Undergraduate Sc.B. Concentration Requirements
The Sc.B. concentration in Sociology provides both a conceptual and a working knowledge of the varieties of data collection and techniques of data analysis used by professional researchers in Sociology and related social sciences. The centerpiece of the concentration is a rigorous and comprehensive collection of courses that will accomplish two objectives: (1) Develop an understanding of the abstract principles underlying the processes of data collection and analysis; and (2) Provide opportunities to engage with faculty members in the department, whose ongoing research involves the quantitative or qualitative analysis of empirical data, giving students hands-on experience in the research process, in one-on-one interaction with department faculty.
Through this concentration, students will develop the pragmatic and logical skills that will prepare them for a career in social research, whether basic research (such as found in academia or research institutions) or applied (such as found in policy and marketing research). In addition, they will put these newly developed skills to work, as they apply the techniques they learn to the analysis of actual data from the social sciences. Concomitantly, concentrators will take a variety of substantive courses that will assure them full grounding in the theoretical and paradigmatic foci that shape the issues and hypotheses subject to analysis by sociologists. Graduating seniors will have a useful and necessary balance between an understanding of the concepts and processes that underlie the issues studied by researchers in the discipline of Sociology and the analytic techniques that allow sociologists to understand the social issues that fall within their domain.
The Sc. B. concentration in Sociology consists of a total of fourteen (14) courses:
- An Introductory Survey of Sociology (SOC 0010 or SOC 0020)
- Sociological Theory (SOC 1010)
- Methods of Social Research (SOC 1020)
- Introduction to Calculus, Part I & II (MATH 0090 & 0100)
- Introductory Statistics for Social Research (SOC 1100 or APMA 1650)
- Multivariate Analysis (SOC 2010 or APMA 1660)
- Two 1000-Level Sociology Substantive Courses
(not including SOC 1950, 1970, 1980, 1990) - Three Advanced Empirical Analysis Courses from the following list
(at least two from Sociology):
Sample Surveys in Social Research (SOC 1120)
Market Research (SOC 1260)
Principles and Methods of GIS (SOC 1871F)
Ethnographic Research Methods (ANTH 1940)
Survey Research in Health Care (PHP 1320)
Introduction to Scientific Computing and Problem Solving (CSCI 0040)
Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation (PPAI 1200)
Qualitative Methods and Field Research (SOC 2210)
Advanced Quantitative Methods of Analysis (SOC 2220)
Techniques of Demographic Analysis (SOC 2230)
Structural Equations Models (SOC 2260E)
Event History Analysis (SOC 2240) - Senior Substantive Seminar (SOC 1870 series or 2000-level substantive course)
- Individual Research Project (SOC 1970)
Honors
Students who qualify may elect to write an honors thesis during their senior year. Entry into the Honors Program requires a grade of “A” in at least one-half of all sociology courses. (With the grade option of “S/NC,” a report of “S with Distinction” will qualify.) Honors students must write a thesis demonstrating their understanding of empirical research (typically, but not restricted to, an application of the methods and techniques studied to data relevant to a problem of the student's choosing.) The thesis will be directed by a faculty member in Sociology. A second reader will be chosen by the thesis director and the student; the second reader will certify to the department and the college that the thesis is of honors quality. As part of the honors thesis requirement, students will enroll in SOC 1950 (Senior Seminar in Sociology). Honors students will also take SOC 1980 and 1990 (in place of SOC 1970) during their senior year. (SOC 1950 does not count toward the fourteen course requirements for the concentration.)
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