2025-2026 Catalog

SOCI 20001. Sociological Methods. 100 Units.

This course introduces the approach and practice of social research. This course explores questions of causality in social research and the limits of knowledge. It then covers the basic practices that are a component of all methods of social research through an in-depth examination of interviews, ethnography, surveys, archival, online and computational research. Students spend the quarter working on a series of assignments that culminate in a research proposal for the BA thesis.

Terms Offered: Winter. Not Being offered in 2025-2026

SOCI 20002. Society, Power and Change. 100 Units.

The central objective of this course is to introduce students to some key themes of sociological thought and research relating to social structures, power relations and social transformation. Themes include but are not restricted to the relationship of the individual to society, the social construction of societal institutions and identities, social cleavages such as race, gender and class, and social movements and revolution.

Terms Offered: Autumn. Not Being offered in 2025-26
Note(s): Required of students who are majoring in Sociology

SOCI 20004. Introduction to Statistical Methods and Models. 100 Units.

This course has two purposes. First, using nationally representative US surveys, we'll examine the early emergence of educational inequality and its evolution during adolescence and adulthood. We'll ask about the importance of social origins (parent social status, race/ethnicity, gender, and language) in predicting labor market outcomes. We'll study the role that education and plays in shaping economic opportunity, beginning in early childhood. We'll ask at what points interventions might effectively advance learning and reduce inequality. Second, we'll gain mastery over some important statistical methods required for answering these and related questions. Indeed, this course provides an introduction to quantitative methods and a foundation for other methods courses in the social sciences. We consider standard topics: graphical and tabular displays of univariate and bivariate distributions, an introduction to statistical inference, and commonly arising applications such as the t‐test, the two‐way contingency table, analysis of variance, and regression. However, all statistical ideas and methods are embedded in case studies including a national survey of adult labor force outcomes, a national survey of elementary school children, and a national survey that follows adolescents through secondary school into early adulthood. Thus, the course will consider all statistical choices and inferences in the context of the broader logic of inquiry with the aim of strengthening our understanding of that logic as well as of the statistical methods.

Instructor(s): S. Raudenbush     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Priority registration for Ugrad Sociology majors and Sociology PhD students. No prior instruction in statistical analysis is required. Others by consent of instructor.
Note(s): Students are expected to attend two lectures and one lab per week. Required of students who are majoring in Sociology.
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30004

SOCI 20005. Sociological Theory. 100 Units.

The course provides a basic introduction to modern sociological theory. Readings focus on classic texts by Weber, Durkheim, Simmel, and Dewey, ending with an individually chosen (by each student) text by a theoretical writer from outside Europe and North America. Lectures provide a background history of modern social thought.

Instructor(s): A. Glaeser     Terms Offered: Spring. Satisfies Theory Requirement for Sociology Majors
Note(s): Required of students who are majoring in Sociology.

SOCI 20009. Regression and Generalized Linear Models. 100 Units.

Social scientists regularly ask questions that can be answered with quantitative data from a population-based sample. For example, how much more income do college graduates earn compared to those who do not attend college? Do men and women with similar levels of training and who work in similar jobs earn different incomes? Why do children who grow up in different family or neighborhood environments perform differently in school? To what extent do individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds hold different types of political attitudes and engage in different types of political behavior? This course explores statistical methods that can be used to answer these and many other questions of interest to social scientists. The main objectives are to provide students with a firm understanding of linear regression and generalized linear models and with the technical skills to implement these methods in practice.

Instructor(s): G. Wodtke     Terms Offered: Winter. Priority registration for Sociology Majors and Sociology 1st and 2nd year PhD Students
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 30004 or equivalent to an introductory Stats Class
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30005

SOCI 20104. Urban Structure and Process. 100 Units.

This course reviews competing theories of urban development, especially their ability to explain the changing nature of cities under the impact of advanced industrialism. Analysis includes a consideration of emerging metropolitan regions, the microstructure of local neighborhoods, and the limitations of the past American experience as a way of developing urban policy both in this country and elsewhere.

Instructor(s): R. Vargas     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): ARCH 20104, SOSC 25100, ENST 20104, GEOG 22700, CHST 20104

SOCI 20106. Political Sociology. 100 Units.

This course provides analytical perspectives on citizen preference theory, public choice, group theory, bureaucrats and state-centered theory, coalition theory, elite theories, and political culture. These competing analytical perspectives are assessed in considering middle-range theories and empirical studies on central themes of political sociology. Local, national, and cross-national analyses are explored.

Instructor(s): T. Clark     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Completion of the general education requirement in the social sciences
Equivalent Course(s): PBPL 23600, ENST 23500, SOCI 30106

SOCI 20116. Global-Local Politics. 100 Units.

