SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
- SYA 3741Sociology of Death and DyingThis course explores the structure of human response to death, dying, and bereavement with a focus on sociocultural and interpersonal context. The course explores how cultural and medical factors shape experience of a ?good death?, grief over the life course, functions of funeral practices, and death-related ethical debates such as physician assisted suicide.
- SYA 4010Sociological TheoryThis course introduces the student to the kind of theory which has developed in the field of sociology since its foundation, moving through to the contemporary scene. Major theoretical fields, major theorists, and dominant theoretical issues that continue to be part of the sociological approach to explanation are covered. This is a required course for sociology majors.
- SYA 4300Methods of Social ResearchThis course is a broad coverage of research design, data collection, and data analysis. The course is required for sociology majors.
- SYA 4400Social StatisticsThis course involves the application of statistical techniques to sociological data as illustrated in the research and writing of social scientists. As a course for majors, it represents an important part of the student's methodological training with respect to the statistical analysis of data typically used by sociologists. The student is expected to carry out a number of exercises involving the statistical analysis of sociological data and to interpret the results. This is a required course for sociology majors.
- SYA 4905Directed Individual StudyConsent of instructor and departmental chair required. May be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours.
- SYA 4930Selected Topics in SociologyMay be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours.
- SYA 4931Honors WorkMay be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours.
- SYA 4935Capstone for Outstanding MajorsIn this course, through course readings, discussion, and projects, students learn more about how to apply social theory and methods to conduct research and design programs to address social inequality. The course focus varies from offering to offering, depending on the instructor's area of expertise. Students are invited to enroll in this course based on GPA. May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours when content changes.
- SYA 4936Sociology Skills SeminarThis seminar course helps students answer the question "What can I do with a degree in sociology?" Students learn to apply their sociological imagination and sociological perspective to help them determine what they want to do after graduation.
- SYA 5018Social TheoryThis course is an introduction to the works of major social theorists in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, concentrating mostly on Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. How did they prefigure the development of sociology as a social science? How do their perspectives relate to such early American theorists as W.E.B. DuBois and Charlotte Perkins Gilman?
- SYA 5305Introduction to Research MethodsThis course reviews rationales for performing sociological research and examines the relationship between sociological theory and research design. It also reviews the dimensions of research, e.g., measurement theory, definition and concept formation, strategies of theory testing, inadequacies and deficiencies of different research designs, statistical and causal inference.
- SYA 5315Qualitative Research Methods in SociologyThis course is a seminar in qualitative research methods that allows for the systematic collection and analysis of (non-numeric) observational and interview data obtained from individuals, social groups and organizations.
- SYA 5357Developing Sociological ResearchIn this course, master's students investigate how sociologists develop research projects.
- SYA 5406Multivariate AnalysisThis course covers the general linear model and application of a variety of techniques derived from this model to the analysis of data common to social science. Techniques include partial correlation, multiple regression, analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and contingency table analysis. The course also reviews assumptions of models and methods for handling violations of the assumptions.
- SYA 5407Advanced Quantitative MethodsThis course is the fourth in a sequence and deals with recursive and non-recursive structural equation models, the identification problem, and issues in estimation and statistical inference. Additional topics include time-ordered data (time-series and panel models), the causal approach to measurement error and latent variables equation context, and current developments in quantitative analysis in sociology.
- SYA 5458Social Statistics and Data Analysis for Public HealthThis course provides students with the basic data management skills necessary for carrying out quantitative analysis and presenting the results to both lay and professional audiences in public health.
- SYA 5515Sociological Research PracticumThis course provides hands-on experience in formulating questions for sociological research and developing a master's paper research project. In concert with a faculty supervisor, students write a report of a theoretical or empirical problem of sociological relevance. Students must simultaneously enroll for two credit hours in Master's Paper Research, SYA 5971r with a supervising faculty member.
- SYA 5516Reporting Sociological ResearchIn this course, students critique each others' work, revise drafts, and arrive at a final version of their master's research paper. Students also prepare to present their papers at professional conferences or submit them for publication. Overall, the seminar develops students' skills as writers, critics, editors, and presenters of academic research.
- SYA 5625Proseminar in SociologyThis course introduces students to issues they will confront as professional sociologists in colleges and universities and government or private contexts. Content reflects developments in the discipline.
- SYA 5907Directed Individual StudyCourse Description not on file
- SYA 5969Prospectus Writing SeminarThis course bridges the space between successful completion of prelims and defending a dissertation prospectus in sociology. Students read selections from several prospectus-writing ?How To? books, study examples of past sociology dissertation proposals that vary in methodological approach and area of concentration, complete a progressive series of assignments designed to make steady progress on their proposals, and workshop classmates? dissertation ideas. In this course, students complete a full working draft of the dissertation prospectus.
- SYA 5971Master's Paper ResearchThis course is a research project leading to a paper that is required for the master's degree. May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours.
- SYA 6660Teaching at the College Level in SociologyThis course is a graduate seminar focusing on pedagogical issues and practical problems in teaching sociology at the college and university levels.
- SYA 6933Selected Topics in SociologyThis course covers various topics in Sociology. May be repeated to a maximum of fifteen (15) credit hours; repeatable within the same term.
- SYA 6936Selected Topics in Research MethodsThis seminar is devoted to current issues in sociological methods.
- SYA 6980DissertationThis course endeavors to provide competency in conducting original research that adds to sociological knowledge.
- SYA 8962Major Area Doctoral Preliminary ExamCourse Description not on file
- SYA 8967Preparation for Major Area Preliminary ExamThis course is a mechanism for graduate students to use in preparing for the required comprehensive exam in their major area of study.
- SYA 8976Master's Paper CompletionThis course is a method for showing the approval of the required master's paper.
- SYA 8985Dissertation DefenseCourse Description not on file