The Secondary Field in Sociology
Spring Term 2008
The secondary field in sociology provides students with exposure to the bedrock theoretical ideas and empirical strategies of sociology while also allowing for a diverse, flexible plan of study.
Sociology emphasizes the successful integration of theory and empiricism, teaching the importance of both elegant thinking and analytical rigor. It is a broad, multi-paradigmatic field that concerns itself with the entire range of human social interaction. Sociology also embraces a wide variety of “strategies of knowing,” from quantitative analysis to archival and ethnographic research.
Students concentrating in other fields may well find this a useful supplement to their primary field of instruction. Sociology is also an inter-disciplinary field that bridges topics that are often studied in isolation elsewhere in the social sciences. We believe that concentrators in other fields may find it illuminating to see their ‘home’ topic from this more general sociological perspective.
Students who study sociology as undergraduates can go on to a wide variety of occupations, from journalism and law to consulting, medicine, and public health. Sociology also teaches methodological skills relevant to a wide range of research positions in government, business, and consulting. The “Sociology” minor should thus prove useful to students looking for training in these and related fields. For students concentrating in more “distant” fields in the natural sciences and humanities, a secondary field in sociology would provide an overall exposure to the social sciences along with an opportunity for in-depth exploration of specific topics.
Requirements: five half-courses
Sociology 97: Tutorial in Sociology Theory, a basic introduction to sociological theory (fall and spring terms: 1st Organizational Meeting Required. Spring Term 2008: F., Feb. 1, only @ 10 in WJH 105);
Sociology 128: Methods of Social Science Research, a basic introduction to methods (Offered fall term only);
Three concentration electives (“other half-courses in Sociology”, one of which must be an advanced-level course (number 100 or above). An introductory-level course (numbered 89 or below) is recommended but not required as part of this sequence.
Additional Information
One of the three “concentration electives” may be taken pass/fail; the introductory-level course, Sociology 97 and 128 must all be taken for letter grades. Aside from the possibility of one pass/fail concentration elective, students would have to earn a grade of C+ or higher in a course to receive credit toward completion of the secondary field. Study abroad, summer school, and courses offered by other Harvard faculties may count toward secondary field credit with the usual requisite approval from the Head Tutor.
The Tutorial in Sociological Theory is open to all enrolled undergraduates, including but not limited to secondary concentrators. Secondary concentrators interested in exploring a subject in depth can enroll for one term of Sociology 91r, Reading and Research, with suitable faculty support and approval. Reading and research courses in Sociology require students to submit an extended term paper based on independent research.
Possible Areas of Focus
Some examples of common “tracks” are listed below, with a selection of courses students might take to gain advanced knowledge in the field. These are not exhaustive but represent what we believe are main tracks of interest based on student feedback and past experience.
Organizations and Pre-Business/Management track course options:
Soc 10. Introduction to Sociology
Soc. 21: Work and the New Economy
Soc. 25: Introduction to the Sociology of Organizations
Soc. 95: Research for Non-Profits
Soc. 109: Leadership and Organizations
Soc. 156: Quantitative Methods in Sociology
Soc. 191: The Politics of Law, Labor and Globalization in the Americas
Pre-Law track course options:
Soc. 95: Research for Nonprofits
Soc. 171: Sociology Crime and Punishment
Soc. 179: Crime, Justice, and the American Legal System
Soc. 184: Freedom in America: An Historical Sociology
Soc. 189: Law and Social Movements
Soc. 191: The Politics of Law, Labor and Globalization in the Americas
Quantitative Reasoning 36: Statistics and Public Policy (counts for concentration elective credit)
Pre-Medicine track course options:
Soc. 160: Medicine, Health Policy, and Bioethics in Comparative Perspective
Soc. 162: Medical Sociology
Soc. 165: Inequalities in Health Care
Soc. 190: Life and Death in the US: Medicine and Disease in Social Context
Quantitative Reasoning 36: Statistics and Public Policy (counts for concentration elective credit)
Public Policy track course options:
Soc 10: Introduction to Sociology
Soc. 21: Work and the New Economy
Soc. 19: Reinventing Boston: The Changing American City
Soc. 129: Education and Society
Soc. 136: Research for Nonprofits
Soc. 156: Quantitative Methods in Sociology
Soc. 160: Medicine, Health Policy, and Bioethics in Comparative Perspective
Soc. 168: Social Capital and Democracy: Comparative Perspectives
Soc. 171: Sociology of Crime and Punishment
Soc. 179: Crime, Justice, and the American Legal System
Soc. 191: The Politics of Law, Labor and Globalization in the Americas
Soc. 193: Crime, Community, and Public Policy
Soc. 194: Knowledge Production & Evaluation in the Social Sciences
Social Analysis 54: American Society and Public Policy (counts for concentration elective credit)
Quantitative Reasoning 36: Statistics and Public Policy (counts for concentration elective credit)
Inequality (including Race/Ethnic/Gender Relations) track course options:
Soc. 22: Careers and Love in America
Soc. 24: Introduction to Social Inequality
Soc. 60: Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
Soc. 154: Culture, Power, and Inequality
Soc. 160: Medicine, Health Policy, and Bioethics in Comparative Perspective
Soc. 165: Inequalities in Health Care
Soc. 176: Immigration and the Transformation of American Society
Soc. 179: Crime, Justice, and the American Legal System
Culture track course options:
Soc. 10: Introduction to Sociology
Soc. 119: Learning from Social Settings: Observing and Talking to People
Soc. 139: Religion and Society
Soc. 143: Love and Intimacy
Soc. 153: Media and the American Mind
Soc. 154: Culture, Power, and Inequality
Soc. 167: Visualizing Rights and Social Change in Documentary Photography and Film
Soc. 184: Freedom in America: An Historical Sociology
Foreign Cultures 46: Caribbean Societies: Socioeconomic Change and Cultural Adaptations (counts for concentration elective credit)
The faculty contact/advisers for the secondary field in Sociology are the department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies, Jason Beckfield and Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies, David Ager.
15 July 2008