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Sociology Courses
SOCIOL 598 Field Experience Project +
Description:
This course includes site visits and observation time spent in the field at state or social service agencies. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 600 Foundations of Applied Sociology +
Description:
This course is required for all formally accepted first-year students. The purpose of the course is a) to engage students in the field and substance of applied sociology, in order to strengthen their understanding of how theories, concepts, and sociological research are central to social problem-solving, policymaking, and the skills required in a variety of occupational settings; b) to involve students at the beginning of their graduate education in designing their studies to meet their educational, career, and personal objectives; and c) to maximize and facilitate student utilization of the curriculum, faculty, and departmental/university resources. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 604 Classical Sociological Theory +
Description:
Classical Sociological Theory asks us to grapple with big questions about how our social world is organized and how it might be organized in the future to create a fairer world. Some of the questions the theorists in this course wrestle with include: What is modernity? What is progress? What utopic social order should we be working towards? What are the forms and consequences of the racial, gendered, and class-based division of labor? We will study the work of canonical theorists, such as Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber, as well as other early theorists who are also key to contemporary thought, such as Harriet Martineau, W.E.B Du Bois and others who theorized race and gender. Upon completing the requirements for this course, you can expect not only to have a solid knowledge of classical sociological theory but also a critical insight into sociology as a discipline. We will discuss how ''the canon'' of sociological theory was and continues to be constructed and its influence on contemporary scholarship. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 606 Social Texts and Cultural Analysis +
Description:
This seminar takes an in-depth look at semiotics’the study of meaning-making through various forms (words, images, sounds, actions, objects, etc.)’and explores how it can be used as a lens to analyze society and culture. We will examine how cultures can be understood and express themselves through collective symbols, creative texts, and media forms. Our readings and discussions will also cover major approaches in cultural and media studies. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 607 Contemporary Sociological Theory +
Description:
This course introduces students to contemporary sociological theories. Sociological theory can illuminate and generate questions and research agendas we might not otherwise pursue. Sociological theory can also obscure, closing off research agendas we arguably should pursue. Together we will engage contemporary social theory, considering how it helps us explain data-driven findings, shapes the practice of sociology today, and influences our imaginings about other social worlds and disciplinary forms that might be possible. Particular theorists or traditions will be selected for study according to the interests of the instructor. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 608 Urban Sociology +
Description:
This seminar introduces students to the foundations of urban sociology from its foundation to the contemporary moment. Students will be exposed to the major theoretical waves of urban sociology and their critiques, drawing on both US and international examples. We will examine human ecology, political economy, world systems/global theory, the cultural turn, ethnography, gentrification, tourism, and contemporary approaches to the city and urbanism. At the end of the semester, students will have an understanding of the current debates in urban sociology. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 609L Qualitative Methods +
Description:
This graduate-level, qualitative research methods course is both a discussion-based seminar and a practice-oriented workshop. Students will develop research skills through reading and discussing course materials, conducting an original research project, and engaging in peer-review of each other’s proposed projects. This is a collaborative course that offers the benefits of faculty mentorship as well as collective support and engagement with peers. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 610 Teaching Sociology: Theory & Practice +
Description:
This seminar is designed for graduate students who are interested in teaching careers at the college and university level and/or in the scholarship about teaching and learning. Teaching assistants who are involved in classroom practice are also welcome. The course will address both the theory and practice of teaching with a focus on the kinds of backgrounds, experiences, and learning styles that UMass Boston students bring to the classroom. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 630 Social Psychology +
Description:
This course introduces students to sociological theories about interaction and motivates students to explore how the theories of social psychology can make change in the ’real world.’ The seminar will cover a mixture of contemporary and classical research literature to make sense of interactions in everyday social life and to use the ideas and concepts from the literature to address social problems. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 642 Issues in Contemporary Social Policy +
Description:
This course provides special emphasis on contemporary social policy issues. It examines principals of social policy analysis and the impact of social policy decisions on recipients and non-recipients of social services. Special attention is given to research on contemporary problem areas such as immigration, homelessness, public sector health and mental health, social justice issues, and crime and delinquency. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 645 Sociology of Migration +
Description:
This class offers a sociological perspective on migration by looking at why people migrate and explores the theoretical tools sociologists have developed for understanding migration. The course emphasizes the global context of international migration and examines the institutions that shape migration flows and the experiences of immigrants. These import issues will be examined from both the perspective of the receiving and sending countries. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 647 Sociology of Race and Racism +
Description:
This course introduces students to the major sociological theoretical perspectives and current research on race and racism. The course presents students with a historical and contemporary review of how social theorists have framed and theorized race and racism in US and non-US contexts. We will examine racial formation, racial capitalism, settler colonialism, white supremacy as structure, critical race theory, colorblindness, and the racialized body. At the end of the semester, students should have attained a clear and comprehensive understanding of how race and racism have been formulated in the past and contemporary debates and their relations to other intersecting aspects of identity. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 650 Introduction to Research Methods +
Description:
