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February 2001, update of June 1988
Mark Alpert, Social Sciences Librarian
The objective of the Sociology undergraduate concentration is to give students an understanding of how society is organized, how it affects human interaction, and how it might be changed. Sociology reveals a world of social relationships, interactions, norms, values, structures, and roles that shape who we are and how we think and act.
The general objective of the graduate program in Sociology is to educate students in the major areas of sociology while promoting specialization in several. There are six program options. 1. A doctoral program, 2. A terminal masters degree in Sociology, 3. A terminal joint masters in Women's Studies and Sociology, 4. A joint masters in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and Sociology, 5. A joint doctorate in Near Easter and Judaic Studies and Sociology and 6. A joint doctorate in Social Policy and Sociology.
The goal of the undergraduate program is to offer a broadly-based approach to the study of society with an emphasis on critical analysis of social problems and social change. The graduate program is primarily a doctoral program leading to teaching and research.
The collections support undergraduate and graduate study in Sociology. Areas of collecting include: social theory, feminist thought and sociology of gender, research methodology, political and legal sociology, institutions and cultures, group dynamics, disability policy, sociology of health and illness and medical sociology, social movements, sociology of the life course including family policy, political sociology and organizational structure. Material in these areas, supplemented by other topical areas and disciplines are necessary for the growth of the interdisciplinary nature of the collections in Sociology.
None Specified
Primary emphasis is on the United States and Western Europe. Materials on social conditions in these countries will also be covered in the policy statements for History and for Politics. There is also interest in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Although Sociology has its origins in the middle and late nineteenth century with close relationships to history, economic history, and philosophy, primary emphasis of the collection is on twentieth century materials.
Emphasis is on current materials with selective retrospective purchases.
The majority of the materials collected are in the English language.
Monographs are primary to the collection.
Serials are primary to the collection
The library buys or subscribes to electronic indexes and full-text databases that offer research value. Links to free websites are not actively collected together on the library's website although links to websites are included in guides produced by the library.
Research collections in microforms are purchased when deemed relevant.
Dissertations are acquired on a highly selective basis.
Video and audio materials are acquired when relevant to the curriculum.
Materials are located at the Main Library
None Specified
Subject Area |
Collecting Levels |
| Sociology of Institutions and Cultures | Graduate Study |
| Political and Legal Sociology | Undergraduate Study |
| Social theory | Graduate Study |
| Feminist Study | Graduate Study |
| Health and Medical Sociology | Graduate Study |
| Life Span | Graduate Study |
| Group Dynamics | Undergraduate Study |
Because of the interdisciplinary nature of subject matter of Sociology, a number of related policy statements should be referred to: