conduct several hours per week of community service work in a variety of local nonprofit arts and other cultural institutions in West Philadelphia, with the two-fold purpose of benefiting the surrounding community while researching the role of the organization and its constituents in the city’s overall cultural development.
W 2-5 GRAZIAN
SOCI 410-401 EXPERIMENTS IN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
Benjamin Franklin Seminar
Research Seminar
Cross Listed: CRIM 410
This seminar focuses on the ongoing data collection of Penn's Jerry Lee Program of Randomized Controlled Trials in Restorative Justice, the largest program of field experiments in the history of criminology. Since 1995, this research program has randomly assigned over 3400 victims and offenders to either conventional justice or restorative conferences of victims, offenders and their families, in Canberra (Australia), London, Northumbria and Thames Valley (all in England). The offenders have all been willing to acknowledge their guilt to their victims (or the community), and to try to repair the harm they have caused. Key questions to be answered by the research program include the effects of restorative conferences on the future crime rates of offenders and victims, on the mental health and medical condition of both, and on the changes over time in these dimensions of the life course of both victims and offenders. Students will be the first data analysts to explore a new interview data set for some 150 victims and some 900 offenders.
R 1:30-4:30 STRANG
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SOCI 411-401 FIELD RESEARCH ON THE COURTS OF PHILADELPHIA
Cross Listed: CRIM 411
The course will serve as an introduction both to qualitative research and to an understanding of the routine workings of the courts in Philadelphia. After a brief discussion of the theoretical underpinnings and practical techniques of ethnography, student’s will undertake supervised field projects leading to the writing of 5000 words long, examined research reports about different aspects of the social organization of the courthouse and court room.
T R 10:30-12 ROCK
SOCI 420-401 PERSPECTIVES ON URBAN POVERTY Cancelled
Cross Listed: URBS 420
This course provides an interdisciplinary introduction to various perspectives and philosophies that have dominated the discourse on urban poverty throughout history. The course is primarily concerned with the ways in which historical, cultural, political, racial, social, geographical, and economic forces have either shaped or been left out of contemporary debates on urban poverty. Of great importance, the course will evaluate competing knowledge systems and their respective implications in terms of the question of what can be known about urban poverty in the contexts of policy circles, academic literature, and the broader social imaginary. We will critically analyze a wide body of literature seeking to theorize urban poverty, ranging from sociological; anthropological/ethnographic; geographical; Marxist; historical; social welfare; and cultural analyses. Primacy will be granted to critical analysis of course readings, particularly with regard to the ways in which various knowledge systems or regimes of truth create, sustain, and constrict meaning in reference to urban poverty.
T 2-5 EDIN
SOCI 460-401 THE SOCIOLOGY OF W.E.B. DU BOIS
Cross Listed: AFRC 420
This course is a critical exploration of the implications of the thought of William Edward Burghardt Du Bois's social thought as it evolved over the course of his life. The greatest mind of the 20th century to study the sociology of race was DuBois. The intellectual work of DuBois provided an intellectual redefinition of the African place in history and society. In order to humanize the African in social thought Du Bois had to first offer a fundamental critique of Western civilizations. The academy evidences renewed interest in the life and works of W.E.B. Du Bois, propelled by Africana Studies and the unresolved problems of race, gender, and class in modern society. The seminar will acquaint students with the works of Du Bois. It is, therefore, intended as an exploration, exposition and critique of Du Bois's sociology.
R 3-6 ZUBERI
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GRADUATE
LEVEL COURSES
SOCI 515-001 FAMILY RESEARCH WORKSHOP
Cross Listed: DEMG 515
This course is designed to provide acquaintance with relevant scholarship and current research for students engaged in empirical work on the sociology of the family, gender studies, and public policy research related to children, youth and families. The class will be devoted to helping student’s papers and thesis work in this area. Students should come to the class with a research topic in mind. Permission of Instructor Required.
T 9-12 FURSTENBERG
SOCI 535-001 QUANTITATIVE METHODS I
Registration REQUIRED for both the Lecture and Recitation section.
