Faculty
In Memoriam
Richard Lachmann, Ph.D., Harvard University
Distinguished Professors Emeriti
Richard D. Alba, Ph.D., Columbia University
John R. Logan, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Distinguished Professor
Scott J. South, Ph.D., University of Texas
Distinguished Service Professor Emerita
Glenna D. Spitze, Ph.D., University of Illinois (Collins Fellow)
Professors Emeriti
Christine E. Bose, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
Nancy Denton, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Donald J. Hernandez, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Marvin D. Krohn, Ph.D., Florida State University
Gwen Moore, Ph.D., New York University
Steven Seidman, Ph.D., University of Virginia
David Wagner, Ph.D., Stanford University
Russell A. Ward, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
Steven F. Messner, Ph.D., Princeton University
Professors
Peter D. Brandon, Ph.D., University of Chicago
Angie Chung, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Glenn D. Deane, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chair)
Joanna Dreby, Ph.D., City University of New York
Samantha Friedman, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Hayward D. Horton, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Ronald N. Jacobs, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Zai Liang, Ph.D., University of Chicago
Karyn A. Loscocco, Ph.D., Indiana University
Katherine Trent, Ph.D., University of Texas
Associate Professors Emeriti
Lawrence E. Raffalovich, Ph.D., Indiana University Bloomington
Arthur H. Richardson, Ph.D., Purdue University
Maurice N. Richter Jr., Ph.D., University of Chicago
James R. Zetka Jr., Ph.D., Northwestern University
Associate Professors
Kate Averett, Ph.D., University of Texas
Brandon Gorman, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Zoya Gubernskaya, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine
Joanne M. Kaufman, Ph.D., Emory University
Aaron Major, Ph.D., New York University
Kathleen Strully, Ph.D., New York University
Tse-Chuan Yang, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Assistant Professors
Jonathan Dirlam, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Zawadi Rucks-Ahidiana, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Francisco Vieyra, Ph.D., New York University
Affiliated Faculty
Aaron Benavot, Ph.D., Stanford University
Kyra Gaunt, Ph.D., University of Michigan
Gabriel Hetland, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
David Hureau, Ph.D., Harvard University
Johana Londoño, New York University
Kathryn S. Schiller, Ph.D., University of Chicago
Mary Ellen Stitt, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Barbara Sutton, Ph.D., University of Oregon
Matthew Vogel, Ph.D., University at Albany, SUNY
Adjuncts (estimated): 5
Teaching Assistants (estimated): 10
Careers
A B.A. degree in sociology prepares people for positions in business, government, and the human services. Fields such as health management, public administration, gerontology, and higher educational administration include people with a sociology B.A. degree. The undergraduate degree in sociology is excellent preparation for advanced degrees and future careers in business administration, criminal justice, social welfare, law, education, and the health professions, as well as graduate study in sociology and related disciplines.
Special Programs or Opportunities
The department provides research opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students, a series of colloquia with locally and nationally known sociologists, and a local chapter of the national sociology honorary society, Alpha Kappa Delta. A joint B.A./M.A. program is available in sociology as well as a joint B.A./M.P.A. in sociology and public administration.
Students have the option of declaring one of two concentrations in either Criminology or in Families and Communities. In addition to completing the requirements for the General B.A. in Sociology, students pursuing a concentration will complete a more focused curriculum of coursework within the major, and will be encouraged to do applied research and community-based work related to criminology or families and communities as part of their program of study.
Degree Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology:
A minimum of 36 credits in sociology, with 24 credits at the 300 level or above.
Required Courses:
- ASOC 115 Introduction to Sociology (3)
- ASOC 310* Social Research Methods (3) (with a grade of Cor better)
- ASOC 221** Statistics for Sociologists (3)
- ASOC 335* Sociological Theory (3) (with a grade of Cor better)
- One 400 level Selected Topics Seminar
- Choose one course (3 credits) in Social Inequalities from:
- ASOC 262 Sociology of Gender (3)
- ASOC 282 Race and Ethnicity (3)
- ASOC 326 Sociology of Race, Gender and Class (3)
- ASOC 341 Social Inequality (3)
Additional 18 credits of sociology electives as advised.
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology:
A minimum of 36 credits in sociology, with 24 credits at the 300 level or above.
Required Courses:
- ASOC 115 Introduction to Sociology (3)
- ASOC 310* (with a grade of C or better) Social Research methods (3)
- ASOC 221** Statistics for Sociologists (3)
- ASOC 335* (with a grade of C or better) Sociological Theory (3)
- Selected Topics Seminar ASOC 481 Selected Topics Seminar in Crime and Deviance (3)
- 9 credits from
- ASOC/R CRJ 203 Criminology (3)
- ASOC 283 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
- ASOC 380 Social Deviant Behavior (3)
- ASOC 382 Criminal Victimology (3)
- ASOC 385 Sociology of Law (3)
- with permission one of ASOC 490 Internship in Sociology (3) or ASOC 497 Independent Study in Sociology (1-3 or ASOC 498 Senior Honors Thesis (3)
- Choose one course (3 credits) in Social Inequalities from:
- ASOC 262 Sociology of Gender (3)
- ASOC 282 Race and Ethnicity (3)
- ASOC 326 Sociology of Race, Gender and Class (3)
- ASOC 341 Social Inequality (3)
- 9 additional credits of sociology as advised
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Families and Communities:
A minimum of 36 credits in sociology, with 24 credits at the 300 level or above.
