Courses

Over the years a number of courses have been created and taught by the CCS Directors and occasionally by Visiting Professors. Not all classes listed are active, some will continue to be offered, some will not. To see a list of current course offerings in the Department of Sociology please use the link to the Yale Online Course catalog.

SOCY 041, Social Control & Criminal Justice
Philip Smith

Exploration of the criminal justice system from a sociological perspective. Special attention to transformations in social control arising with the onset of modernity. Topics include policing, courts, the law, and prisons; costs and benefits of various contemporary solutions to the problem of social control; and the role of power and culture in shaping current policy and activity. Readings from the works of Durkheim, Foucault, and Weber as well as from more current writings in the fields of criminology, legal studies, and social theory. Enrollment limited to freshmen.

SOCY 115, Contemporary American Society
Ron Eyerman

Examination of the central tensions and dynamics in American society at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Attention to the major fault lines in American society and how they are experienced; how social structures shape social landscapes. Use of sociological theory to inform understandings of how the national past shapes present and future possibilities in American society. Topics include inequality and stratification, religion, urban poverty, the politics of family, popular culture, welfare and warfare, ethnicity and community, and America and the world.

SOCY 116, Markets, Culture, and Globalization
Frederick Wherry

The effects of the global economy on indigenous cultural and economic practices. The arguments presented by proponents and opponents of globalization. Definitions of globalization and culture; cultural tourism and branding; cultural markets; fair trade.

SOCY 141, Sociology of Crime and Deviance
Philip Smith

An introduction to sociological approaches to crime and deviance. Review of the patterns of criminal and deviant activity within society; exploration of major theoretical accounts. Topics include drug use, violence, and white-collar crime.

SOCY 152, Topics in Contemporary Social Theory
Ron Eyerman

An examination of central issues in contemporary social theory. Influential thinkers and their responses to changes in the modern world since the Second World War. Topics include the nature of modern society and the human condition, the selection of rulers, power, punishment, torture, national trauma, and individual and collective identity.

SOCY 160, Methods of Inquiry
Philip Smith

The theory and practice of social inquiry. How social scientists?and aspiring social scientists?actually do their work, including designing research, sampling and measuring, and interpreting results. Examination of thesis proposal writing; ethical quandaries involved in social research.

SOCY 169, Visual Sociology
Philip Smith

Introduction to themes and methods in visual sociology. The role and use of visual information in social life, including images, objects, settings, and human interactions. Ethnographic photography, the study of media images, maps and diagrams, observation and coding of public settings, unobtrusive measures, and the use of internet resources.

SOCY 197, Contemporary Social and Cultural Theory
Ron Eyerman

Overview of developments in social and cultural theory since World War II. Influential authors and their attempts to grasp the changes occurring in the modern world. Theoretical perspectives include critical theory, conservative humanism, poststructuralism, postmodernism, and postcolonialism.

SOCY 202, Cultural Sociology
Jeffrey Alexander

Study of “irrational” meanings in supposedly rational, modern societies. Social meanings are symbolic, sensual, emotional, and moral. They affect every dimension of social life, from politics and markets to race and gender relations, class conflict, and war. Examination of century old counter-intuitive writings of Durkheim and Weber, breakthroughs of semiotics and anthropology in mid-century, creation of modern cultural sociology in the 1980s, and new thinking about social performance and material icons today. Topics include: ancient and modern religion, contemporary capitalism, professional wrestling, the Iraq War, impeachment of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign, and the new cult of vinyl records.

SOCY 216, Social Movements
Ron Eyerman

An introduction to sociological perspectives on social movements and collective action, exploring civil rights, student movements, global justice, nationalism, and radical fundamentalism.
 The prerequisite for intermediate courses is one introductory Sociology course or permission of the instructor.

SOCY 313, Sociology of the Arts and Popular Culture
Ron Eyerman

An introduction to sociological perspectives on the arts and popular culture. Topics include the relationship between culture and society; the role and meaning of the arts from a sociological perspective; mass culture and the culture industry; culture and commerce, art, and politics. Analysis of artworks, classical and popular music, film, and literature.

SOCY 321, Sociology of Markets
Frederick Wherry

The role of culture and politics in shaping markets. Links between social networks and employment discrimination, religion and wealth, social relationships and financial troubles, and culture and industry. The moral dimensions of selling organs and intimacy.

SOCY 330, Civil Society & Democracy
Jeffrey Alexander

Examination of normative and sociological theories of civil society and of empirical studies of its culture. Attention to organizations such as polls, mass media, law, and office, which provide ways of partially institutionalizing civil society. The civil rights movement and multiculturalism as illustrations of struggles inside the civil sphere. Discussion of whether a global civil society is possible. (Advanced Sociology courses are open to students who have completed one intermediate course and any other specified requirement, or by permission of the instructor. Preference is given to Sociology majors in their junior and senior years.)

SOCY 346, Public Behaviors and Social Spaces
Philip Smith, Jin Su Joo

How people behave in public, with a focus on interactions between people, objects, and their settings. Topics include civility and incivility, proxemics, object-settings, and the social context of various spaces such as museums, parks, plazas, streets, and the virtual.

SOCY 352, Iconic Consciousness and Material Culture
Jeffrey Alexander

Exploration of how and why modern and postmodern societies have continued to sustain material symbolism and iconic consciousness. Study of theoretical approaches to debates about icons and symbols in philosophy, sociology, linguistics, pyschoanalysis, and semiotics. Use of case studies to analyze modern iconography in advertisements and branding, food and bodies, nature, fashion, celebrities, popular culture, art, and politics. (Advanced Sociology courses are open to students who have completed one intermediate course and any other specified requirement, or by permission of the instructor. Preference is given to Sociology majors in their junior and senior years.)

SOCY 502, Contemporary Sociological Theory: Durkheimian Sociology
Philip Smith

The course looks at the work of Emile Durkheim and his legacy for both social theory and empirical sociology. In the first part we examine Durkheim’s major writings and key concepts. Next an exploration is made of the multiple and often contending ways these have been taken up and interpreted over the past one hundred or so years. Particular emphasis is given to the decline in functionalist and positivist readings of Durkheim and his emergence as a major cultural theorist in recent decades. We consider the contributions of Mauss, Bataille, Goffman, Victor Turner, Collins, Lukes, Douglas.

SOCY 534, Cultural Sociology
Jeffrey Alexander

Cultural sociology studies “irrational” meanings in supposedly rational, modern societies. Social meanings are symbolic, but also sensual, emotional, and moral. They can deeply divide nations but also powerfully unite them. They affect every dimension of social life, from politics and markets to race and gender relations, class, conflict, and war. We look at how this cultural approach developed, from counterintuitive writings of Durkheim and Weber a century ago, to the breakthroughs of semiotics and anthropology in midcentury, the creation of modern cultural sociology in the 1980s, and new thinking about social performance and material icons today. As we trace this historical arc, we examine ancient and modern religion, contemporary capitalism, the coronation of Elizabeth II, professional wrestling, Americans not eating horses, the Iraq War, the impeachment of Bill Clinton, Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign, and the new cult of vinyl records.

SOCY 536, Fundamentals of Cultural Sociology
Philip Smith

A comprehensive survey of the theories, methods, and topics that make up the field of cultural sociology today. Emphasis is given to recent empirical work exemplifying longstanding intellectual traditions and styles of inquiry. There is also consideration of the ties among evidence, exposition, and explanation.

SOCY 544, Social Movements
Ron Eyerman

The course covers the dynamic field of social movement research from its origins to the present day. We discuss developments in theory and methodology primarily from European and American (North and South) perspectives, but touch on others as well. We make use of film and music in to explore the themes under discussion. This seminar course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates.

SOCY 545, Sociology of Markets
Frederick Wherry

This seminar explores the links between social networks and employment discrimination, religion and wealth, social relationships and financial troubles, culture and industry, and the moral dimensions of selling organs and intimacy.

SOCY 548, The Sociology of the Arts: Classical & Contemporary Perspectives
Ron Eyerman

This seminar covers the classical and contemporary sociological perspectives on the arts; the “arts” being understood in the broad sense to include fine art and popular culture. Framing these perspectives is the dominant sociological narrative, periodized as a movement from traditional to modern and late, or postmodern, society. The central theoretical focus is on the Frankfurt School and the notion of a culture industry.

SOCY 562, Topics in Cultural Sociology
Jeffrey Alexander

After reviewing contemporary sociological perspectives on culture, the seminar concentrates on the intellectual origins, theories, and empirical exemplars of the strong program in cultural sociology. We discuss hermeneutics and interpretation, critical theory, semiotics, structuralism, and post-structuralism; how a cultural-sociological program emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s; and how this program has produced a range of research studies. We examine in particular emerging foci on social drama and performance, cultural trauma, and the iconic turn.

SOCY 565, Advanced Seminar in Cultural Sociology
Philip Smith, Jeffrey Alexander

The seminar focuses on the unpublished work of advanced graduate students in cultural sociology at Yale and elsewhere, as well as on just-emerging published work that exemplifies “strong program” work in cultural sociology and surrounding fields. The format is intended to maximize student participation so as to develop collegial networks of intellectual support as well as capacities for critical evaluation. The workshop may be audited by more advanced graduate students who wish to participate in this process but whose course work is completed, as well as by Visiting Fellows to the Center for Cultural Sociology, or with permission of the instructor. This is a full-year course.

SOCY 570, Social Theory: Trauma and Memory
Ronald Eyerman

Exploration of sociological approaches to memory and trauma. A central theme is how cultural trauma has influenced the development of social theory, as well as literature and the arts generally.

SOCY 574, Visual Sociology
Philip Smith

The class explores the methods and theoretical underpinnings of visual sociology. Consideration philosophical and epistemological issues related to the visual and iconic turn. Introduction to ethnographic photography, auto photography, photo-elicitation, the analysis of existing images in the mass media, advertising and on the internet. Exploration of objects, settings and public social behavior. Focus on the construction small scale, theoretically informed visual research projects.

SOCY 576, Civil Society and Democracy
Jeffrey Alexander

Examination of normative and sociological theories of civil society and of empirical studies of its culture. Attention to organizations such as polls, mass media, law, and office, which provide ways of partially institutionalizing civil society. The civil rights movement and multiculturalism as illustrations of struggles inside the civil sphere. Discussion of whether a global civil society is possible.

SOCY 591, Sociology of the Arts and Popular Culture
Ronald Eyerman

An advanced introduction to sociological perspectives on the arts and popular culture. Emphasis on the conceptualization of culture within social theory, with the aim of interpreting cultural expressions and artifacts: artworks, music, television, film, and literature.

SOCY 620, Material Culture and Iconic Consciousness
Jeffrey Alexander

Exploration of how and why modern and postmodern societies have continued to sustain material symbolism and iconic consciousness. Theoretical approaches to debates about icons and symbols in philosophy, sociology, linguistics, psychoanalysis, and semiotics. Iconography in advertisements and branding, food and bodies, nature, fashion, celebrities, popular culture, art, architecture, and politics.

SOCY 628, Workshop in Cultural Sociology
Jeffrey Alexander, Ron Eyerman, Philip Smith and Frederick Wherry

This workshop is designed to be a continuous part of the graduate curriculum. Meeting weekly throughout both the fall and spring terms, it constitutes an ongoing, informal seminar to explore areas of mutual interest among students and faculty, both visiting and permanent. The core concern of the workshop is social meaning and its forms and processes of institutionalization. Meaning is approached as both structure and performance, drawing not only on the burgeoning area of cultural sociology but on the humanities, philosophy, and other social sciences. Discussions range widely among methodological, theoretical, empirical, and normative issues. Sessions alternate between presentations by students of their own work and by visitors. Contents of the workshop vary from term to term, and from year to year. Enrollment is open to auditors who fully participate and for credit to students who submit written work. Visit the Workshop home page for more information.

SOCY 653, Workshop in Advanced Sociological Writing and Research
Philip Smith

This class concerns the process of advanced writing and research that converts draft material into work ready for publication, preferably in refereed journals, or submission as a substantial grant proposal. It investigates problem definition, the craft of writing, the structure of argument and data presentation, and the nature of persuasion more generally. The aim is to teach a professional orientation that allows work that is promising to become truly polished and compelling within the full range of sociological genres.

SOCY 658, Qualitative Research Design
Frederick Wherry

This seminar leads students through six biweekly modules on designing and conducting qualitative research. The main goal is to design a publishable paper suitable for a sociological or other scholarly journal.