Globalizing and local forces are generating a new politics in the United States and around the world. This course explores this new politics by mapping its emerging elements: the rise of social issues, ethno-religious and regional attachments, environmentalism, gender and life-style identity issues, new social movements, transformed political parties and organized groups, and new efforts to mobilize individual citizens.

Instructor(s): T. Clark     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): LLSO 20116, PBPL 27900, SOCI 30116, HMRT 30116, HMRT 20116, GEOG 20116, GEOG 30116

SOCI 20120. Urban Policy Analysis. 100 Units.

Cities are sites of challenge and innovation worldwide. Dramatic new policies can be implemented locally and chart new paths for national policies. Five main approaches are compared: Leadership patterns: are business, political, or other kinds of leaders more important--and where, when, and why do these matter? Second do capitalism, or more recently, global markets, make specific leaders irrelevant? Third: leaders like mayors are weaker since citizens, interest groups, and media have grown so powerful. Fourth innovation drives many policy issues. Fifth consumption, entertainment, and the arts engage citizens in new ways. Can all five hold, in some locations? Why should they differentially operate across big and small, rich and poor neighborhoods, cities, and countries? The course introduces you to core urban issues, whether your goal is to conduct research, interpret reports by others, make policy decisions, or watch the tube and discuss these issues as a more informed citizen. Chicago, US and big and small locations internationally are considered; all methods are welcome.

Instructor(s): T. Clark     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): GEOG 20120, SOCI 30120, GEOG 30120, PBPL 24800

SOCI 20123. Sociology of the Family. 100 Units.

The family is a key social institution in all human societies, although its structure and functions vary over time and place. Families are responsible for producing, raising and socializing children into social roles. Families are often the site of religious practice, responsible for much of what is produced and consumed, provide shelter, transmit resources across generations and within them, inculcate members, especially the young, with values and beliefs, provide companionship and entertainment, and the location for much of the sexual activity that takes place. Changes in the structure of the economy, social policies, and social organization all affect the family, with demographic forces also playing a key role. We will discuss these issues through the lens of the classic and recent literature on the family as seen from a sociological perspective.

Instructor(s): L. Waite     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): PBPL 20123, CHDV 20123, GNSE 22123

SOCI 20125. Rational Foundations of Social Theory. 100 Units.

This course introduces conceptual and analytical tools for the micro foundations of macro and intermediate-level social theories, taking as a basis the assumption of rational action. Those tools are then used to construct theories of power, social exchange, collective behavior, socialization, trust, norm, social decision making and justice, business organization, and family organization.

Instructor(s): K. Yamaguchi     Terms Offered: Winter
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30125

SOCI 20138. Politics/Participation/Organization. 100 Units.

When and why do citizens participate in politics? What skills do they bring to that participation? And why should we care? These questions are central to debates in both democratic theory and political sociology. Through case studies of voluntary associations and social movements, the course explores how participation is shaped by distinctive organizational cultures that create both opportunities and constraints for political actions.

Instructor(s): E. Clemens     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): PLSC 20138, DEMS 20138

SOCI 20140. Qualitative Field Methods. 100 Units.

This course introduces techniques of, and approaches to, ethnographic field research. We emphasize quality of attention and awareness of perspective as foundational aspects of the craft. Students conduct research at a site, compose and share field notes, and produce a final paper distilling sociological insight from the fieldwork.

Instructor(s): O. McRoberts     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): RDIN 20140, CHDV 20140

SOCI 20232. Sociology of Religion: Religious Inequality in America. 100 Units.

How does religion reflect, reproduce, and occasional disrupt structures of inequality? Since the earliest days of American social science, researchers have understood that religious groups are highly stratified by race, class, gender, ethnicity, and other factors. We will examine the causes and consequences of these inequalities, both historically and in the contemporary world, by reading key texts and by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data on American religious groups.

Instructor(s): T. Huttenlocher     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): RLST 27232

SOCI 20233. Race in Contemporary American Society. 100 Units.

This survey course in the sociology of race offers a socio-historical investigation of race in American society. We will examine issues of race, ethnic and immigrant settlement in the United States. Also, we shall explore the classic and contemporary literature on race and inter-group dynamics. Our investigative tools will include an analysis of primary and secondary sources, multimedia materials, photographic images, and journaling. While our survey will be broad, we will treat Chicago and its environs as a case study to comprehend the racial, ethnic, and political challenges in the growth and development of a city.

Instructor(s): S. Hicks-Bartlett     Terms Offered: Autumn Spring. Autumn quarter offered at the Undergraduate level only and Spring offered at the Graduate level only
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30233, MAPS 30233, RDIN 20233

SOCI 20252. Urban Innovation: Cultural Place Making and Scenescapes. 100 Units.

Activists from Balzac, Jane Jacobs, and others today seek to change the world using the arts. Ignored by most social science theories, these new cultural initiatives and policies are increasing globally. Urban planning and architecture policies, walking and parades, posters and demonstrations, new coffee shops and storefront churches reinforce selective development of specific cities and neighborhoods. These transform our everyday social environments into new types of scenes. They factor into crucial decisions, about where to work, to open a business, to found a political activist group, to live, what political causes to support, and more. The course reviews new case studies and comparative analyses from China to Chicago to Poland that detail these processes. Students are encouraged to explore one type of project.

Instructor(s): T. Clark     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): ENST 20252, SOCI 30252, ARCH 20252

SOCI 20253. Introduction to Spatial Data Science. 100 Units.

Spatial data science consists of a collection of concepts and methods drawn from both statistics and computer science that deal with accessing, manipulating, visualizing, exploring and reasoning about geographical data. The course introduces the types of spatial data relevant in social science inquiry and reviews a range of methods to explore these data. Topics covered include formal spatial data structures, geovisualization and visual analytics, rate smoothing, spatial autocorrelation, cluster detection and spatial data mining. An important aspect of the course is to learn and apply open source GeoDa software.

Instructor(s): L. Anselin     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): STAT 22000 (or equivalent), familiarity with GIS is helpful, but not necessary
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30253, CEGU 20253, GISC 20500, GISC 30500, MACS 54000

SOCI 20258. Maverick Markets: Cultural Economy and Cultural Finance. 100 Units.

What are the cultural dimensions of economic and financial institutions and financial action? What social variables influence and shape 'real' markets and market activities? 'If you are so smart, why aren't you rich?' is a question economists have been asked in the past. Why isn't it easy to make money in financial areas even if one knows what economists know about markets, finance and the economy? And why, on the hand, is it so easy to get rich for some participants? Perhaps the answer is the real markets are complex social and cultural institutions which are quite different form organizations, administrations and the production side of the economy. The course provides an overview over social and cultural variables and patterns that play a role in economic behavior and specifically in financial markets. The readings examine the historical and structural embeddedness of economic action and institutions, the different constructions and interpretations of money, prices, and other dimensions of a market economy, and how a financial economy affects organizations, the art and other areas.

Instructor(s): K. Knorr     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30258, ANTH 35405, ANTH 25440

SOCI 20283. Introduction to GIS and Spatial Analysis. 100 Units.

This course provides an introduction and overview of how spatial thinking is translated into specific methods to handle geographic information and the statistical analysis of such information. This is not a course to learn a specific GIS software program, but the goal is to learn how to think about spatial aspects of research questions, as they pertain to how the data are collected, organized and transformed, and how these spatial aspects affect statistical methods. The focus is on research questions relevant in the social sciences, which inspires the selection of the particular methods that are covered. Examples include spatial data integration (spatial join), transformations between different spatial scales (overlay), the computation of "spatial" variables (distance, buffer, shortest path), geovisualization, visual analytics, and the assessment of spatial autocorrelation (the lack of independence among spatial variables). The methods will be illustrated by means of open source software such as QGIS and R.

Instructor(s): Crystal Bae     Terms Offered: Spring Summer. Offered 2024–25
Equivalent Course(s): GISC 38702, ARCH 28702, PPHA 38712, SOCI 30283, GISC 28702, ENST 28702, CEGU 28702

SOCI 20295. Morrissey's America: Contemporary Social Problems. 100 Units.

What are the most pressing social problems in the U.S.? What do we know about them and what can we do to address them? We will use the life and music of Morrissey, the controversial former frontman of The Smiths, as a lens through which to explore our country's most critical social issues. An outspoken defender of animal rights and disaffected youth's preeminent lyricist, Morrissey has also increasingly flirted with nationalist policies. As such, he embodies the tensions, complexities, and ambiguities around critical topics that characterize our time. Guided by sociological theory, we will examine the latest social science evidence on race, immigration, gender and sexuality, health, poverty, segregation, crime, and education as they are key sites in which social inequality is produced and reproduced today. Finally, we will discuss potential solutions to these problems.

Instructor(s): R. Flores     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): GNSE 22295

SOCI 20297. Education and Social Inequality. 100 Units.

How and why do educational outcomes and experiences vary across student populations? What role do schools play in a society's system of stratification? How do schools both contribute to social mobility and to the reproduction of the prevailing social order? This course examines these questions through the lens of social and cultural theory, engaging current academic debates on the causes and consequences of social inequality in educational outcomes. We will engage these debates by studying foundational and emerging theories and examining empirical research on how social inequalities are reproduced or ameliorated through schools. Through close readings of historical, anthropological and sociological case studies of schooling in the U.S, students will develop an understanding of the structural forces and cultural processes that produce inequality in neighborhoods and schools, how they contribute to unequal opportunities, experiences, and achievement outcomes for students along lines of race/ethnicity, class, gender, and immigration status, and how students themselves navigate and interpret this unequal terrain. We will cover such topics as neighborhood and school segregation; peer culture; social networks; elite schooling; the interaction between home, society and educational institutions; and dynamics of assimilation for students from immigrant communities.

Instructor(s): Lisa Rosen     Terms Offered: Autumn. Offered autumn 2024
Equivalent Course(s): CHST 23005, CHDV 23005, CRES 23005, EDSO 23005

SOCI 20506. Cities, Space, Power: Introduction to urban social science. 100 Units.

This lecture course provides a broad, multidisciplinary introduction to the study of urbanization in the social sciences. The course surveys a broad range of research traditions from across the social sciences, as well as the work of urban planners, architects, and environmental scientists. Topics include: theoretical conceptualizations of the city and urbanization; methods of urban studies; the politics of urban knowledges; the historical geographies of capitalist urbanization; political strategies to shape and reshape the built and unbuilt environment; cities and planetary ecological transformation; post-1970s patterns and pathways of urban restructuring; and struggles for the right to the city.

Instructor(s): N. Brenner     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Mandatory for students to attend a Friday discussion section
Equivalent Course(s): CHST 20506, SOCI 30506, PLSC 30506, CCCT 30506, HIPS 20506, PPHA 30506, ENST 20506, ARCH 20506, PLSC 20506, KNOW 30506, MAPS 30506, CHSS 30506, CEGU 20506

SOCI 20508. Working with Found Data: Library/Internet Research. 100 Units.

This course is an introduction to the methods involved in "research with found data:" that is, found material like manuscripts, books, journals, newspapers, ephemera, and government and institutional documents. (Such materials can be found both in print and on the Internet.) The course covers the essentials of project design, bibliography, location, access, critical reading, source evaluation, knowledge categorization and assembly, and records maintenance. The course is a methodological practicum organized around student projects. The texts are Thomas Mann's Oxford Guide to Library Research and Andrew Abbott's Digital Paper.

Instructor(s): A. Abbott     Terms Offered: Winter. First preference to Sociology PhD students; Undergraduate students require permission of instructor
Note(s): Only offered at the graduate level
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30508

SOCI 20519. Spatial Cluster Analysis. 100 Units.

This course provides an overview of methods to identify interesting patterns in geographic data, so-called spatial clusters. Cluster concepts come in many different forms and can generally be differentiated between the search for interesting locations and the grouping of similar locations. The first category consists of the identification of extreme concentrations of locations (events), such as hot spots of crime events, and the location of geographical concentrations of observations with similar values for one or more variables, such as areas with elevated disease incidence. The second group consists of the combination of spatial observations into larger (aggregate) areas such that internal similarity is maximized (regionalization). The methods covered come from the fields of spatial statistics as well as machine learning (unsupervised learning) and operations research. Topics include point pattern analysis, spatial scan statistics, local spatial autocorrelation, dimension reduction, as well as spatially explicit hierarchical, agglomerative and density-based clustering. Applications range from criminology and public health to politics and marketing. An important aspect of the course is the analysis of actual data sets by means of open source software, such as GeoDa, R or Python.

Instructor(s): L. Anselin and P. Amaral     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): STAT 22000 or equivalent; SOCI 20253/30253 (or equivalent) Introduction to Spatial Data Science required.
Equivalent Course(s): GISC 20519, MACS 20519, ENST 20519, DATA 20519, GISC 30519, MACS 30519, SOCI 30519

SOCI 20547. Involved Interviewing: Strategies for Interviewing Hard to Penetrate Communities and Populations. 100 Units.

Imagine that you must interview someone who hails from a background unlike your own; perhaps you need to interview an incarcerated youth, or gather a life history from an ill person. Maybe your task is to conduct fieldwork inside a community that challenges your comfort level. How do we get others to talk to us? How do we get out of our own way and limited training to become fully and comfortably engaged in people and the communities in which they reside?  This in-depth investigation into interviewing begins with an assumption that the researcher as interviewer is an integral part of the research process. We turn a critical eye on the interviewer's role in getting others to talk and learn strategies that encourage fertile interviews regardless of the situational context. Weekly reading assignments facilitate students' exploration of what the interview literature can teach us about involved interviewing. Additionally, we critically assess our role as interviewer and what that requires from us. Students participate in evaluating interview scenarios that are designed to explore our assumptions, sharpen our interviewing skills and troubleshoot sticky situations. We investigate a diversity of settings and populations as training ground for leading effective interviews. The final project includes: 1) a plan that demonstrates knowledge of how to design an effective interviewing strategy for unique field settings; 2) instructor's feedback on students' interview journals.

