printer friendly pageSOC 176: The Social Life of Neighborhoods (AFRICAAM 76B, AMSTUD 276, CSRE 176B, SOC 276, URBANST 179)
How do neighborhoods come to be? How and why do they change? What is the role of power, money, race, immigration, segregation, culture, government, and other forces? In this course, students will interrogate these questions using literatures from sociology, geography, and political science, along with archival, observational, interview, and cartographic (GIS) methods. Students will work in small groups to create content (e.g., images, audio, and video) for a self-guided ¿neighborhood tour,¿ which will be added to a mobile app and/or website.
Last offered: Spring 2021
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
SOC 179A: Crime and Punishment in America (AFRICAAM 179A, AMSTUD 179A, CSRE 179A, SOC 279A)
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the way crime has been defined and punished in the United States. Recent social movements such as the Movement for Black Lives have drawn attention to the problem of mass incarceration and officer-involved shootings of people of color. These movements have underscored the centrality of the criminal justice system in defining citizenship, race, and democracy in America. How did our country get here? This course provides a social scientific perspective on Americas past and present approach to crime and punishment. Readings and discussions focus on racism in policing, court processing, and incarceration; the social construction of crime and violence; punishment among the privileged; the collateral consequences of punishment in poor communities of color; and normative debates about social justice, racial justice, and reforming the criminal justice system. Students will learn to gather their own knowledge and contribute to normative debates through a field report assignment and an op-ed writing assignment.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4-5
| UG Reqs: WAY-EDP, WAY-SI
SOC 179N: The Science of Diverse Communities (CSRE 30N, EDUC 30N, PSYCH 30N)
This course is an exploration. Most generally, its aim is to identify distinguishing features of good diverse communities and articulate them well enough to offer principles or guidelines for how to design and manage such communities - all with a particular focus on educational communities like schools, universities, academic disciplines, etc., but with the hope that such principles might generalize to other kinds of organizations and the broader society. The readings range from those on the origins of human communities and social identities to those on intergroup trust building. They also aim to embed our discussions in the major diversity issues of the day, or example, what's in the news about campus life. Thus the course has a practical purpose: to develop testable ideas for improving the comfort level, fairness and goodness-for-all of identity diverse communities--especially in educational settings. The course also has a basic science purpose: to explore the psychological significa
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This course is an exploration. Most generally, its aim is to identify distinguishing features of good diverse communities and articulate them well enough to offer principles or guidelines for how to design and manage such communities - all with a particular focus on educational communities like schools, universities, academic disciplines, etc., but with the hope that such principles might generalize to other kinds of organizations and the broader society. The readings range from those on the origins of human communities and social identities to those on intergroup trust building. They also aim to embed our discussions in the major diversity issues of the day, or example, what's in the news about campus life. Thus the course has a practical purpose: to develop testable ideas for improving the comfort level, fairness and goodness-for-all of identity diverse communities--especially in educational settings. The course also has a basic science purpose: to explore the psychological significance of community. Is there a psychological need for community? Is there something about a need for community that can't be reduced to other needs, for example, for a gender, racial or sexual-orientation identity? How strong is the need for community against other needs? What kinds of human groupings can satisfy it? In meeting this need, can membership in one community substitute for membership in others? What do people need from communities in order to thrive in them? Do strong diverse communities dampen intergroup biases? Can strong community loyalty mitigate identity tensions within communities? Such questions, the hope is, will help us develop a more systematic understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in diverse human communities.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
Instructors:
Steele, C. (PI)
SOC 180A: Foundations of Social Research (SOC 280A)
Formulating a research question, developing hypotheses, probability and non-probability sampling, developing valid and reliable measures, qualitative and quantitative data, choosing research design and data collection methods, challenges of making causal inference, and criteria for evaluating the quality of social research. Emphasis is on how social research is done, rather than application of different methods. Limited enrollment; preference to Sociology and Urban Studies majors, and Sociology coterms.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-SI
SOC 180B: Introduction to Data Analysis (SOC 280B)
Preference to sociology majors, minors, and co-terms. Methods for analyzing and evaluating quantitative data in sociological research. Students will be taught how to run and interpret multivariate regressions, how to test hypotheses, and how to read and critique published data analyses.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-AQR
SOC 183D: Drugs, Self, and Society
From your daily cup(s) of coffee to the 'War on Drugs,' drugs touch the lives of most people. Yet, how societies deal with drug use and abuse change throughout time. In this course, we will look at drug use and abuse through a sociological lens, exploring how micro (personal), meso (interactional), and macro (structural) level forces underpin the meanings, experiences, and policies associated with drug use and abuse in the United States. Beyond this, we will examine how these forces contribute to persistent systems of inequality among different groups. This will not serve as a 'how to' course, but one in which you will be asked to critically examine the role of drugs and their effects on society. By the end of this course, students should be able to:
Last offered: Spring 2022
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
SOC 184D: Policing in Society: From Precincts to Playgrounds
We are in a moment of great national attention and debate over the role of police in society, with some calling for greater funding and resources to support community policing efforts and others calling for the abolition of the institution in its entirety. In its current form, policing has infused a surprisingly wide variety of other social institutions, ranging from healthcare to education to technology. This course examines the social underpinnings of historical and modern-day policing. We will critically analyze the trends in policing practices in the US through time, and ask how - and to what effect - police have become enmeshed in the social fabric of American life. This class will expose you to some of the methods social scientists use to investigate society's most pressing issues and help you think critically about policing in America through reading, discussing, and critiquing both popular journalism and rigorous academic research. I hope this course challenges you to consider
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We are in a moment of great national attention and debate over the role of police in society, with some calling for greater funding and resources to support community policing efforts and others calling for the abolition of the institution in its entirety. In its current form, policing has infused a surprisingly wide variety of other social institutions, ranging from healthcare to education to technology. This course examines the social underpinnings of historical and modern-day policing. We will critically analyze the trends in policing practices in the US through time, and ask how - and to what effect - police have become enmeshed in the social fabric of American life. This class will expose you to some of the methods social scientists use to investigate society's most pressing issues and help you think critically about policing in America through reading, discussing, and critiquing both popular journalism and rigorous academic research. I hope this course challenges you to consider the implications of course content beyond the confines of the classroom, leaves you with novel ways of thinking about society, and helps you become a more aware, informed, and active citizen for your future. An additional goal is to help you build proficiency in your analytical skills. With the final project, you will have the opportunity to become a creator of knowledge by collecting and analyzing your own data.
