Course Catalog » Course Listing for Sociology

206  Commercial Determinants of Health  (2 - 3 units)   Fall

Course will not be offered in: Fall 2024

Instructor(s): S. Bialous       Prerequisite(s): None.

Restrictions: None.       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Discussion, Student - Lecture, Student - Field Work, Student - Discussion

Course examines the positive and negative contributions of corporate entities to health, health care and health policy within the US and globally, focusing on developing critical thinking and policy analysis skills related to system-level structural-economic factors that influence health. Includes content from research and theoretical literature related to corporate personhood, rights, responsibilities and accountability and its application to health policy and ethics discourse.

207  Sociology of Health & Medicine  (5 units)   Fall

Instructor(s): J. Shim       Prerequisite(s): None.

Restrictions: Doctoral students in any field; other students with instructor approval only.       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Direct - Project, Direct - Discussion, Student - Seminar, Student - Project, Student - Discussion

Course introduces the student to classical perspectives in medical sociology and development of a critical perspective in the field to serve as a foundation for independent and advanced study in medical sociology.

208  Constructionist & Interactionist Persp. on Health & Illness  (5 units)   Spring

Instructor(s): J. James       Prerequisite(s): None.

Restrictions: Doctoral students in any field; other students with instructor approval only.       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Direct - Project, Direct - Discussion, Student - Seminar, Student - Project, Student - Discussion

This course examines the relationship of social class, ethnic identification, group membership, family structure, occupation, and lifestyle to health and illness, and therapeutic interaction of lay persons and health professionals.

210  Proseminar in Health Policy  (1 units)   Winter

Course will not be offered in: Winter 2025

Instructor(s): S. Chapman       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: none       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Student - Seminar

Seminar to extend knowledge of the varied scope of health policy research and analysis. The focus will be on specific policy research, analysis and implementation strategies.

212A  Sociological Theory: Classical  (5 units)   Fall

Course will not be offered in: Fall 2024

Instructor(s): H. Pinderhughes       Prerequisite(s): Doctoral students only.

Restrictions: none       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Seminar, Direct - Discussion, Student - Lecture, Student - Seminar, Student - Discussion

Course examines and evaluates classical and recent contributions to sociological theory. The main objective is the generation of a critical capacity with respect to received theory in both its formal and substantive varieties.

212B  Sociological Theory: Contemporary  (5 units)   Winter

Course will not be offered in: Winter 2025

Instructor(s): J. Shim       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: must be a doctoral student       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Seminar, Direct - Discussion, Student - Lecture, Student - Seminar, Student - Discussion

Course examines and evaluates contemporary contributions to sociological theory. The main objective is the generation of a critical capacity with respect to received theory in both its formal and substantive varieties.

212C  Sociological Theory: Symbolic Interactionism  (5 units)   Spring

Course will not be offered in: Spring 2025

Instructor(s): J. James       Prerequisite(s): S212AB or permission of instructor.

Restrictions: none       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Seminar, Direct - Discussion, Student - Lecture, Student - Seminar, Student - Discussion

Course consists of readings and discussions on interactionist theory in sociology, with emphasis on the origins and development of the Chicago School of Sociology, as well as an examination of the link between philosophy of pragmatism and interactionism.

215  Dissertation Proposal Seminar  (1 units)   Spring

Instructor(s): K. Harknett       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: Sociology students who are finishing/finished with their coursework and are in the process of writing their dissertation proposals       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Student - Seminar

This course provides a positive and interactive forum where students writing their dissertation proposals can meet to discuss their proposals, their progress, and any challenges they may experience along the way. Meetings are student centered and focus on skills helpful in completing the dissertation proposal in a timely manner.

221  Qualifying Examination  (1 - 8 units)   Fall, Winter, Spring

Instructor(s): Staff       Prerequisite(s): Completion of preliminary examinations.

Restrictions: 3rd year and beyond Sociology Students       Activities: Direct - Independent Study

Course will offer preparation for the specialty area qualifying examination and/or prepare the student to successfully advance to candidacy status.

233  Sociology of Aging  (2 units)   Spring

Course will not be offered in: Spring 2025

Instructor(s): S. Torres       Prerequisite(s): None.

Restrictions: None.       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Direct - Discussion, Student - Seminar, Student - Discussion

Course examines the sociology of aging including a review of theoretical perspectives, current and historical trends in aging, factors related to the aging process, effects of aging on individuals and families, and formal and informal service systems for an aging population.