This course is an introduction to the practice of statistics in social and behavioral sciences. It is open to beginning graduate students and--with the permission of the instructor--advanced undergraduates. Topics covered include the description of social science data, in graphical and non-graphical form; correlation and other forms; of association, including cross-tabulation; bivariate regression; an introduction to probability theory; the logic of sampling; the logic of statistical inference and significance tests. There is a lecture twice weekly and a mandatory “lab.”
TR 12-1:30 ALLISON
Registration REQUIRED for both the Lecture and Recitation section.
201 - REC W 11-12 STAFF
202 - REC W 5-6 STAFF
203 – REC W 3-4 STAFF
SOCI 553-401 FIELD METHODS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH - Cancelled
Cross Listed: URBS 553
All social research is an organized, systematic process of seeking answers to a research question. Different research questions require different data gathering and analysis techniques. Different ways of gathering and analyzing data produce different perspectives of the phenomenon in question. What we learn about a given question depends, in large part on how we learn about it. In this seminar, class participants will become familiar with the issues involved in the collection and analysis of data using qualitative techniques. The course presupposes familiarity with the basics of qualitative research, such as getting in to a research setting, learning the ropes, the importance of key informants, how to insert one’s self into the research setting, and so on. Ideally, students will have covered some of this ground in a basic research methods course. These are crucial issues that the student must not neglect to seek training in, and this course is not a substitute for such training. The ethnographic technique of in-depth semi-structured interviewing will receive special attention, and I recommend additional training in participant observation if students decide to gather data in that way. We will also discuss issues of designing sampling strategies, writing semi-structured interview schedules, using theory, surmounting ethical difficulties, data coding and analysis, and writing up the results of qualitative data. To that end, each class period will have a practical “how to” component where students can practice dealing with these issues. This component involves class interaction and collaborative learning. Thus, each student must attend the class each week to fulfill the obligations of the course. The grade for the course will be divided into thirds. The first third will be earned by class participation. At the end of the semester, students will be asked to rank their peers’ participation, and the collective judgment of the group will determine that portion of the grade. The second third will rest on the timely completion of the class assignments. These are; Assignments I, II, and III, four book reports, and the facilitation of a class discussion. I will assign each student a letter grade for each of these assignments, and will average them to determine this portion of the grade. The final third rests on the timely completion of the final project. I require a research proposal based on a pilot study that could potentially be submitted to a funding agency or thesis committee. The proposal will incorporate Assignments II and III, and the findings from each student’s pilot research project. Beginning in week three, students will be required to begin handing in weekly field notes and interview transcripts. These will not be graded, but the quality of these notes will be reflected in the research proposal where the student discusses the pilot project.
T 9-12 EDIN
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SOCI 555-301 PRO-SEMINAR IN SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
This graduate seminar for first-year graduate students will be a two-semester course covering the major subfields of sociology -- their classical and contemporary theories, current methods and substance.
W 2-5 LEIDNER/JACOBS
SOCI 559-301 THEORIES OF RELIGIOUS BEHAVIOR
Distribution I: Society
SYLLABUS
What role does religion play in society? Is religion and religiosity decreasing, increasing, or just changing? How does religion relate to other important institutions in society, such as politics, race, gender and sexuality? How can we understand variation in religious participation and belief? When, why and how does religious change happen? These are some of the questions we will be addressing this semester. The course begins with classical theories in the sociology of religion, and then turns to an overview of the current theories and empirical realities of religion in the U.S. today. I have three goals for the course. My first goal is to give students a comprehensive overview of theories and research in the sociology of religion. My second goal is to help students gain an understanding of how to engage theory with empirical work. My final goal for the course is to understand the ways in which the methodological decisions and research designs of the studies we examine help or hinder the research findings and implications.
R 9-12 WILDE
SOCI 602-401 PROSEMINAR IN CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGY
Cross Listed: COML 610
An overview of the German, French and Anglophone traditions in sociological theory. The major focus will be on the works of Marx and Engels, Weber, Simmel, Durkheim, and Mead, and on subsequent developments in these classic schools of theory and research.
W 9-12 COLLINS
SOCI 603-401 PROSEMINAR OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
This course is intended to hone the skills and judgment required in order to conduct independent research in sociology. We will discuss the selection of intellectually strategic research questions and practical research designs. Students will get experience with proposal writing, the process of editing successive drafts of manuscripts, and the oral presentation of work in progress as well as finished research projects. The course is designed to be the context in which master’s papers are written. This is a required course for second year graduate students in Sociology.
