Course Outline3 units
This course is primarily intended to give graduate students a detailed introduction to some foundational theoretical questions and positions in sociology. It is centered on the writings of Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, and Karl Marx, supplemented by other (and more recent) theoretical work. The readings and seminar discussions will cover three mains sets of issues: 1) the relationship between the individual and society; 2) the special challenges and problems confronting a science of society; and 3) theoretical accounts of key modern social structures. Secondarily, students will through a series of exercises leading up to a final paper gain practice in the essential skill of “reading and writing with theories.”
3 units
This is an intensive training course on the logic of theory construction and the logic of evidence building in empirical sociology. The theoretical and evidential logics provide the foundation for the effective use of qualitative and quantitative data analysis alike. The course will provide the tools for clarifying the theoretical and evidential logics of an empirical study and introduce various explanatory mechanisms that are relevant to diverse subfields of sociology. Most importantly, the course will develop the competence of students in theory construction and evidence building through learning-by-doing. Much of the course will be devoted to a re-examination of many exemplary works in empirical sociology from each theoretical family. The course will not focus on any philosophical debate or technique of data analysis.
3 units
This course will cover techniques dealing with linear and nonlinear models, including OLS regression, logistic regression and Poisson regression. The objective is to enable students to analyze different types of data. Advanced modeling techniques, such as longitudinal data analysis and event history analysis will also be briefly discussed. Students will be required to use some of these methods to perform analysis on real data.
3 units
This course examines qualitative methods used in social science research. The course focuses on methods rather than methodology. Its emphasis is on equipping participants with the practical skills, such as case and informant selection, field experiences, interview techniques, writing field notes, and analyzing and writing qualitative data. The course is in a seminar format. Lectures will be interwoven with discussions. Students are also required to conduct a small-scale pilot qualitative research project using the skills discussed in the seminar.
3 units
Required course for PhD Stream
3 units
Required course for PhD Stream
3 units
In this course, a student is required to meet with his/her supervisor regularly who provides necessary guidance and supervision to write up a thesis and monitors the student’s academic progress.
6 units
In this course, a student is required to meet with his/her supervisor regularly who provides necessary guidance and supervision to write up a thesis and monitors the student’s academic progress.
12 units
In this course, a student is required to meet with his/her supervisor regularly who provides necessary guidance and supervision to write up a thesis and monitors the student’s academic progress.