* SOCY 0074a / ER&M 0581a / MUSI 0081a, Race and Place in British New Wave, K-Pop, and Beyond  Grace Kao

This seminar introduces you to several popular musical genres and explores how they are tied to racial, regional, and national identities. We examine how music is exported via migrants, return migrants, industry professionals, and the nation-state (in the case of Korean Popular Music, or K-Pop). Readings and discussions focus primarily on the British New Wave (from about 1979 to 1985) and K-Pop (1992-present), but we also discuss first-wave reggae, ska, rocksteady from the 1960s-70s, British and American punk rock music (1970s-1980s), the precursors of modern K-Pop, and have a brief discussion of Japanese City Pop. The class focuses mainly on the British New Wave and K-Pop because these two genres of popular music have strong ties to particular geographic areas, but they became or have become extremely popular in other parts of the world. We also investigate the importance of music videos in the development of these genres. Enrollment limited to first year students.   SO
MW 4pm-5:15pm

SOCY 1002a / HIST 1681a / MMES 1102a / NELC 1020a, Introduction to the Middle East  Jonathan Wyrtzen

Introduction to the history, politics, societies, and cultures of the Middle East. Topics and themes include geopolitics, environment, state formation, roles of Judaism/Christianity/Islam, empire&colonialism, nationalism, regional & global wars, Palestine-Israel conflict, US and other Great Power intervention.  HU, SO  0 Course cr
MW 9am-10:15am

SOCY 1012a / AMST 1110a / EDST 1110a, Foundations in Education Studies  Lauren Carpenter

Introduction to key issues and debates in the U.S. public education system with a focus on the nexus of education theory and research, policy and pedagogy. The course emphasizes social, scientific, economic, and political forces that shape approaches to schooling and education reform, and it includes theoretical and practical perspectives from practitioners, policymakers, and scholars.  SO  0 Course cr
TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

SOCY 1283a, Computers, Networks, and Society  Scott Boorman

Comparison of major algorithm-centered approaches to the analysis of complex social network and organizational data. Fundamental principles for developing a disciplined and coherent perspective on the effects of modern information technology on societies worldwide. Software warfare and algorithm sabotage; blockmodeling and privacy; legal, ethical, and policy issues. No prior experience with computers required.  SO  0 Course cr
TTh 1:05pm-2:20pm

SOCY 1702a / EAST 2721a / GLBL 3303a, Inequality and Social Change in China  Emma Zang

This course offers an introduction to major social and economic issues in contemporary China. It provides a survey of the ongoing reforms and the Chinese society in transition with a focus on selected policy issues. In most weeks, the first session is reserved for a lecture by the instructor or a guest lecturer, and the second session is reserved for student-led discussions of pre-circulated questions.  SO
HTBA

SOCY 1704a / AFAM 1986a / LAST 1214a / PLSC 2417a, Contesting Injustice  Elisabeth Wood

Exploration of why, when, and how people organize collectively to challenge political, social, and economic injustice. Cross-national comparison of the extent, causes, and consequences of inequality. Analysis of mobilizations for social justice in both U.S. and international settings. Intended primarily for first years and sophomores.  SO  0 Course cr
TTh 4pm-4:50pm

SOCY 1840b / ANTH 1840b / ER&M 2541b, The Corporation  Douglas Rogers

Survey of the rise, diversity, and power of the capitalist corporation in global contexts, with a focus on the 20th and 21st centuries. Topics include: the corporation as legal entity and the social and cultural consequences of this status; corporations in the colonial era; relationships among corporations, states, and non-governmental organizations in Western and non-Western contexts; anti-corporate critique and response; corporate social responsibility; and race, gender, and indigeneity.  HU, SO  0 Course cr
MW 2:35pm-3:50pm

SOCY 2002a / AFAM 1952 / BLST 1952a / PLSC 2363a, Topics in Contemporary Social Theory  Yagmur Karakaya

In-depth introduction to recent developments in social theory, with particular emphasis on the last twenty years. Focus on three distinct areas of study: the building blocks and contrasting understandings of human persons and social action; the competing theories of the social structure of markets, institutions, cultures, social fields, and actor-networks; and the theoretical controversies concerning nations, states and empires, ethnic and racial identity, and the relation between facts and values in social research. Authors include Judith Butler, Michel Foucault, Jurgen Habermas, Pierre Bourdieu and Bruno Latour. SOCY 151 or equivalent is strongly recommended.  WR, SO  0 Course cr
TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