R 4:30-7:30 BOSK
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SOCI 609-401 BASIC DEMOGRAPHIC METHODS
Cross Listed: DEMG 629
The course is designed to introduce students to basic concepts of demographic measurement and modeling used to study changes in population size and composition. The course covers basic measures of mortality, fertility and migration; life table construction; multiple decrement life tables; stable populations; population projections; and age patterns of vital events. Students will learn to apply demographic methods through a series of weekly problem sets.
T 2-5 ELO
SOCI 623-401 WORKSHOP IN URBAN ETHNOGRAPHY
Cross Listed: URBS 623
The ethnographic and sociological interpretation of urban life. Conceptual and methodological issues will be thoroughly discussed. Ongoing projects of participants will be presented in a "workshop" format, thus providing participants the opportunity of learning from and contributing ethnographic work in progress. Selected ethnographic works will be read and assessed.
M 2-5 ANDERSON
SOCI 629-401 SOCIOLOGY OF MASS COMMUNIATIONS
Cross Listed: COMM 626
Mass communication viewed from a sociological perspective. An examination of the sociology of the communicator, audience, content, effects, communication as a social process, linkage between personal and mass communication.
T 1-3 WRIGHT
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SOCI 633-401 POPULATION PROCESSES I
Cross Listed: DEMG 633
Population Processes I and II make up a two-course sequence designed to introduce students to the core areas of demography (fertility, mortality, population aging, and/or migration) and recent developments in the field. The course format consists of lectures and class discussions. The two course sequence is required of Ph.D. students in Demography. Others interested in enrolling in only one of the courses may do so with the permission of the Chair of the Graduate Group in Demography.
R 2-5 PRESTON/SCHNITTKER
SOCI 643-001 SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
This is an Advanced level graduate seminar where we will review contemporary research on social stratification and mobility. We will examine empirical and theoretical studies not only in the U.S. but also in other countries to address how the pattern of social stratification varies across societies and over time. The main topics to be discussed are family processes and stratification. We will also examine studies that address how national contexts mediate social stratification. Advanced undergraduate students will be admitted with permission.
W 9-12 PARK
SOCI 644-001 EMPIRICAL METHODS IN BIOETHICS
This course provides an introduction to social science research design and methods for students interested in conducting research on issues in bioethics. The course is appropriate for students who, rather than conducting research themselves, will use research findings to make or challenge arguments in policy statements or other writings. Emphasis is placed on the logic of research design as the way to relate topic of inquiry with methods so that evidence produced is pertinent and useful. Students will design research projects and explore a variety of methods available to conduct research. Students will also integrate research ethics into the formulation and design of their inquiries.
T 4:40-7 BOSK
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SOCI 660-401 THE SOCIOLOGY OF W.E.B. DU BOIS
Cross Listed: AFRC 420; AFRC 620; SOCI 460
This course is a critical exploration of the implications of the thought of William Edward Burghardt Du Bois's social thought as it evolved over the course of his life. The greatest mind of the 20th century to study the sociology of race was Du Bois. The intellectual work of Du Bois provided an intellectual redefinition of the African place in history and society. In order to humanize the African in social thought Du Bois had to first offer a fundamental critique of Western civilizations. The academy evidences renewed interest in the life and works of W.E.B. Du Bois, propelled by Africana Studies and the unresolved problems of race, gender, and class in modern society. The seminar will acquaint students with the works of Du Bois. It is, therefore, intended as an exploration, exposition and critique of Du Bois's sociology.
R 3-6 ZUBERI
SOCI 680-401 PRO-SEMINAR IN CRIMINOLOGY
Cross Listed: COMM 600
A systematic introduction to social theories of crime, deviance and control, organized chronologically and intended to acquaint students with the principal sociological debates in criminological theory from the precursors of the ‘Chicago School’ to contemporary cultural criminology.