Instructor(s): S. Hicks-Bartlett     Terms Offered: Autumn Winter. Autumn-restricted to 4th and 3rd year Sociology Majors ONLY. Winter restricted to graduate students ONLY.
Prerequisite(s): Ugrad Level restricted to 4th and 3rd year Sociology Majors ONLY
Equivalent Course(s): MAPS 40164, SOCI 40164

SOCI 20548. Coding & Analyzing Qualitative Data using MAXQDA. 100 Units.

This focus of this course is on coding and analyzing qualitative data (e.g., interview transcripts, oral histories, focus groups, letters, and diaries, etc). In this hands-on-course students learn how to organize and manage text-based data in preparation for analysis and final report writing of small scale research projects. Students use their own laptop computers to access one of two free, open-source software programs available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. While students with extant interview data can use it for this course, those without existing data will be provided text to code and analyze. This course does not cover commercial CAQDAS, such as AtlasTi, NVivo, The Ethnograph or Hypertext.

Instructor(s): S. Hicks-Bartlett     Terms Offered: Spring Winter. Winter restricted to 4th and 3rd year Sociology Majors only and MAPS students only. Spring restricted to graduate students only.
Prerequisite(s): Ugrad Level restricted to 4th and 3rd year Sociology Majors ONLY
Equivalent Course(s): MAPS 40177, SOCI 40177

SOCI 20550. Population Problems and Demographic Dilemmas. 100 Units.

The news is filled with articles and programs about demographics, although we don't always recognize them as such. In this class we use a demographic lens to study some of the problems and challenges facing us today, in the U.S. and across the world. We spend the first few weeks learning core concepts, such as life expectancy, that demographers rely on, and a bit about demographic theories, like the demographic transition. We learn about the evidence-data-that demographers use to study these problems. Then we study the big problems through a series of three short student papers, using appropriate data and methods. We practice interpreting data and measures and reaching conclusions about population problems and demographic dilemmas. These might include: fertility (why has the birth rate in the US fallen); immigration (how can Europe manage the huge flows of people wanting to come there?); illness and disease (why are people in the US much sicker than people in the UK?); mortality (why is life expectancy much shorter in Oklahoma than in Connecticut?); pandemics (opioid, obesity, COVID); population policy (do we need more people or fewer?); aging (why are countries in Asia saying that they "have gotten old before gotten rich?).

Instructor(s): J. Trinitapoli     Terms Offered: Winter

SOCI 20558. Digital Ethnography. 100 Units.

This methods course prepares students for ethnographic research in an online environment. We will discuss practical steps to put together a research project-from research design to data collection and analysis. We will cover epistemological, ethical, and practical matters in online ethnographic research, and read articles and books showcasing methods for the study of virtual worlds (both game and nongame). This is a hands-on methods course: you will be required to formulate a preliminary research question at the beginning of the course, and you will conduct a few weeks of ethnographic research in a virtual field site of your choosing. Each week you will be asked to complete short ethnographic assignments, and to produce field notes to be exchanged and discussed in class. As a final project, you will have a choice between a research proposal or a short paper based on your observations.

Instructor(s): Cate Fugazzola     Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): GLST 25199, SOCI 30326, ENST 25199, MADD 10199, ANTH 21415, MAPS 35199

SOCI 20559. Spatial Regression Analysis. 100 Units.

This course covers statistical and econometric methods specifically geared to the problems of spatial dependence and spatial heterogeneity in cross-sectional data. The main objective for the course is to gain insight into the scope of spatial regression methods, to be able to apply them in an empirical setting, and to properly interpret the results of spatial regression analysis. While the focus is on spatial aspects, the types of methods covered have general validity in statistical practice. The course covers the specification of spatial regression models in order to incorporate spatial dependence and spatial heterogeneity, as well as different estimation methods and specification tests to detect the presence of spatial autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity. Special attention is paid to the application to spatial models of generic statistical paradigms, such as Maximum Likelihood and Generalized Methods of Moments. An import aspect of the course is the application of open source software tools specifically those contained in the Python package PySal.

Instructor(s): L. Anselin     Terms Offered: Winter. Not Being Offered in 2025/26
Prerequisite(s): An intermediate course in multivariate regression or econometrics. Familiarity with matrix algebra
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30559, GISC 20559, GISC 30559, DATA 20559

SOCI 20575. Logic of Social Inquiry. 100 Units.

