SOCY 503a / PLSC 522a, Archival Methods and Historical Approaches in the Social Sciences  Jonny Steinberg

The aim of the course is to equip students to navigate different sorts of archives, to interpret archival material, and to survey debates in the social sciences about using historical material and theory to build arguments.
F 9:25am-11:15am

SOCY 508b / PLSC 505b, Qualitative Field Research  Egor Lazarev

In this seminar we discuss and practice qualitative field research methods. The course covers the basic techniques for collecting, interpreting, and analyzing ethnographic data, with an emphasis on the core ethnographic techniques of participant observation and in-depth interviewing. All participants carry out a local research project. Open to undergraduates with permission of the instructor.
HTBA

SOCY 542a, Sociological Theory  Emily Erikson

The course seeks to give students the conceptual tools for a constructive engagement with sociological theory and theorizing. We trace the genealogies of dominant theoretical approaches and explore the ways in which theorists contend with these approaches when confronting the central questions of both modernity and the discipline.
W 3:30pm-5:20pm

SOCY 554a, Research Topics on Human Nature and Social Networks  Nicholas Christakis

This seminar focuses on ongoing research projects in human nature, behavior genetics, social interactions, and social networks.
Th 12:30pm-2pm

SOCY 560a / PLSC 734a, Comparative Research Workshop  Jonathan Wyrtzen

This weekly workshop is dedicated to group discussion of work-in-progress by visiting scholars, Yale graduate students, and in-house faculty from Sociology and affiliated disciplines. Papers are distributed a week ahead of time and also posted on the website of the Center for Comparative Research (http://ccr.yale.edu). Students who are enrolled for credit are expected to present a paper-in-progress.
HTBA

SOCY 580a, Introduction to Methods in Quantitative Sociology  Staff

Introduction to methods in quantitative sociological research. Covers data description; graphical approaches; elementary probability theory; bivariate and multivariate linear regression; regression diagnostics. Includes hands-on data analysis using Stata.
HTBA

SOCY 595a, Stratification and Inequality Workshop  Ramina Sotoudeh

In this workshop we present and discuss ongoing empirical research work, primarily but not exclusively quantitative analyses. In addition, we address theoretical and methodological issues in the areas of the life course (education, training, labor markets, aging, as well as family demography), social inequality (class structures, stratification, and social mobility), and related topics.
HTBA

SOCY 598a, Independent Study  Rourke O'Brien

By arrangement with faculty. When students register for the course online, the dropdown menu should be completed.
HTBA

SOCY 605b / WGSS 570b, LGBTQ Population Health  John Pachankis

Sexual and gender minority individuals (e.g., those who identify as LGBTQ) represent a key health disparity population in the United States and worldwide, but high-quality evidence of this problem has historically been slow to accumulate. This course engages students in critically examining today’s rapidly expanding empirical knowledge regarding sexual and gender minority health by considering challenges to, and opportunities for, conducting this research with methodological rigor. Students consider social and ecological influences on sexual and gender minority health, including migration, community, and neighborhood influences. Social institutions, including religion, school, family, and close relationships, are examined as sources of both stress and support. Given the relevance of individual and collective identity and stress as mechanisms through which stigma impacts sexual and gender minority health, the empirical platform of the course is complemented by intersectionality theory, critical postmodern work on identity fluidity and multiplicity across the life course, and minority stress conceptualizations of health. Students apply lessons learned in the course to evaluating and developing policy and health care interventions for this increasingly visible segment of the global population. Also SBS 570.
Th 1pm-2:50pm

SOCY 617a / ANTH 541a / ENV 836a / HIST 965a / PLSC 779a, Agrarian Societies: Culture, Society, History, and Development  Jonathan Wyrtzen and Elisabeth Wood

An interdisciplinary examination of agrarian societies, contemporary and historical, Western and non-Western. Major analytical perspectives from anthropology, economics, history, political science, and environmental studies are used to develop a meaning-centered and historically grounded account of the transformations of rural society. Team-taught.
W 1:30pm-3:20pm

SOCY 624a, Sociology of International Migration: U.S. and Global Perspectives  Angel Escamilla Garcia