M 10-1 ROCK
SOCI 796-401 DEMOGRAPHIC, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INTERRELATIONS
Cross Listed: DEMG 796
The course investigates economic and social determinants of fertility, mortality, and migration, and it discusses the effects of population variables on economic and social conditions, including economic and social development. Topics discussed in the course include: How do economic changes affect marriage, divorce, and child bearing decisions? How do households make decisions about transfers and bequests? How can economic and sociological approaches be combined in explanatory models of demography change? What causes the aging of populations, and how will population aging affect the economies of industrial nations, including pension programs like Social Security? What accounts for the rise in women's participation in the wage labor force over the past century? How are family composition and poverty interrelated? Does rapid population growth slow economic development in Third World countries? In addition to these topics, the course also covers selected methods not included in Dem/SOCI 535/536 and 609.
M 9-12 KOHLER
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SOCI 820-401 MEDIA, CULTURE AND CITIZENSHIP
Cross Listed: COMM 820
This graduate seminar asks students to engage in the varied literature on citizenship in media and cultural studies. Readings include some foundational texts in political theory as well as works by such scholars as Michael Foucault, Toby Miller, Aiwa Ong, Nikolas Roase, Meghan Morris, Chantel Mouffe, Laurie Ouellette, Micki McGee and Lisa Duggan. Our orientation within this material is evaluative with respect to (at least two) questions: How can we understand media and culture as arenas for the reproduction of forms of civic discourse and paradigms of the citizen/person. How do researchers, critics, activists and engaged intellectuals move from the macrolevel of theory (e.g. governmentality"), populated by conceptual monoliths (e.g. the institution, the state, the corporation), to the messy and contradictory microworlds of practice and experience in which subjects and citizens make -- and remake -- themselves? We will focus on the ways that civic discourse enmesh across a range of sites, including media texts and realms of production, distribution, and reception. Screenings and assignments emphasize methods and practices in applying theories of media citizenship to visual culture, including short Exercises in archival research designed to develop skills in working with primary sources.
M 5-7 MCCARTHY
SOCI 896-401 JOURNAILISM, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIETY
Cross Listed: COMM 896
The course begins by considering alternative normative approaches to understanding the role of the media in society, as suggested in history, sociology, culture studies and democratic theory. It then considers what influences journalism, and how recent changes in the organization and practice of journalism are affecting the welfare of society. This is followed by an equivalent examination of what influences television drama and film. The implications of recent developments are explored through two case studies: first, /Sex and the City/, examined partly in relation to debates within feminism and post-feminism, and second, the/Sopranos/, assessed in relation to competing interpretations of cultural value. The course's conspectus is then broadened to take account of the way in which different countries organize their media systems, and the underlying objectives and assumptions that inform national media policies. This leads, in turn, to a discussion of media globalization, cultural imperialism' and international media regulation; and of the policy choices posed by the rise of new media.
W 5-7 CURRAN
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C
G S COURSES
Note on registering for CGS courses:
Courses offered
through the College of General Studies are open to students in the
College of Arts and Sciences, but CGS imposes some restrictions
on registration. During the pre-registration period, about half
of the places in CGS classes are reserved for CGS students. Once
all of the non-reserved places are filled, College students will
find that they cannot register without permission. Please be aware
that the Sociology Department cannot grant permissions and override
the restrictions CGS has imposed. These registration restrictions
will be lifted on the second day of classes. At that time, College
students will be able to register for any CGS courses that still
have openings.
SOCI 001-601 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Society Sector (All Classes)
Sociology provides a unique way to look at human behavior and the world. Sociology is the systematic study of the groups and societies in which people live. In this introductory course, we examine and analyze how social structures and cultures are created, maintained, and most importantly, how they affect behavior. The course deconstructs our taken for granted world of social interactions and behaviors and examines what theory and research can tell about human social behavior.
W 4:30-7:30 STAFF
SOCI 003-60 1 DEVIANCE & SOCIAL CONTROL
Society Sector (All Classes)
The first half of the class is devoted to examining several sociological theories of deviance, including: functionalism; opportunity theory; control theory; social constructionism; and Marxist theories. Topics include crime, sexual deviance, drug use, and cheating. In the second half of this class we will examine social control in greater depth by looking at formal and informal means of social control, including policing, schooling, medicalization, and stigmatization. Contemporary issues in which deviance and social control play a central role, such as the “War on Drugs”, terrorism, and gay and lesbian marriage, are explored as cases.