The social sciences contain a remarkable diversity of research methods, theoretical orientations, and substantive topics. Nevertheless, social scientists have developed a shared language that enables them to discuss and evaluate each other's work. In this course, we will learn to speak that language-the language of research design. Together, we will tackle both the abstract logic of research design as well as the nuts and bolts of executing a methodologically sound project. We will focus on such topics as the relationship between theory and research; the logic of comparison; issues of measurement, bias, and generalizability; basic methods of data collection; and what social scientists do with data once they have collected them. By the end of this course, you will be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of published accounts of social science research, and will have hands-on experience designing and executing your own mini mixed-methods pilot study.

Instructor(s): T. Huttenlocher     Terms Offered: Winter
Note(s): Priority registration for Sociology 3rd year majors
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30575

SOCI 20576. Social Theory for the Digital Age. 100 Units.

Society rearranges itself, though we don't always know where it is heading. When the postmodern moment had arrived in the 1980s it perplexed social theorists, hence its characterization as simply a "post"-stage of modernity. Digitization is one answer to the question of direction of change in the last decades. In this class, we take the ongoing transformations that we attribute to digital media as a starting point to ask what challenges they provide to social theory that may force us to reconsider some of our most basic concepts and premises. We will understand the term digital age broadly to refer to the rise of algorithms, sensors, (big) data, machine learning, and computational methods, all developments that swirl in and around the Artificial Intelligence scene and intersect with and replace purely human relations. The class gives particular attention to concepts such as action and interaction, embodiment, social situations, subjectivity and autonomy, as wells as society as communication.

Instructor(s): K. Knorr     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): ANTH 30576, HIPS 20576, SOCI 30576, ANTH 20576, CHSS 30576

SOCI 20596. Social Networks. 100 Units.

Our social ties and interpersonal connections both reflect and influence our preferences, attitudes, decisions, and relationships. This makes a relational perspective a core component of many sociological theories and social network analyses a powerful tool for social scientists. This class will provide students with an introduction to social networks analyses and theory, overviewing tools for describing and analyzing personal and whole networks. Possible applications include discussions on how and why interpersonal networks differ from each other across different social contexts, how such networks have changed over time, and what this means in increasingly diverse societies: when can we expect networks to build bridges between groups and offer opportunities, and when can we instead expect them to exacerbate inequality and reinforce social divides? Alongside theoretical discussions, this class will also introduce students to quantitative social networks analyses using R. As a part of the methodological component of this course, we will analyze data on several kinds of example networks, with a focus on offline person-to-person connections (such as school friendships and confidant networks). At the completion of the course, students will apply the concepts covered in class to a final project. Prior coding experience and introductory statistics course is recommended but not required.

Instructor(s): L. Zhao     Terms Offered: Spring. Not Being Offered in 2025/2026
Prerequisite(s): Prior coding experience and introductory statistics course is suggested but not required
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30596

SOCI 20602. Thinking like a Computational Social Scientist. 100 Units.

The movement of much of our social lives online has created exciting new opportunities for social science research. This course provides a broad survey of computational methods used to make sense of this data. Students will learn how to collect online data and analyze this data using contemporary techniques from natural language processing, supervised/unsupervised machine learning, and generative AI. Students will also cultivate analytical skills through formal paper presentations, oral exams, and an original research project. The course will be taught in Python. This is an intuitive introduction without prerequisites, although previous experience with probability, statistics, and/or programming will be helpful.

Instructor(s): B. Koch     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): MACS 20267, PSYC 38520, SOCI 40267, PSYC 28520, MACS 30267, DATA 20602, HIST 49307

SOCI 20615. The Chicago School: History, Legacy, and Prospects. 100 Units.

The course will cover the history of the Chicago School of Sociology, which, from the early to mid-twentieth century, largely coincided with the history of the University of Chicago's Department of Sociology. We will read and discuss several of the great works within this tradition. We will also examine the Chicago School's influence on the field of sociology generally, particularly urban sociology, political sociology, and ethnography, and in this regard consult more contemporary work. Finally, we will consider the Chicago School tradition as an intellectual resource that we may draw upon in charting the future of the discipline.

Instructor(s): A. Abbott and M. Garrido     Terms Offered: Spring
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30615

SOCI 20616. Introduction to Comparative-Historical Inquiry. 100 Units.

This course introduces students to the field of comparative-historical research in the social sciences. We will survey some of the seminal works produced under the rubric of comparative-historical social sciences and explore the key substantive themes that have animated intellectual debates and inquiry in the field. The texts we read together help us think and rethink what it means to understand our societies and present moment comparatively and historically. We will also examine the predominant modes of reasoning and argumentation in comparative-historical research, asking how scholars advance and support the arguments they make.

