Existentialism for guidance it also rejected the

existentialism for guidance. It also rejected the Enlightenment view of liberal individualism and
utilitarian economics, and in the process united the ancient ideals of ethics and politics (Aristotle)
with the modern (neo-Kantian) concern for empirical and historical research. Next we will examine
the classical analysis of the historical origins of Western society in the structures and culture of
alienation (Marx), rationalization and disenchantment (Weber), and anomie and division of labor
(Durkheim). At the methodological level, we will study the three different views of classical science:
critical science and the dialectical method (Marx), interpretive science and the historical method of
understanding and value relevance (Weber), and positivistic science and the explanatory method of
naturalism and realism (Durkheim). This counts toward the theory requirement for the major.
Prerequisite: SOCY 262 or permission of instructor.
SOCY 362 CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL THEORY
Credit: 0.5
Social theories offer systematic explanations of human behavior as well as insights into the
historical moments in which they were created. In this course we will investigate some of the last
century's major theories concerning the nature of society and the human social process. Most of
these sociological theories are American in origin, but some new developments in Western
European thought will be included as well. Specific theories to be considered include: (1) the
functionalist theory of Talcott Parsons; (2) social behaviorism, as articulated by George Herbert
Mead; (3) Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann's sociology of knowledge; (4) the critical theory of
Herbert Marcuse; and (5) intersection theory, as developed by Patricia Hill Collins. The
consideration of the intellectual and social contexts in which these theoretical traditions have
arisen will be central to our analysis throughout. This course will be of value to students interested
in developing a systematic approach to understanding society and should be especially relevant to

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those concentrating in the social sciences. This counts toward the theory requirement for the major.
Prerequisite: SOCY 262 or permission of instructor. Offered every year.
SOCY 372 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS
Credit: 0.5 QR
Ever wonder how sociologists gather the information upon which they base their claims? Curious
about all those charts and graphs in newspapers and magazines? Thinking about a career in
marketing, survey research or program evaluation? This course is designed for students who want
to become proficient in doing and understanding quantitative social research using SPSS. The focus
of this class is survey research and design. Students will learn the basics of data mining, recoding
and analysis while also learning to write and present their research findings. This counts toward
the methods requirement for the major. Prerequisite: sophomore standing, 100-level sociology
course, and SOCY 271. Offered every two years.