* SOCY 2009a, The Sociological Imagination  Julia Adams

Introduction to the study of sociology and modernity. Topics include the rise and transformations of capitalism; colonialism and empire; the linked advent of democracy and bureaucracy; the world-historical invention of the individual, and the modern and postmodern city. The course culminates in individualized student final projects, and includes a student-run class blog that discusses readings from classical and contemporary authors. Recommended for sophomores and juniors.  SO
MW 2:35pm-3:50pm

* SOCY 2048a / BENG 2048a, AI, Medicine, and Society  Alka Menon

AI has shown tremendous promise to address problems in medicine and science. There is also considerable hype surrounding AI and many concerns (some justified, some not) regarding the use of this type of technology. This discussion-based seminar 1) provides undergraduate students across disciplines with a broad overview of issues related to AI in medicine at a non-technical level, drawing on perspectives from the interpretive/humanistic social sciences, computing, engineering, and healthcare and 2) models interdisciplinary communication and build a robust framework for collaboration. Overarching topics, grounded in medical case studies, include what it means for computers to “think” and how we understand what they are thinking about; the use and limits of scientific knowledge in making policy decisions; bias, fairness, equity, equality; the challenges of implementation of AI systems; safety and risk; and the human/computer interface. The course also provides a high level overview of machine learning, discussing opportunities, limitations, and tradeoffs. Ultimately, the course offers a grounded look at how AI is being discussed and deployed on the ground in medicine, equipping students with a critical lens for thinking about responsible and practical implementation and innovation when it comes to AI.  SO
TTh 2:35pm-3:50pm

* SOCY 2103a, Visual Sociology  Philip Smith

Introduction to themes and methods in visual sociology. The role and use of visual information in social life, including images, objects, settings, and human interactions. Ethnographic photography, the study of media images, maps and diagrams, observation and coding of public settings, unobtrusive measures, and the use of internet resources.  SO
Th 1:30pm-3:25pm

* SOCY 2221b / HELN 2221b / HIST 2221b / PLSC 3474b, Modern Greek History  Charalampos Minasidis

This seminar examines Modern Greek History from the 18th century to the early 21st century, focusing on the political, social, economic, and cultural transformations that have shaped the Greek world. It explores the turbulent experiences of Greeks both within and beyond the borders of the modern state, paying particular attention to the violent events and historical ruptures that defined this period. The course traces the evolving idea of Hellenism by analyzing competing visions, political movements, and ideological projects that influenced its development. It investigates the origins, impact, and legacy of key historical changes, reconstructing the formation of Greek statehood, society, and identity. Special emphasis is placed on events with global resonance, including the Greek Revolution, the 1923 compulsory population exchange, and the Greek Civil War. The seminar also introduces students to major historiographical debates, conceptual frameworks, and methodological tools, while building familiarity with the key events, timelines, and figures of Modern Greek History.  WR, HU, SO
Th 1:30pm-3:25pm

SOCY 2300b / AMST 2200b / HUMS 1650b / WGSS 2200b, Topics in Human Sexuality  Joseph Fischel

In 1970, Yale professors and sexuality scholars Lorna and Philip Sarrel introduced what came to be their wildly popular lecture, “Topics in Human Sexuality.” The course, offered at the height of the sexual revolution and shortly after Yale University admitted women undergraduates, was multipurpose: to teach students about pressing, contemporary social problems around sex, gender, and sexuality; to help students learn about their bodies, sexualities, and relationships; to direct students to resources and information about their sexual and reproductive health; and to advance the mission of a liberal arts education, namely, the cultivation of well-rounded, critically engaged, curious, participatory young citizens. This iteration of the course is inspired by the Sarrels’ ambitions, even if we are unlikely to realize them in full. The course is offered in the spirit of a critical sexuality education, critical as in 1) theory- rather than practicum-driven, but nonetheless 2) urgent. As political movements that endanger transgender children, suppress sexual expression, and rescind reproductive rights gain traction, the course offers candid, careful focus on: abortion, sexual education, queer and trans kids, pornography, university sexual politics, hooking up, and breaking up.  Along the way, we watch a season of Netlfix’s “Sex Education” together. The class (nonexclusively) focuses on social and political problems in the contemporary United States, and examines those problems by drawing upon scholarship in Gender & Sexuality Studies, American Studies, Sociology, Psychology, and Public Law.  HU, SO  0 Course cr
TTh 10:30am-11:20am

SOCY 2800a, Inequality, Economic Mobility & Public Policy  Rourke O'Brien

This course provides an introduction to the sociological analysis of economic inequality and social mobility with a focus on the contemporary United States. We begin with an overview of core concepts in the study of inequality and mobility including measurement and recent trends. We then proceed by examining the role of institutions—including the family, schools, neighborhoods, labor markets, and the criminal justice system—in mitigating, maintaining, or reproducing inequalities within and between groups. We also critically evaluate public policy proposals aimed at reducing inequality and promoting economic mobility.  SO  0 Course cr
TTh 10:30am-11:20am