Last offered: Summer 2021
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
SOC 185D: Gender and Politics
Despite gains in recent years, women remain dramatically underrepresented in virtually all realms of the American political system. In this course, students will become familiar with the empirical patterns and trends, social and cultural debates, and policy issues concerning the role of gender in American politics. We will examine the gender gap in voting patterns and mass political participation, as well as strategies for increasing women¿s representation. Students will come to understand the effects of women¿s lack of parity, including policy attitudes, processes, and outcomes. Furthermore, we will explore gender inequality in politics through an intersectional lens of race, class, age, education, and sexuality.
Last offered: Summer 2023
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
SOC 187: Ethics, Morality, and Markets (SOC 287)
Markets are inescapably entangled with questions of right and wrong. What counts as a fair price or a fair wage? Should people be able to sell their organs? Do companies have a responsibility to make sure algorithmic decisions don't perpetuate racism and misogyny? Even when market exchange seems coldly rational, it still embodies normative ideas about the right ways to value objects and people and to determine who gets what. In this course, we will study markets as social institutions permeated with moral meaning. We will explore how powerful actors work to institutionalize certain understandings of good and bad; unpack how particular moral visions materially benefit some groups of people more so than others; examine the ways people draw on notions of fairness to justify and contest the market's distribution of resources and opportunities; and consider who has agency to build markets according to different normative ideals. Most course readings are empirical research, so we will also critically discuss how social scientists use data and methods to build evidence about the way the world works.
Last offered: Autumn 2021
| UG Reqs: WAY-ER, WAY-SI
SOC 188: One in Five: Public Health, Policy & Politics of Campus Sexual Assault (ANES 143, FEMGEN 143, SOC 288)
CW: SA/GBV.Access the Application Consent Form Here: https://bit.ly/One-in-Five-ApplicationOver the past decade, the issue of campus sexual assault and harassment has exploded into the public discourse. Multiple studies have reinforced the finding that between 20-25% of college women (and a similar proportion of students identifying as transgender and gender-nonconforming, as well as approximately 10% of male students) experience sexual assault carried out through force or while the victim was incapacitated. This course delves into the complex issues of sexual assault and harassment on college campuses, examining public health, policy, and political dimensions. We explore the prevalence of these issues, the historical and social contexts, and relevant laws such as Title IX and the Clery Act. Through readings spanning health, social science, history, literature, law, and journalism, we analyze responses to campus violence, considering the intersectionality of race, class, gender, and ot
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CW: SA/GBV.Access the Application Consent Form Here: https://bit.ly/One-in-Five-ApplicationOver the past decade, the issue of campus sexual assault and harassment has exploded into the public discourse. Multiple studies have reinforced the finding that between 20-25% of college women (and a similar proportion of students identifying as transgender and gender-nonconforming, as well as approximately 10% of male students) experience sexual assault carried out through force or while the victim was incapacitated. This course delves into the complex issues of sexual assault and harassment on college campuses, examining public health, policy, and political dimensions. We explore the prevalence of these issues, the historical and social contexts, and relevant laws such as Title IX and the Clery Act. Through readings spanning health, social science, history, literature, law, and journalism, we analyze responses to campus violence, considering the intersectionality of race, class, gender, and other factors. Guest speakers, including experts and advocates, provide firsthand insights.Sensitive Material: The subject matter of this course is sensitive, and students are expected to treat the material with maturity. Much of the reading and subject matter may be upsetting and/or triggering for students who identify as survivors. This course has no therapeutic component, although supportive campus resources are available for those who need them.Elements used in grading: Grades will be based on class attendance, in-person/virtual class participation, and ether an independent research paper and class presentation, or a project and class presentation (undergraduates, graduates).Enrollment: Requires INSTRUCTOR PERMISSION. Application consent forms are available (https://bit.ly/One-in-Five-Application) or you may contact Professor Burgart at aburgart@stanford.edu and Professor Salles arghavan@stanford.edu. Cross-listed with Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies (
FEMGEN 143), Sociology (
SOC 188/288), Anesthesia (
ANES 143). Apply early as demand is high and enrollment is limited to 16 students. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the class is full.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-EDP, WAY-SI
Instructors:
Burgart, A. (PI)
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