This course introduces sociological research methods and research design including approaches to finding and evaluating scholarly research, developing a research question, and writing a literature review. It will also provide foundational knowledge in qualitative and quantitative research methods, how to choose a method, and issues in research ethics. By the end of this course, students will be able to write a review of the literature, define and explain key concepts such as sampling, measurement, and generalizability, be able to justify the use of particular methods, and develop their own research proposal. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 651 Quantitative Methods +
Description:
This class provides introductory training for graduate students in the interpretation, analysis, and presentation of quantitative data for the social sciences. The course covers descriptive statistics, data visualization, cross-tabulation and regression analysis for social data. It also provides introductory training for computer-based statistical analyses; no prior experience with statistical software is required. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 652 Advanced Quantitative Methods +
Description:
This class provides training in quantitative analyses that moves beyond the more basic techniques covered in the preceding course SOCIOL 651. The course begins with a review of multiple regression before spending the rest of the semester covering specialized regression techniques. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 660 Fundamentals of Survey Methodology +
Description:
This course introduces students to the principles of survey design that are the basis of standard practices in the field, providing tools to design and implement survey data collection and for evaluating surveys. Topics include: sampling, nonresponse, survey instrument development and evaluation, survey interviewing, post survey data processing, and research ethics. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 661 Designing and Evaluating Survey Questions +
Description:
This course will teach students what is known about how the characteristics of survey questions affect the likely validity of the resulting data. It will also teach them how to evaluate how well questions meet the standards that we set for them. The course will introduce students to the underlying science of how to design and evaluate questions and will provide them with experience in actually carrying out question design and evaluation. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 662 Applied Survey Sampling - Design and Analysis +
Description:
This course is designed to teach students the principles of probability sampling for general populations. It will teach them about the various types of sampling methods including simple random, stratified, cluster, and probability proportionate to size. It will help them to understand when certain methods are preferable and how adding complexity to a sample design can affect data analysis. Topics will also include developing survey weights and analyzing data from complex samples. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 682 Medical Sociology +
Description:
This course explores the social dimensions of health, illness, and healthcare systems. We will examine how social factors such as class, race, gender, and environment influence health outcomes and access to care. Key topics include the social construction of illness, the role of medical institutions, healthcare inequalities, and the impact of policy on public health. Through critical analysis and discussion, students will develop a sociological understanding of contemporary healthcare challenges and their implications for social justice and health equity. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 692 Communities and Crime +
Description:
This class focuses on the nature of the social structures and group dynamics that shape neighborhood context, which in turn influence other social processes, like crime and responses to crime. Other foci include the intellectual development of the study of crime and communities, inequality, and contemporary issues in community development and change. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 694 Graduate Research Seminar +
Description:
Among the most important aspects of graduate training is learning how to translate your broader sociological interests into a focused research project that offers contributions to the scientific community. The Graduate Research Seminar is designed to guide MA and PhD students through the process of producing an empirical research paper from beginning to end, including developing a unique research question that is grounded in the existing literature, answering your question through the analysis of quantitative or qualitative data, and communicating your findings to a relevant audience. In this intensive 6.0 credit course, the overarching research project will be scaffolded through assignments that ask you to engage with and build on these steps while integrating feedback from your instructors and peers along the way. The objective is for your final paper to be used for purposes beyond SOCIOL 694 course requirements and to serve as a building block in your larger research agenda. For MA students, the final paper must be accepted by the two instructors to fulfill the capstone requirement for the MA degree. Doctoral students may use the course to prepare for the Empirical Paper Comprehensive Exam. Please note that students need a background in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods prior to enrolling in this course. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 696 Independent Study +
Description:
In-depth study of a particular topic according to the student's interests. Independent study projects are expected to make an important contribution to a student's training in applied sociology. All projects are under the supervision of a faculty advisor, who is responsible for guiding and evaluating the student's work. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 697 Special Topics in Applied Sociology +
Description:
An advanced seminar on selected topics in applied sociology. The course content and credit vary according to topic. Details on special topics courses will be announced during the advance registration period. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 698 Field Work +
Description:
Intensive field work and/or internship in a public or private research or practice setting jointly supervised by faculty and agency-based staff. Placements made according to student interest and internship availability. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 700 Proseminar I: Introduction to Graduate Sociology +
SOCIOL 701 Proseminar II: Planning a career in Sociology +
Description:
The goal of this preseminar is to help you think about the develop plans for your particular career plans in sociology. We will discuss upcoming program requirements (comprehensive exams, dissertation), and well as how to think about graduate school as an opportunity for professional development, both within your courses and TA/RA experiences and beyond. More Info
Offered in:SOCIOL 702 Proseminar III: Developing professional skills and preparing for job market +
Description:
The goal of this proseminar is to help you think about and develop plans for your particular career plans in sociology. Much of our time will be spent talking about the job market (academic and applied) and how to tailor your work to fit different types of jobs. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
SOCIOL 897 Special Topics +
SOCIOL 899 Dissertation Credits +