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Professors: Alex Dupuy, Sue C. Fisher (Chair, fall), Charles C. Lemert

Associate Professors: Mary Ann Clawson , Rob Rosenthal (Chair, spring)

Visiting Associate Professor: Gary Comstock

Assistant Professor: Sandra Wong

Visiting Assistant Professor: Leslie Irvine

Visiting Instructor: Lee Blackstone

Sociology is one of the classic scientific disciplines with its own discrete body of theory and facts. It has, however, always maintained a uniquely interdisciplinary character. Therefore, students of varied interests and academic commitments are welcome in any of the departmentÃs courses, pending fulfillment of the stated prerequisites.

The Department of Sociology offers three types of courses: (1) Foundation courses (introductory, Sociology 151; methods, Sociology 202, Sociological Analysis; theory, Sociology 212, Sociology and Social Theory). These courses provide an introduction to sociological reasoning. (2) Topical courses (all sociology courses 220 and above). Courses in this category examine many of the topical areas in which sociology makes a contribution to our knowledge of society and social processes. Non-majors may have a special interest in courses in this category that correspond to the intellectual concerns of departments and programs with which the Department of Sociology maintains formal or informal ties: the Psychology Department, African American Studies, the Science in Society Program, the WomenÃs Studies Program, and the College of Social Studies. Similarly, students should note the applicability of many of these courses to work in anthropology, art, economics, government, history, linguistics, philosophy, psychology, religion, theater, and other disciplines. (3) Research courses (listed below). These are topical courses that culminate in a research paper. As research-oriented courses, they guide students in the application of sociological reasoning to specific empirical and theoretical problems. They may double as topical courses.

Major program. Students who pass Sociology 151 may be accepted as majors by the department. Each major is assigned a faculty adviser with whom the student works out a program of study.

Majors must complete 10 courses (including Sociology 151); only courses in which students receive a grade of C- or higher count toward the major. The courses must be distributed as shown in the following table.

Number of Courses Type of Course

3 Foundation courses

(1) Sociology 151 (introductory)

(1) Sociology 202, Sociological
Analysis (methods)

(1) Sociology 212, Sociology
and Social Theory ( theory)

6 Topical courses

(6) All courses 220 and above.
These include the research
courses.

1 Research courses

Minimum of: (1) These are also considered

topical courses.

Sociology 227, 239, 240, 246,
248, 252, 253, 257, 262, 263,
265, 266,270, 271, 303, 305,
307, 312, 314, 316, 324, 341,
344.

Normally, the foundation course requirements are fulfilled at the beginning of the program. At least one research course is taken toward the end of major studies and is to be integrated with the studentÃs plans for a senior essay or thesis.

The program is designed to help students attain both broad knowledge and confident skill in sociological reasoning and argumentation. To this end, each of our majors is required to meet a writing requirement and to prepare a senior essay. The writing requirement consists of a paper dealing with a sociologically relevant topic but written for any course. This paper must demonstrate the studentÃs ability to construct a coherent argument and deploy evidence in its support. It must be submitted to the department at the end of the junior year. Students who fail to demonstrate these skills may be asked to undertake remedial work.

The senior essay consists of a major research paper (normally at least 25 pages). This essay is usually written in a research course (see above under listing for research courses), and revised before submission to the department. In particular, Sociology 305 offers a structured opportunity for the development of a senior essay. Final drafts of proposals of senior theses must be submitted to the department by the last week of junior year. Completion of the program requires the approval of the senior essay by two faculty members. Students writing outstanding essays may be invited to present them at a departmental colloquium.

Exceptions to the requirements for the major may occasionally be made but only insofar as they suit the purposes of a coherently integrated program of study. For example, students may apply as many as three electives taken outside the Department of Sociology toward the topical course requirement. Transfer students are encouraged to evaluate their transfer credit with the department chair at their earliest convenience. All exceptions must be approved in writing by the studentÃs faculty adviser.

Students may participate in a departmental honors program in one of the following two ways: (I) Thesis: based on (a) a record of distinction in course work, ordinarily defined as an A- average in sociology courses and (b) completion of a senior thesis that receives a grade of honors or higher. (II) Essay: based on (a) a record of distinction in course work, ordinarily defined as an A- average in sociology courses, (b) completion of a senior essay judged as outstanding, written in the fall semester, and (c) an oral defense of the essay.

