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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 the 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 that 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. |
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