Professors: Debra C.
Minkoff (Chair), Jonathan Rieder
Assistant Professors: Elizabeth Bernstein (Departmental Representative),
Peter Levin
For a complete list of
faculty on leave see:
http://www.barnard.edu/provost/facleavelist.html
Sociology is a diverse academic discipline that draws its strength, and coherence, from a collective commitment to developing and testing theoretical principles about social life with empirical evidence. This commitment to systematic empirical research, across a range of methodological approaches, represents the strength of the discipline and the potential for a distinctive undergraduate experience for Sociology majors at Barnard. These approaches include varieties of quantitative data collection and analysis, participant observation, intensive interviewing, historical-archival research, and discourse analysis. The Department provides students with expertise in three areas: (1) a common foundation in the discipline's core theories and methodologies to analyze social life; (2) exposure to a range of substantive questions that motivate sociological research; and (3) direct research experience both within the classroom and under faculty supervision in the Senior Thesis Seminar. All students taking courses in Sociology at Barnard can expect to learn about crucial links between theory and empirical evidence for public policy, political and social debate, and civic engagement more broadly defined. Sociology majors will develop critical analytic and research skills and they can take with them into their professional careers, whether they continue on to graduate study in sociology or choose to enter such fields as business, education, law, nonprofit enterprise or public policy.
The major prepares students for graduate work in sociology as well as in other disciplines; for professional schools (law, business, social work, journalism, urban planning); and for all occupations requiring general knowledge of society and social interaction as well as basic skills of social research.
A minimum of 10 courses is required for the major, including:
| SOCI BC 1003 | Introduction to Sociology |
| SOCI BC 3082 | Junior Colloquium—Sociological Theory |
| SOCI BC 3211 | Quantitative Methods (not later than the junior year) |
| SOCI BC 3087–BC 3088 | Individual Projects for Seniors |
and at least five other courses selected in consultation with the major adviser. Sociology BC 3211 should be taken no later than the junior year.
There is no major examination. To graduate, a student must complete, to the satisfaction of her instructor in BC 3087-BC 3088, a thesis involving some form of original sociological research and analysis.
Five courses are required for the minor in Sociology, including SOCI BC 1003 and four courses to be selected in consultation with the Sociology adviser.