235  The Policy Process: Examples from Tobacco Control  (2 - 3 units)   Winter

Course will not be offered in: Winter 2025

Instructor(s): S. Bialous       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: none       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Seminar, Direct - Project, Student - Lecture, Student - Seminar, Student - Project

Focuses on developing students understanding of key issues in and evolution of tobacco control policies in the US and globally. Lectures and readings in the history of tobacco control, policies to address tobacco use and addiction. Prepares students to engage in weekly discussions and prepare case studies of tobacco control policies. Will help students draw lessons from tobacco control policy development and implementation that are applicable to other health policy arenas.

236  Race/Class Factors in Health Care Delivery  (3 units)   Fall

Course will not be offered in: Fall 2023

Instructor(s): H. Pinderhughes       Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor

Restrictions: none       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Direct - Discussion, Student - Seminar, Student - Discussion

Course examines racial and class membership impact on access to health care services, variations in the quality of those services, and how professional and subprofessional roles in the health care system are organized along racial and class lines.

237  Proposal Preparation Seminar  (1 units)   Winter

Instructor(s): K. Harknett       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: This course is for Sociology students who are currently in their first year, and who will be pursuing the S285 qualitative methods course in their second year       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Student - Lecture

This course provides a positive and reflexive forum where students pursuing the S285 qualitative methods course can meet to discuss their proposals, progress and challenges. Meetings are student-centered and focus on skills helpful in developing a successful pilot project proposal and preparing for the qualitative research ethics course. This seminar will facilitate a supportive and informative environment for student-to-student discussion.

245  Gender, Race & Coloniality in Science, Technology & Medicine  (3 units)   Spring

Course will not be offered in: Spring 2025

Instructor(s): J. Shim       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: none       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Student - Seminar

Course is a study of historical and contemporary issues in the social construction of biological and medical sciences, epistemological problems, and feminist perspectives. Focus is on impact of structural inequalities by race, gender, coloniality and other dimensions on scientific work and constructions of human and social differences.

246  Communications & Policy Leadership  (3 units)   Winter

Course will not be offered in: Winter 2025

Instructor(s): S. Chapman       Prerequisite(s): None.

Restrictions: None.       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Student - Lecture

Course focuses on developing students' skills in various types of policy-relevant communications and leadership across different policy and public health venues.

248  Group Independent Study  (1 - 4 units)   Fall, Winter, Spring

Instructor(s): Staff       Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

Restrictions: Consent of instructor.       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Independent Study, Direct - Discussion, Student - Lecture, Student - Independent Study, Student - Discussion

Groups of two or more students select special problems to investigate on a collaborative basis. These studies may be conducted through readings, the collection or analysis of empirical data, or the development of conceptual analysis or of methodologies.

248.01  Group Independent Study - Section 01  (1 - 4 units)   Fall, Winter, Spring

Course will not be offered in: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Fall 2023

Instructor(s): Staff       Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

Restrictions: Consent of instructor.       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Independent Study, Direct - Discussion, Student - Lecture, Student - Independent Study, Student - Discussion

Groups of two or more students select special problems to investigate on a collaborative basis. These studies may be conducted through readings, the collection or analysis of empirical data, or the development of conceptual analysis or of methodologies.

248.02  Group Independent Study - Section 02  (1 - 4 units)   Fall, Winter, Spring

Instructor(s): Staff       Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

Restrictions: Consent of instructor.       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Independent Study, Direct - Discussion, Student - Lecture, Student - Independent Study, Student - Discussion

Groups of two or more students select special problems to investigate on a collaborative basis. These studies may be conducted through readings, the collection or analysis of empirical data, or the development of conceptual analysis or of methodologies.

248.03  Group Independent Study - Section 03  (1 - 4 units)   Fall, Winter, Spring

Course will not be offered in: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2023

Instructor(s): Staff       Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

Restrictions: Consent of instructor.       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Independent Study, Direct - Discussion, Student - Lecture, Student - Independent Study, Student - Discussion

Groups of two or more students select special problems to investigate on a collaborative basis. These studies may be conducted through readings, the collection or analysis of empirical data, or the development of conceptual analysis or of methodologies.

249  Individual Independent Study  (1 - 4 units)   Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Instructor(s): Staff       Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

Restrictions: Consent of instructor.       Activities: Direct - Independent Study, Direct - Discussion, Student - Independent Study, Student - Discussion

Students select special problems to investigate on an individual or collaborative basis. These studies may be conducted through readings, the collection or analysis of empirical data, or the development of conceptual analysis or of methodologies.

251  Professional Development Seminar  (1 units)   Fall, Spring

Course will not be offered in: Fall 2024

Instructor(s): E. McCauley       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: none       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Student - Seminar

This course seeks to unveil the hidden curriculum of academia. Students will prepare for careers in Sociology through direct instruction on the core professional areas, with an emphasis on the practical skills of publishing, attending conferences, grant writing, teaching, networking, and navigating the job market.

