哥倫比亞大學(xué)

Sociology explores social life in all its fascinating variety. We illuminate the intricate processes through which human beings express their social being: cooperation, conflict, power, exchange, morality, symbolism, solidarity, domination, dependency, affection, morality, identity, deviance, social control, and violence. We also study the forms those processes take: face-to-face interaction, social networks, small groups, subcultures, families, gender divisions, religion, popular and high culture, social class, structures of race and ethnicity, bureaucracy, social movements, professions, the state, even the larger world of relations among states. Our students learn to identify these social processes and forms in any topic they study.

Course Requirements

The Sociology major is comprised of 10 courses, including:

Foundations (3 courses):

SOCI UN1000 The Social World (recommended no later than the sophomore year)

SOCI UN3000 Social Theory

SOCI UN3010 Methods for Social Research (no later than the junior year)

Electives (5 courses):

Of the five electives required for the major, no more than one can be at the 2000 level and at least one must be a seminar at the 3900 (or 4000) level.

With the exception of the senior thesis or designated research seminar (see below) the Foundations and Elective courses may be taken at either Barnard or Columbia

Senior Requirement (2 courses):

There are two ways to satisfy the senior requirement.

Research Paper Option: two upper level seminars (SOCI BC or UN 3900 or above), one of which must be a designated research seminar taught by a Barnard faculty member that requires a 25- to 30-page research paper based on some primary research, plus any additional upper level seminar offered by the Barnard or Columbia sociology departments.

Thesis Option: two-semester senior thesis, involving original sociological research and analysis on a topic of the student’s choice, in consultation with an advisor; requires enrollment in SOCI BC3087-3088.