Instructor(s): Y. Zhang     Terms Offered: Winter

SOCI 20618. How to Study Power, Part 1: Theoretical Approaches and Research Design. 100 Units.

In this two-quarter sequence, students will examine sociological approaches to theorizing government, organizational, and cultural power. We will explore long-standing debates in the field of sociology about how and when to "study up" - conduct research with people in positions of power across society. We will also look at the real barriers to studying up and think through ethical research design. Finally, we will learn about different non-intrusive data collection strategies, such as Freedom of Information Request Acts, congressional session transcripts, and rhetorical analysis, with a series of workshops from sociologists and investigative journalists. By the end of the class, students will have a well-formulated research question and research design to pursue in the second quarter of the course. This course will be most useful for undergraduate students pursuing a BA thesis project and for MA and PhD students working on an article-length research project.

Instructor(s): K. Schilt      Terms Offered: Autumn
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30618

SOCI 20619. How to Study Power, Part 2: Methodological Choices. 100 Units.

Building on the foundational work completed in Part One, this course focuses on the practical application of sociological theories and methods to study power in action. Students will delve into contemporary examples by investigative journalists and academic researchers, analyzing case studies that illuminate the inner workings of powerful institutions, influential individuals, and complex systems. Through these examples, we will critically evaluate the challenges and strategies involved in conducting research at the intersections of government, organizations, and culture. A significant portion of the course will be dedicated to hands-on research. Students will collect, analyze, and interpret original data based on the research designs developed in Part One. Workshops will guide students in refining their data analysis techniques, incorporating feedback, and situating their findings within broader sociological debates. The course culminates in the production of an 8,000-10,000-word final paper, which serves as the first draft of a manuscript intended for peer-reviewed publication. This paper will demonstrate the student's ability to apply theoretical frameworks and methodological rigor while contributing to ongoing conversations about the dynamics of power in society. This course is particularly valuable for students pursuing long-term academic research projects, such as BA theses, MA theses, or PhD articles.

Instructor(s): K. Hoang     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 20618/30618 "How to Study Power, Part 1: Theoretical Approaches and Research Design"
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30619

SOCI 20621. Race and Immigration: Theory, Data, and Applied Analytics. 100 Units.

This course examines key contemporary debates on race and immigration in the U.S. from a social scientific perspective. Where does race originate from? How does it shape individuals' lives? Does race have a future? Students will explore how ethnoracial categories are created, how people identify within them, and their social, economic, and political consequences. On immigration, the course addresses why immigrants come to the U.S., their adaptation patterns, and their long-term influence on society. Key questions include: How do today's immigrants compare to those of the past? Are they assimilating or preserving their culture? Why do some groups appear to succeed more than others? In addition to theory, students will engage in hands-on data collection and analysis using research methods such as ethnographic observation, interviews, surveys, vignette experiments, and computational text analysis. These projects will help students connect theoretical frameworks with practical research, equipping them with valuable analytical skills. This course is ideal for those interested in understanding and analyzing race and immigration through both theoretical and empirical approaches.

Instructor(s): R. Flores     Terms Offered: Autumn. Not Being Offered in 2025/26

SOCI 20623. Sensory Worlds. 100 Units.

What does it mean to make sense of sense? We experience the world through taste, hearing, touch, sight, and smell in multisensory ways. This course examines how the senses help establish, maintain and transform social orders and hierarchies. We will read philosophical, social theory, and anthropological texts, including ethnographies, and we will consider how sensory experience varies between and across contexts as well as withi them. We will also consider the stakes of sensory difference and how we might talk about sensory justice. And, as a class on the senses, we will also engage in sensory experiments and exercises, and sensorial ways of writing.

Equivalent Course(s): CEGU 20510, CHDV 20510, CHDV 30599

SOCI 20624. The Global Movement of Wealth. 100 Units.

This course introduces the study of contemporary global wealth movements, drawing insights from economics, sociology, geography, and public policy. We will explore the evolving architecture and geography of financialization, examining global capital flows at three levels: macro-economic trends, institutional structures, and individual actors driving capital accumulation. Key topics include China's economic rise, the growth of sovereign wealth funds, and the expansion of offshore financial centers that facilitate and obscure the global circulation of wealth. Special attention will be given to the ethical and social implications of these financial systems, particularly their role in exacerbating global inequality. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of how financialization shapes the global economy and its impact on everyday life.

Instructor(s): K. Hoang     Terms Offered: Autumn

SOCI 20626. Introduction to Content Analysis. 100 Units.

