Course Schedule and Catalog

Long Title: GRADUATE INDEPENDENT STUDY

Department: Sociology

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Course Type: Independent Study

Credit Hours: 3

Description: SECTION ONE: This course focuses on the sociology of global cities, especially on their comparative study. It examines their rise and development as central nodes in the world system, the means to their centrality and the threats to maintaining their status. A required end product of the course will be a publishable research paper using a comparative analysis of global cities. SECTION TWO: This course explores the relationship between social factors and health, illness, and mortality, with a heavy emphasis on equalitative experiences of illness, the doctor-patient relationship, and the socialization of medical students and new doctors. SECTION THREE: This course examines the causes and consequences of societal stratification in different institutional spheres. Students will be expected to examine key theoretical perspectives as well as understand and critique different methodological approaches to the study of social stratification. SECTION FOUR: Designed to familiarize students with the historical and contemporary theoretical explanations of the formation of, identification with, and implications of racial and ethnic categories in the United States and globally. Additionally, this course will cover empirical studies that investigate the perpetuation of racial and ethnic inequality in comparative, international perspective. SECTION FIVE: This course focuses on the mechanisms that lead to and/or perpetuate marginalization of social groups (e.g. racial, socioeconomic, religious, etc…) in urban areas. In particular, this course examines policies (i.e. public housing, cash welfare, corporation tax breaks, zoning laws) that increase or decrease the generational marginalization of groups. SECTION SIX: This course will delve extensively into criminology. The course will cover four broad areas: 1) how crime is imagined and portrayed, 2) empirical patterns of crime, 3) theories of crime causation and victimization, and 4) societal responses to crime, encompassing studies of social control, policing, the legal system, and punishment. Instructor Permission Required. Repeatable for Credit.