The study of international migration in sociology is today a well-stablished field that has studies almost every corner of the planet, expanding both our classic sociological theories and concepts but also generating new ones. This graduate course explores recent sociological scholarship on sociology of international immigration from both a U.S. and a global perspective. During this class we cover diverse topics of relevance in the field of international migration: the evolution of immigration theories, social construction of immigrants, the methods that sociologist employ to study international migration, the tensions between the categories that we use to study international migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, structural factors in transnational migration, globalized borders, immigrant incorporation, transnationalism, and changing attitudes influencing immigration policies. The discussions during class integrate diverse sociological themes like gender, race, economics, nationalism, nativism, culture, religion, crime, and social inequality. During the course we review the work of sociologist of sociology of migration conducted around the world like Eritrea, Vietnam, India, Mexico, China, France, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. The main objective of this course to provide the students with a global perspective of the field of international migration and use this literature for their own projects.
MW 2:30pm-3:45pm

SOCY 625a, Analysis of Social Structure  Scott Boorman

Emphasizing analytically integrated viewpoints, the course develops a variety of major contemporary approaches to the study of social structure and social organization. Building in part on research viewpoints articulated by Kenneth J. Arrow in The Limits of Organization (1974), by János Kornai in an address at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences published in 1984, and by Harrison C. White in Identity and Control (2nd ed., 2008), four major species of social organization are identified as focal: (1) social networks, (2) competitive markets, (3) hierarchies/bureaucracy, and (4) collective choice/legislation. This lecture course uses mathematical and computational models—and comparisons of their scientific styles and contributions—as analytical vehicles in coordinated development of the four species.
M 10am-11:50am

SOCY 628a, Workshop in Cultural Sociology  Yagmur Karakaya and Philip Smith

This workshop is designed to be a continuous part of the graduate curriculum. Meeting weekly throughout both the fall and spring terms, it constitutes an ongoing, informal seminar to explore areas of mutual interest among students and faculty, both visiting and permanent. The core concern of the workshop is social meaning and its forms and processes of institutionalization. Meaning is approached as both structure and performance, drawing not only on the burgeoning area of cultural sociology but on the humanities, philosophy, and other social sciences. Discussions range widely among methodological, theoretical, empirical, and normative issues. Sessions alternate between presentations by students of their own work and by visitors. Contents of the workshop vary from term to term, and from year to year. Enrollment is open to auditors who fully participate and for credit to students who submit written work.
HTBA

SOCY 630a / AFAM 773a, Workshop in Urban Ethnography  Elijah Anderson

The ethnographic interpretation of urban life and culture. Conceptual and methodological issues are discussed. Ongoing projects of participants are presented in a workshop format, thus providing participants with critical feedback as well as the opportunity to learn from and contribute to ethnographic work in progress. Selected ethnographic works are read and assessed.
M 11:30am-1:20pm

SOCY 653a, Workshop in Advanced Sociological Writing and Research  Philip Smith

This class concerns the process of advanced writing and research that converts draft material into work ready for publication, preferably in refereed journals, or submission as a substantial grant proposal. It investigates problem definition, the craft of writing, the structure of argument and data presentation, and the nature of persuasion more generally. The aim is to teach a professional orientation that allows work that is promising to become truly polished and compelling within the full range of sociological genres. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor; participants must enter the class with suitable draft material for group analysis and discussion.
F 4pm-6pm

SOCY 656a, Professional Seminar  Jonathan Wyrtzen

This required seminar aims at introducing incoming sociology graduate students to the department and the profession. Yale Sociology faculty members are invited to discuss their research. There are minimum requirements, such as writing a book review. No grades are given; students should take for Audit. Held biweekly.
F 9:15am-10:45am

SOCY 661a / ANTH 553a / CPLT 503a / GMAN 553a, Karl Marx's Capital  Paul North

A careful reading of Karl Marx's classic critique of capitalism, Capital volume 1, a work of philosophy, political economy, and critical social theory that has had a significant global readership for over 150 years. Selected readings also from Capital volumes 2 and 3.
MW 11:35am-12:25pm