This course introduces content analysis as a versatile qualitative research method for interpreting and understanding texts across a variety of contexts. The course explores both primary and secondary content analysis, equipping students with analytical skills and strategies to evaluate not only the substantive content of texts, but also the ways in which meaning is conveyed-through tone, structure, narrative framing, and contextual nuances. These dimensions are essential for producing insightful and rigorous analyses in the humanities and social sciences.

Instructor(s): X. Ren     Terms Offered: Winter
Prerequisite(s): Priority registration for MAPSS students at the graduate level
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30626

SOCI 20627. Contemporary China: Institutions, Transformations, and Everyday Life. 100 Units.

This course aims to provide a comprehensive social science perspective on contemporary China. Here, contemporary Chinese society is loosely defined as the society that emerged after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating readings from various social science disciplines, including history, sociology, political science, anthropology, economics, and law.

Instructor(s): X. Ren     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Priority registration for MAPSS students at the graduate level
Equivalent Course(s): EALC 30627, SOCI 30627, EALC 20627

SOCI 20628. Introduction to Law and Society. 100 Units.

This course offers an in-depth exploration of the theoretical and practical issues at the intersection of law and society. We will examine how law, as a tool for politics and development, has influenced social change and how social forces have shaped the operation of legal institutions. The course takes a processual approach, exploring various aspects of the legal system through different legal processes. Key themes include the structure and operation of courts, divergent lawyering, legal reforms, legal mobilization, the globalization of law, and the interplay between law and economic, political, cultural, and social phenomena. Through lectures and discussions, we will gain substantive knowledge of the operation of legal systems in different contexts, develop analytical tools to critically evaluate their functioning, and engage with the dynamic relationship between law and society.

Instructor(s): X. Ren     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Priority registration for MAPSS students at the graduate level
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30628

SOCI 20629. The Sociology of Science and Knowledge. 100 Units.

In the information age, knowledge has become fundamental to the social, political, cultural, and legal organization of modern societies. This course explores how various aspects of modern society are constructed through different knowledge-making processes. To achieve this, we will examine not only the social organization of knowledge, science, and technology-the traditional focus of Science and Technology Studies (STS)-but also other forms of social knowledge that shape different dimensions of our lives, including legal, economic, environmental, cultural, and policy/political knowledge.

Instructor(s): X. Ren     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Priority registration for MAPSS students at the graduate level
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30629

SOCI 20630. The Ethnographic Imagination. 100 Units.

Ethnography, the systematic study of people and cultures through direct observation and participation, is a cornerstone of qualitative research. Ethnographers make sense of social life through the lens of everyday experiences, practices, and meanings. Our objective in this course is to examine how this is achieved. Students will explore the theoretical foundations, ethical considerations, and practical techniques of ethnographic fieldwork and writing. Through critical reading of classic ethnographic texts and weekly hands-on practica, students will learn how to understand, interpret, and represent social life, and ultimately how to translate those representations into sociological insight. Readings will cover different ethnographic traditions in sociology, methodological innovations and controversies in the discipline.

Instructor(s): N. Mehta     Terms Offered: Autumn
Prerequisite(s): Priority registration for MAPSS students at the graduate level
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30630

SOCI 20631. Making Sense of Quantitative Analyses. 100 Units.

The analysis and interpretation of quantitative data is a crucial component of the sociologist's tool kit. Most of the sociological literature, regardless of sub-field, is supported by research that uses quantitative methods. Understanding and interpreting statistics will enable you to be an informed user of this research. This class will review the fundamentals of statistical methods, and we will explore the application of those fundamentals by working through the analyses conducted in published sociology papers. Lectures will be supplemented with problem sets and programming exercises with the statistical programming language R.

Instructor(s): M. Bokanga     Terms Offered: Spring
Prerequisite(s): Priority registration for MAPSS students at the graduate level
Equivalent Course(s): SOCI 30631

SOCI 29997. Readings in Sociology. 100 Units.

Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. With consent of instructor, students may take this course for P/F grading if it is not being used to meet program requirements.

Terms Offered: Autumn Spring Summer Winter
Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor and program chair.

SOCI 29998. Sociology BA Thesis Seminar. 100 Units.

For most of your academic career, you have primarily been a consumer of knowledge. Now, you will become a producer of knowledge by undertaking a year-long research project of your own design. While this can be a daunting task, you won't be alone-as a class, we will work together to tackle the nuts and bolts of research: designing a methodologically rigorous project, engaging with theory, collecting and analyzing data, and effectively communicating your research findings. By the end of this course, you will emerge with a BA thesis you can be proud of-and a deeper understanding of how sociologists do research that has the power to shape people's understandings of the world.

Instructor(s): T. Huttenlocher     Terms Offered: Autumn Spring Winter
Prerequisite(s): Open only to students who are majoring in sociology.
Note(s): Must be taken for a quality grade.