Students are invited to explore these possibilities with their faculty adviser early in the fall of the junior year. Those selected to write a senior thesis will be excused from the research essay requirement, though not from the research course requirement. Senior thesis tutorials (Sociology 409“410) may count toward the topical course requirement if the integrity of the overall program is thus enhanced.

Ordinarily, education in the field, independent study, or a tutorial may count toward the major; students may take an additional tutorial to prepare a senior essay, and two additional tutorials to prepare an honors thesis.

Majors are strongly urged to acquire a working knowledge of statistics, computers, and at least one foreign language. Majors and non-majors alike are advised that the Public Affairs Center Data Laboratory is readily available to all sociology students. The department maintains a comprehensive archive of sociological data for use in student research projects. And, in addition to the extensive sociological holdings in Olin Library, the department has a library of important reference works. Occasionally, financial assistance is available for students engaged in research. The department periodically awards the Lynd Prize for outstanding senior essays written in sociology courses, the Hyman Prize for outstanding senior theses on a sociological topic, and the Anna Julia Cooper Prize to a student of overall excellence.

Study abroad is fully compatible with completing the major, but students who plan to go abroad for a semester are expected to discuss with their major advisers how such studies will fit into their overall academic plans before finalizing their plans.

In planning their programs, students should examine the departmentÃs memorandum of courses to be offered in future years or omitted in a given year. Students in urgent need of courses omitted in a given year should consult members of the department about the possibility of tutorials. Other information about the sociology major is available in the department office, Public Affairs Center 122.

Joint major in psychology and sociology. The psychology-sociology joint major is an interdisciplinary program sponsored by the departments of psychology and sociology. Students interested in this major should consult with the faculty coordinators for the joint program, namely, Professor Karl Scheibe in the Psychology Department and Professor Charles Lemert in the Sociology Department. Professors Scheibe and Lemert are cochairs of this program. (See also psyc/soc description following Psychology Department listing.)

Requirements. A total of 11 courses is required to complete the major: four foundation courses, including introductory psychology (PSYC 101 or 105), introductory sociology (SOC 151), psychological statistics (PSYC 201/PSYC 214), and a sociological methods or theory course (SOC 202 or SOC 212); the senior seminar course in psychology and sociology (PSYC 364 or SOC 324); and six elective courses, striking a balance between the two departments (senior honor theses tutorials can be counted as elective courses). The senior seminar course is offered once per year, with each department sponsoring the seminar in alternate years. A grade of B- or better in both introductory courses is required for regular admission to the major, and a grade of C- or better in both introductory courses is required for provisional admission to the major. All foundation courses are taken at Wesleyan.

Senior honors thesis or senior comprehensive oral examination. Successful completion of the joint major requires either a senior honors thesis or a senior comprehensive oral examination, both of which serve to demonstrate an ability to integrate concepts and facts from the two disciplines. The senior honors thesis may be on a topic in psychology or sociology but must exhibit interdisciplinary competence. Two senior thesis tutorials (fall #409, spring #410) are credited toward the major requirements. The senior comprehensive oral examination will be based primarily on the studentÃs senior essay, which is normally the research paper prepared in the senior seminar (PSYC 364 or SOC 324). The senior essay, along with (normally) two other papers chosen by the student from work done in the major, will be the focus (but not the exclusive focus) of the oral exam.

Faculty advising. Majors are expected to consult closely with their faculty adviser associated with the joint major and to rely upon this advice to plan an academically coherent course of study. Special attention should be paid to the selection of research methods courses, the choice of a senior honors thesis or a senior comprehensive oral examination, and the choice of advanced courses. Because of the unique interdisciplinary nature of the program, students are strongly advised to take all of their courses for the major in the two departments of Wesleyan. Students studying abroad may apply psychology and sociology courses from Wesleyan-approved institutions to the major, but these credits must be approved in advance by the chair of the PSOC program. In any case, at least seven of the eleven courses must be taken at Wesleyan.

Responsibilities: Majors are responsible for knowing and following these guidelines. Majors are also expected to have regular contact with both departments.

Double majors. Students also may have double majors¤for example, history and biology or anthropology and English. All the requirements of the two majors must be met, except when faculty representatives of the two departments approve alterations in a studentÃs program. Please consult with the department chair or a department adviser.

Education-in-the-field credit. Students, whether majors or non-majors, seeking education-in-the-field credit must provide the department, in advance, with an acceptable prospectus of their work and assurance of professional guidance during the field experience. Students must submit research papers based on this experience. These papers should refer substantially to sociological literature pertinent to their field experience.