SOCY 2830a / GLBL 2287a / PLSC 2404a, Capitalism and Crisis  Isabela Mares

This course provides an introduction to the study of comparative capitalism. We examine how institutions organizing labor markets, finance and the welfare state differ systematically across advanced industrialized countries and the consequence of these differences for a variety of economic and policy outcomes. These include economic growth, unemployment, levels of inequality and so on. Can we meaningfully talk about a German or Swedish model and if so, what are the main institutional arrangements that differ across these economies? How do institutions in these countries differ from more liberal capitalist economies, such as the United States? In the second part of the course, we examine the responses of different countries to a variety of economic shocks. These include the stagflation crisis of the 1970’s, the slowdown in economic growth, deindustrialization, the rise in unemployment and inequality and the migration crisis. We examine how existing political and economic institutions have shaped the policy trade-offs encountered by different countries and we explain the different political responses taken in response to these crises. During the period between November 14 and November 24, enrollment will be limited to majors. After November 24, registration will be opened to all Yale College students. Please register your interest via the Yale Course Search website.  SO  0 Course cr
MW 9:25am-10:15am

* SOCY 3040b / HELN 3040b / HIST 2706b / PLSC 3476b, Civil Wars  Charalampos Minasidis

This seminar introduces students to the study of civil wars, examining the underlying ideas, dynamics, and motivations that drive such internal conflicts. Drawing on a broad range of geographically diverse case studies, from the French Religious Wars to civil wars in Greece, Colombia, Kenya, and El Salvados, it explores key thematic issues in the historical development of civil wars and interrogates the blurred boundaries between civil wars and other forms of warfare, including (counter-)revolutionary, (anti-)colonial, partisan, and genocidal conflicts. The course further investigates the global interconnections and enduring legacies of civil wars through a comparative and relational analytical framework. By conceptualizing various forms of warfare as civil wars, the seminar enables a nuanced examination of the political, social, national, ethnic, separatist, and colonial dimensions of violence. At the same time, its transnational and comparative approach challenges exceptionalist interpretations traditionally found in the study of civil wars.  WR, HU, SO
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

* SOCY 3104a or b / AMST 3304a or b / ANTH 3304a or b / ER&M 3304a or b / HUMS 3304a or b, Ethnography & Journalism  Madiha Tahir

While each is loathed to admit it, journalism and ethnography are cousins in some respects interested in (albeit distinct) modes of storytelling, translation, and interpretation. This methods course considers these shared grounds to launch a cross-comparative examination. What can the practies of each field and method—journalism and ethnography—tell us about the other? How do journalists and ethnographers engage ideas about the truth? What can they learn from each other? Students spend the first four weeks studying journalistic methods and debates before shifting to ethnographic discussions, and finally, comparative approaches to writing; data and evidence; experience and positionality.   HU, SO
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* SOCY 3331b / HIST 2787b / RLST 3470b / WGSS 2291b, Sexual Minorities from Plato to the Enlightenment  Igor De Souza

This interdisciplinary course surveys the history of homosexuality from a cross-cultural, comparative  perspective. Students study contexts where homosexuality and sodomy were categorized, regulated, and persecuted and examine ancient and medieval constructions of same-sex desire in light of post-modern developments, challenging ideas around what is considered normal and/or natural. Ultimately, we ask: what has changed, and what has remained the same, in the history of homosexuality? What do gays and lesbians today have in common with pre-modern sodomites? Can this history help us ground or rethink our sexual selves and identities? Primary and secondary historical sources, some legal and religious sources, and texts in intellectual history are studied. Among the case studies for the course are ancient attitudes among Jews, early Christians, and Greeks; Christian theologians of the Middle Ages; Renaissance Florence; the Inquisition in Iberia; colonial Latin America; and the Enlightenment’s condemnation of sodomy by Montesquieu and Voltaire, and its defense by Bentham.  HU
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* SOCY 3358a / PLSC 3258a / WGSS 3258a, Bodies, Labor, and Politics  Isabelle Aboaf

Work is never “just work.” It is a deeply political phenomenon, moralized and regulated by states and societies alike. For those occupations that feature the physical body – such as professional athletes, fashion models, or sex workers – these politics are especially heightened. This course asks how labor politics and power operate through at the most intimate level: the body. When can we consider a job to be truly “embodied” —and with what consequences? How do these professions complicate the very idea of what constitutes “work”? Why are certain forms of embodied labor considered valuable by the state, and others cast as disposable or dangerous? We think critically about concepts such as bodily autonomy, public health, and beauty, and ask how these can (or should) factor into laws that affect the workplace. Drawing on feminist political theory and labor studies, we examine more closely the politics of different kinds of embodied work. Across these cases, we examine the deeper ethical questions and political stakes underlying their regulation. As a Writing in the Discipline course, we also develop practical approaches to writing and demystify the process of producing evidence-driven academic arguments.  SO
TTh 2:35pm-3:50pm

