Students in the Data and Society concentration gain a broad understanding of the methods used to analyze systematic features of social behavior and the wide range of possible sources that can be used to research social patterns. This concentration focuses on methods of analysis, such as social networks, computational sociology, statistics, computational modeling, natural language processing, and others, but students are expected to also expose themselves to substantive areas of research to gain insight in the application of these methods to social problems.
Requirements and coursework
There are no prerequisites for the Sociology major. Completing either a first-year seminar or one introductory course by the end of the sophomore year is recommended.
Candidates for the intensive major should indicate interest to the DUS by registration period in the spring for the fall term of their senior year.
Requirements for the concentration are the following:
- Thirteen term courses (including the senior requirement). Up to four courses relevant to the concentration may be drawn from outside the Sociology department with approval from the DUS.
- 1 Introductory Sociology Course (1000 level)
- One course in sociological theory (SOCY 2001 or 2002)
- One course in research design (SOCY 2100), usually completed in spring of junior year
- One introductory course in statistics (e.g., S&DS 1000, 1100, 3630, or GLBL 2121).
- One intermediate or advanced course in statistics (e.g. SOCY 5610, 5620)
- Two additional methods courses
- One semester of independent study as a research assistant on a sociological topic, ideally with Sociology faculty
- The senior requirement, integrating data-intensive approaches to social science