M 4:30-7:30 MCFARLANE
SOCI 011-601 URBAN SOCIOLOGY
Distribution I: Society
Cross Listed: AFRC 011; URBS 112
A comprehensive introduction to the sociological study of cities. Topics will include theories of urbanism, methods of research, migration, history of cities, gentrification, poverty, urban politics, suburbanization and globalization. Philadelphia will be used as a recurring example, though the course will devote attention to cities around the U.S. and the world.
T 5-8 LUNDY
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SOCI 125-601 CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY AND MODERNITY
Distribution I: Society
-->Syllabus
Sociology emerged as an attempt to understand modern society and to consciously participate in its making. Since its inception in the mid-19 th century, the discipline has been addressing a number of issues that characterize the condition of modernity and continue to be central for contemporary theorists and researchers. These are the issues of social, ethnic and gender inequality, political struggle, alienation and identity. While focusing on these topics, this course surveys a number of classical theoretical statements that have had a lasting impact on the discipline of sociology (Marx, Weber Durkheim, as well as Simmel and G.H. Mead). This course expands the canon by introducing a number of important voices that used to be marginal to the discipline (W.E.B. Du Bois, Charlotte Gilman and Antonio Gramsci).
R 5:30–8:30 WALDSTEIN (Kupovykh)
SOCI 137-601 MASS MEDIA AND POPULAR CULTURE
Arts and Letters Sector (All Classes)
The course has two main goals: first, to examine and apply major theories pertaining to the relationship between media, culture and society; and second, to foster media literacy. We will begin by taking a critical look at a variety of theoretical approaches, relate them to a contemporary examples from popular culture, and discuss how they can help us understand the world we live in. The second part of the class addresses substantive issues in media and popular culture, including the politics of representation, media ownership, regulation, and production, consumption practices, identity politics, social movements and globalization. These discussions will underscore the importance of media literacy. Since media and other forms of popular culture provide explanations of how the world works and teach us how we should live our lives, we will be asking: How does this knowledge come about? What does it teach us about ourselves, others, and the world?
M 5:30-8:30 BAJC
SOCI 230-601 THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT: A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Distribution I: Society
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has a long and tragic history. Deep ethnic and cultural divisions greatly complicate the process of conflict resolution. A wide array of problem areas-theories of conflict and strategies to effect a resolution—will be examined. We will also examine UN resolutions and memoirs of Israelis and Palestinians. Alternative proposals for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will be considered. If a trans-national solution were ever implemented, it would have regional as well as global geo-political consequences.
R 4:30-7:30 EVAN
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SOCI 230-602 IMMIGRANTS TO AMERICA
Distribution I: Society
Immigration is one of the most important forces in American society today reshaping cities, suburbs, and rural areas, altering racial dynamics, influencing families, education, culture, labor markets, and politics. We will examine how successive waves of adventurers, exiles, slaves, refugees, and others have created and recreated American society in their relations with the people already here and with each other. We will learn about the different periods of immigration to America, particularly between the great migrations of the turn of the 20 th century, and the post-1965 wave of immigrants from Asia and Latin America. We will also discuss predominant theories of international immigration and study the relationships between the historical and contemporary context. The course will address such questions as: Why do people leave their homelands? Where do newcomers to America settle? What kinds of jobs do they hold? How do their children fare? What is assimilation and how does it operate? And, what are the effects of immigration on U.S. natives?
R 6-9 BARTLEY
SOCI 233-601 CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Society Sector (All Classes)
Cross Listed: CRIM 100
This introductory course examines the multi-disciplinary science of law-making, law-breaking, and law-enforcing. It reviews theories and data predicting where, when, by whom and against whom crimes happen. It also addresses the prevention of different offense types by different kinds of offenders against different kinds of people. Police, courts, prisons, and other institutions are critically examined as both preventing and causing crime.