Required Courses:
- ASOC 115 Introduction to Sociology (3)
- ASOC 310* Social Research Methods (with a grade of C or better)
- ASOC 221** Statistics for Sociologists (3)
- ASOC 335* Sociological Theory (3) (with a grade of C or better)
- Choose one Selected Topics Seminar
- ASOC 470 Selected Topics Seminar in Social Psychology (3)
- ASOC 473 Selected Topics Seminar in Sociology of Families (3)
- Choose three courses (9 credits) from:
- ASOC 250 Sociology of Families (3)
- ASOC 270 Social and Demographic Changes (3)
- ASOC 320 Population Challenges (3)
- ASOC 370 Social Demography (3)
- ASOC 373 Community and urban Sociology (3)
- ASOC 384 Sociology of Aging (3)
- ASOC 386The Social Worlds of Children and Youth (3)
- with permission one of ASOC 490 Internship in Sociology (3) or ASOC 497 Independent Study in Sociology (1-3) or ASOC 498 Senior Honors Thesis (3)
- Choose one course (3 credits) in Social Inequalities from:
- ASOC 262 Sociology of Gender (3)
- ASOC 282 Race and Ethnicity (3)
- ASOC 326 Sociology of Race, Gender and Class (3)
- ASOC 341 Social Inequality (3)
- 9 additional credits of sociology as advised
*Sociology majors are restricted to A–E grading after matriculation at Albany when taking courses to fulfill the requirements in Research Methods (ASOC 310) and Theory (ASOC 335).
**The ASOC 221 requirement can be fulfilled by satisfactorily completing AMAT 108, APSY 210, or RCRJ 281.
Honors Program
The honors program in sociology combines recognition of general academic excellence with demonstrated achievement in sociology. The program is structured to provide exposure to the breadth of sociological modes of inquiry, while also stimulating and supporting original, student-initiated exploration of sociological issues.
Selection and Evaluation
The student must have declared sociology as a major and have completed at least 12 credits of course work in sociology. The student must have an overall grade point average no lower than 3.25 and a 3.50 in sociology is required for admission to the honors program. Upon satisfactory completion of the honors curriculum and of courses required of all majors, students will be recommended by the Director of the Honors Program to graduate with honors in sociology.
The student must maintain the same grade point average overall and the same average in the major as were required for admission to the honors program.
Curriculum
A total of 36 credits in sociology, with 24 credits at the 300 level or above, including ASOC 115; 310* (with a grade of C or better), 221**; 335* (with a grade of C or better), two substantive courses (300 level or higher) directly related to the topic of the honors thesis; 3 credits in Social Inequalities from ASOC 262, ASOC 282, ASOC 326, or ASOC 341; Research Proposal Seminar (ASOC 488Z) and a Senior Honors Thesis (ASOC 498).
Administration
The undergraduate honors director administers the program, advises students, and helps students in selecting thesis advisers. The thesis is discussed in a forum involving the adviser, the honors director, and other faculty members selected by the student and the adviser upon its completion in the senior year.
Combined B.A./M.A. and B.A./M.P.A. Programs
Sociology/Sociology:
The combined B.A./M.A. program in sociology/sociology provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master’s degree programs from the beginning of their junior year. The program provides an integrated and focused curriculum in sociology that allows the upper level student exposure to advanced knowledge in theory and substantive areas and opportunities for participation in research. A carefully designed program can permit a student to earn the B.A. and M.A. degrees within nine semesters.
The combined program requires a minimum of 138 credits, of which at least 30 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all University and college requirements, including the requirements of the undergraduate major described previously, the minor requirement, the minimum 90 credit liberal arts and science requirement, general education requirements, and residency requirements. During their junior and senior years students take ASOC 509, 510, 511, and 522. In qualifying for the M.A., students must meet all University and college requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of a minimum of 30 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, professional experience, and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.A. programs.
Students may apply to the Graduate Committee for admission to the combined degree program in sociology at the beginning of their junior year or after the successful completion of 56 credits. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration. The Graduate Committee will thoroughly review the progress and academic standing of students admitted to the program at the end of the junior year.
Sociology/Public Administration:
The combined B.A./M.P.A. program in sociology/public administration provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master’s degree programs from the beginning of their junior year. A carefully designed program can permit a student to earn the B.A. and M.P.A. degrees in one less semester than is normally required.
The combined program requires a minimum of 154 credits, of which at least 46 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all University and school requirements, including the requirements of the major described previously, the minor requirement, the minimum 90 credit liberal arts and science requirement, general education requirements, and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.P.A., students must meet all University and school requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of a minimum of 46 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, professional experience, and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.P.A. programs.
Students may apply to the combined degree program in sociology/public administration at the beginning of their junior year or after the successful completion of 56 credits. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration.