Sociology 232 (Fall 2011) v. 10-22-11 Wednesday: 4:10-6:10pm, Watkins 2041

Purpose: The purpose of this course is to introduce first year graduate students to the department and discipline of sociology and the vocation of social science. Information will be made available that is often not obtained in graduate coursework and which will be helpful for success in the graduate program and as future professionals.

Most of the faculty members in the Sociology Department will make short presentations about their research and some have provided readings that should be done prior to the class meeting. I have also asked Chairs and members of Specialization Committees to discuss the specializations. Come prepared to ask questions about the assigned reading as well as any questions you have about the faculty’s research and or the relevant specialization area. The proseninar will also expose you to sociology as a discipline. We will discuss such topics as teaching, research, publishing, the job market and funding opportunities. Full attendance and participation in this seminar is expected. The goal is to disseminate and discuss valuable information to you, but its success depends upon your contributions.

The web page for Sociology 232 is at http://iLearn.ucr.edu/

September 28: overview of the proseminar: sociology and social science as a career.

Recommended readings: Peter Berger, Invitation to Sociology

October 5: C. Chase-Dunn, “Global public social science”

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship http://www.nsfgrfp.org/

and other financial opportunities for grad students

October 12: Scott Brooks, David Swanson

Swanson readings: Thomas K. Burch, “Demography in a New Key” and Swanson, Burch and Tedrow, “What is applied demography?”

October 19 Karen Pyke, Chris Chase-Dunn

Pyke readings: Pyke and Johnson,“ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND RACIALIZED FEMININITIES” and Pyke, “WHAT IS INTERNALIZED RACIAL OPPRESSION AND WHY DON’T WE STUDY IT?”

Chase-Dunn reading: C.Chase-Dunn, 2001 "World-Systems Theorizing" in Jonathan Turner (ed.) Handbook of Sociological Theory. New York: Plenum.

October 26 Robert Nash Parker, Peter Burke

November 2 Katja Guenther, Alfredo Mirande,

November 9 Steven Brint, Rusty Russell

November 16 Ellen Reese, Robert A. Hanneman (NSF GRFP application

is due)

Reese reading: They say cut back

November 23 Tanya Nieri,

November 30 Jon Turner, Aleksandra Maryanski