SOCY 4931 Important Readings in Sociology
This course is designed as the first in the sequence of courses required of students who have been admitted into the Sociology Department's Undergraduate Honors Program. Ordinarily, students will take this course during the spring of their junior year. The purpose of this seminar will be to read and discuss a series of books that are generally thought to be important contributions to the field. The books chosen will reflect a range of substantive issues, methodological approaches, and theoretical perspectives. The abiding question throughout this seminar class will be the following: What are the characteristics of powerful and compelling sociological work?
Course overview
- Department
- Sociology
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Spring
Catalog details
- Prerequisites
- Permission of Department
Requirements fulfilled
- Applied Psychology and Human Development: Major electives — any Psychology (PSYC) or Sociology (SOCY) course (no more than two electives from outside LSEHD) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Sociology: Sociology electives (18 credits, generally six courses) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Sociology: Upper-level Sociology electives (at least 9 of the 18 elective credits must be SOCY3000 or higher) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.56 / 5 · Excellent
- Instructor rating
- 4.68 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 5
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Juliet Schor | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 9 of 11 |
| Spring 2025 | Joshua Seim | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 11 of 12 |
| Spring 2024 | Juliet Schor | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 7–9 hrs/week | 6 of 7 |
| Spring 2023 | Juliet Schor | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 7–9 hrs/week | 9 of 10 |
| Spring 2022 | Juliet Schor | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 4.8 | — | 5 of 6 |