260  Policy and Politics of Health  (5 units)   Winter

Instructor(s): J. Yeh       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: none       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Direct - Project, Direct - Discussion, Student - Seminar, Student - Project, Student - Discussion

Course examines health care policy and politics in terms of historical and contemporary issues related to access, quality, and cost. Organizational, financing, and labor market issues are included, along with strategies for social change.

272  Dissertation Writing Seminar  (1 - 2 units)   Fall, Winter

Course will not be offered in: Winter 2025

Instructor(s): S. Torres       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: PhD Students       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Direct - Workshop, Student - Seminar, Student - Workshop

Course addresses logic of research design and execution for students. Clarification of research question, delineation of work plan, and orientation to relevant theoretical literature or empirical data available.

273  Fellowship and Grant Writing in the Social Sciences  (2 units)   Spring

Instructor(s): K. Harknett, J. Shim       Prerequisite(s): N/A

Restrictions: N/A       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Workshop, Student - Lecture, Student - Workshop

Course will introduce students to a range of fellowship and grant opportunities appropriate for graduate students in the social sciences; orient students on common components of fellowship and grant proposals; and guide students in developing their skills in the craft of fellowship and grant writing. This class will include lecture, discussion, and workshopping components. We will also incorporate presentations from outside speakers with experience with particular fellowship or grant mechanisms.

284  Health Care Economics  (4 units)   Winter

Course will not be offered in: Winter 2025

Instructor(s): U. Muench       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: none       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Direct - Project, Student - Seminar, Student - Project

Course examines basic economic theory as applied to the health care sector. This will include the structure of health care service and labor markets and the analysis of critical economic and cost issues relevant to public policy.

285A  Qualitative Methods I  (5 units)   Fall

Instructor(s): S. Torres, L. Dubbin       Prerequisite(s): None

Restrictions: Second-year doctoral students.       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Direct - Discussion, Student - Seminar, Student - Field Work, Student - Discussion

Course reviews many of the types of qualitative research methods, emphasizing assumptions, approaches. Focus on design, entree, ethics, data-gathering techniques (interviewing, observing), data recording and management. Introduction to data analysis. 2-part course, concluding with SOCIOLOGY 285B. Cross-listed with NURSING 285A

285B  Qualitative Methods II  (5 units)   Winter

Instructor(s): S. Torres, L. Dubbin       Prerequisite(s): SOCIOLOGY 285A

Restrictions: Second-year doctoral students.       Activities: Direct - Seminar, Direct - Discussion, Student - Seminar, Student - Field Work, Student - Discussion

Course compares and contrasts modes of qualitative analysis. Examines issues in establishing plausibility, credibility, adequacy. Intensive data analysis and examination of the problems of presentation of findings with focus on questions of authority and preparation of text. 2-part course, beginning with SOCIOLOGY 285A. Cross-listed with NURSING 285B.

289A  Advanced Quantitative Research Methods I  (4 units)   Fall

Instructor(s): U. Muench       Prerequisite(s): N209 and N212 or equivalent

Restrictions: Doctoral students only.       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Student - Lecture

Course addresses theoretical basis of advanced quantitative methods. Fundamental issues of causality and design issues pertinent to causality are addressed using randomized clinical trials and models for experimental designs. Methods of sampling and issues in data collection and measurement are explored.

289B  Advanced Quantitative Research Methods II  (5 units)   Winter

Instructor(s): K. Holt       Prerequisite(s): S289A

Restrictions: S289A and Doctoral students only       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Lab-Skills, Student - Lecture, Student - Lab-Skills

The second course in a two-quarter series provides a practical understanding of the statistical procedures including logistic regression, repeated measures, survival analysis, latent variables and structural equation modeling, and cost effectiveness analysis. Attention is given to how and when to use each, how to diagnose and adjust to violations of the functional form and other assumptions of these procedures, and how to interpret computer output.

292  Innovation & Critical Perspectives in Social Sciences  (1 units)   Fall, Winter

Course will not be offered in: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

Instructor(s): E. McCauley       Prerequisite(s): none

Restrictions: none       Activities: Direct - Lecture, Direct - Seminar, Student - Lecture, Student - Seminar

This course complements the Innovation and Critical Perspectives in Social Sciences Speaker Series and seeks to expose students to cutting-edge research in the discipline. The course consists of attending research presentations by internal and external researchers and facilitating and participating in discussions of the presented research.

299  Dissertation  (0 units)   Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Instructor(s): Staff       Prerequisite(s): Advancement to candidacy and permission of the graduate adviser.

Restrictions: Students must be ATC to enroll      

For graduate students engaged in writing the dissertation for the PhD degree.