W 5:30-8:30 FADER
SOCI 235-601 LAW AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Beginning with discussion of various perspectives on social change and law, this course then examines in detail the interdependent relationship between changes in legal and societal institutions. Emphasis will be placed on (1) how and when law can be an instrument for social change, and (2) how and when social change can cause legal change. In the assessment of this relationship, the laws of the United States and other countries as well as international law, will be studied. Throughout the course, discussions will include legal controversies relevant to social change such as civil liberties, gender and the law, and issues of nation-building. A comparative framework will be used in the analysis of this interdependent relationship between law and social change.
T 6:30-9:30 FETNI
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SOCI 275-601 MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY
Distribution I: Society
Cross Listed: HSOC 275
This course will give the student an introduction to the sociological study of medicine. Medical sociology is a broad field, covering topics as diverse as the institution and profession of medicine, the practice of medical care, and the social factors that contribute to sickness and well-being. Although it will not cover everything, we will attempt to cover as much of the field as possible through four central thematic units: (1) the organization and development of the profession of medicine, (2) the delivery of health-care, (3) the social and cultural factors that affect how illness is defined, and (4) the social causes of illness. Our discussions will explore the sociological perspective and encourage the application of such a perspective to a variety of contemporary medical concerns.
W 6-9 JOYCE
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SOCI 389-601 JAPANESE POP CULTURE
Distribution I: Society
Cross Listed: EALC 069
This course is based upon the premise that popular culture is a legitimate object of study in today's universities, and that through the careful study of objects of Japanese popular culture such as anime (animated films), manga (comic books), films, short stories and popular music, each one of us will be able to write short histories of various aspects of contemporary Japan. In order to further our individual historiographical projects, we will learn some theoretical methods for studying and writing about the relation between our everyday lives, the processes of globalization, and the pleasure or displeasure that we derive from the objects of popular culture. Through the study of Japanese popular culture, we will learn to analyze critically some of the functions of these objects as sources of meaning, escape, and identity formation in our everyday lives.
W 6-9 HARRINGTON
SOCI 530-640 POWER AND COUNTERPOWER IN AMERICAN SOCIETY
Distribution I: Society
Power is normally thought of as the ability to implement a decision or policy, whether at the level of the interpersonal, the family, the worksite, or in foreign relations. The need to utilize the various dimensions of power in order to effect a policy implies a relationship between two or more parties: those seeking a policy, and those who may resist its implementation. The degree to which power is exerted depends, very often, on the stakes, and on the level of resistance. The other party (wife, employee, local community, political party, government), in resisting, utilizes power to block or modify a decision. We encounter such conflicts most visibly in the economic and political spheres. Yet power is also exerted in more subtle forms, in our various social and cultural institutions (family, education, religion, the media, architecture, even the design of monuments). In this course we will look at how power works in the various institutions of U.S. society (with some attention to comparative data from other countries). How much is power dispersed? Is there a “power structure”, and if there is, what does it look like? How is power expressed in our economic, political, social, and cultural institutions? How do we “learn: about power in our daily lives? Finally, how do people exert counterpower when they object to what the (apparently) powerful are doing? What role do social protest movements play as instruments of counterpower? Members of the class will be expected to develop a written project, which might focus on a theoretical issue, a particular institution or movement, or an event or conflict that illustrates the dynamics of power and counterpower. They will be expected to share their proposals, and in a few cases present their final papers (in the manner of a professional meeting). Texts will be suggested, and an extensive reading list provided.
M 6-8:40 OPPENHEIMER
SOCI 591-640 RACIAL JUSTICE AND THE SOCIOLOGY OF LAW
Distribution II: History & Tradition
This course provides a critical examination of the law in perpetuating and eradicating racial injustice. The semester covers the period from the inception and rise of slavery during the colonial period through the Civil War
W 6:30-9:30 CHAIN
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Note on registering for CGS courses:
Courses offered through
the College of General Studies are open to students in the College
of Arts and Sciences, but CGS imposes some restrictions on registration.
During the pre-registration period, about half of the places in
CGS classes are reserved for CGS students. Once all of the non-reserved
places are filled, College students will find that they cannot register
without permission. Please be aware that the Sociology Department
cannot grant permission and override the restrictions CGS has imposed.
These registration restrictions will be lifted on the second day
of classes. At that time, College students will be able to register
for any CGS courses that still have openings.
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Last Modified:
18-Oct-2006
For updates, comments please contact:
saunderc@ssc.upenn.edu
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