* SOCY 3401a / AFST 3401a, Media and Mass Atrocities in Africa  j. Wahutu

Over the last century, several instances of mass violence have unfolded in numerous parts of the world, the most notable being the Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide, and ongoing atrocities in Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo. How these instances of violence have been represented will form the main body of this class. The study of western news representation of Africa (and the global south) and the dynamics of differential reporting is not new. However, what do we actually know about how African media represent genocide and mass atrocities that occur in Africa? How does the news create and reinforce knowledge about mass atrocities? How can the media both generate and rely on knowledge? Is there a difference between the knowledge produced by African media and media from the global north? These are the questions that will guide us for the semester. 
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

* SOCY 3402b / EAST 4722b, Politics and Society in South Korea  Angela McClean

In this course, students are introduced to twelve major themes that illuminate the politics and society of contemporary South Korea. Each theme takes up a complex issue or phenomenon that has shaped or continues to shape South Korea today, ranging from its rapid economic transformation and democratic consolidation to relations with North Korea, social inequality, and demographic “crisis.” Each week’s topic is framed as a set of puzzles that guide critical inquiry and interpretation. Through lectures, readings, and discussions, students explore diverse scholarly approaches to these puzzles and gain a comprehensive perspective on the complexities of South Korean politics and society.  SO
W 9:25am-11:20am

* SOCY 3425a / EAST 4720a / ER&M 1611a, Migration in East Asia and Beyond  Angela McClean

Over the past few decades, East Asia has become a new destination region for migrants, the phenomenon of which is continuing to cause fierce public and political discussions on national identity and immigration and integration policies. This course explores various types, debates, and industries of migration in contemporary East Asia. While we focus largely on Japan and South Korea, we also have an opportunity to discuss migrant experiences in other popular destination and origin countries in Asia including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan. Starting with the major theories and concepts in international migration, we examine East Asian migration regimes, connections between migration and high- and low-skilled labor, gender, co-ethnics, and families, as well as state, public, and civil society responses to migration.  SO
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

* SOCY 3470a / EAST 4721a, Power, Exclusion and Resistance in South Korea  Angela McClean

South Korea is often perceived as a socially and culturally homogeneous country, yet – like any society – it encompasses a complex landscape of diversity and experiences of exclusion. This course examines the processes of political and social exclusion in South Korea, analyzing the systematic forces, such as patriarchy, nationalism, racism, and capitalism, that produce marginalization. It also explores how populations affected by such forces, including women, migrants, and LGBTQ+ communities, navigate and contest their impacts. Ultimately, this course challenges students to critically inspect how power operates in Korean society by exploring the experiences of exclusion and marginalization, as well as the possibilities and limits of resistance. While the primary focus is on contemporary issues, the course also considers their historical roots, using theoretical readings and case studies to explore both past and present dynamics.  SO
Th 9:25am-11:20am

* SOCY 3742a / AFAM 3929 / BLST 3929a, Managing Blackness in a "White Space"  Elijah Anderson

White space” is a perceptual category that assumes a particular space to be predominantly white, one where black people are typically unexpected, marginalized when present, and made to feel unwelcome—a space that blacks perceive to be informally “off-limits” to people like them and where on occasion they encounter racialized disrespect and other forms of resistance. This course explores the challenge black people face when managing their lives in this white space.  SO
HTBA

* SOCY 3962a / S&DS 1780a, Sociogenomics  Ramina Sotoudeh

Since the first human genome was sequenced in 2003, social and behavioral data have become increasingly integrated with genetic data. This has proven important not only for medicine and public health but also for social science. In this course, we cover the foundations of sociogenomics research. We begin by surveying core concepts in the field, from heritability to gene-by-environment interactions, and learning the computational tools necessary for producing sociogenomics research. In later weeks, we read some of the latest applied work in the field and discuss the value and limitations of such research. The course culminates in a final project, in which students are tasked with using empirical data to answer a social genetics question of their own.  SO
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* SOCY 4200a, Senior Essay and Colloquium for Intensive Majors  Alex Manning

Independent research under faculty direction, involving empirical research and resulting in a substantial paper. Workshop meets biweekly to discuss various stages of the research process and to share experiences in gathering and analyzing data. The first meeting is in the second week of the term.
HTBA