SOCY 7761 Second Year Graduate Writing Seminar

This is a 3-credit, 2-semester course that meets approximately every other week for both terms. Students should contact the professor about attending in the fall, but wait to register until the spring term. In the fall term, they should register instead for an independent study with the faculty member advising their writing project. Note that a completed research proposal is required for entry. The writing seminar is intended for second year M.A. and Ph. D. students working on their M.A. theses/papers. The 3-credit seminar begins in fall and continues into the spring term. The seminar employs a supportive structure and a collaborative learning environment to help students to carry out their independent projects.

Course overview

Department
Sociology
School
MCAS
Credits
3
Level
Graduate
Offered
Every Fall, Every Spring

Course evaluations

Response-weighted averages from Boston College’s official course evaluations (Avalanche/Blue).

Course rating
4.25 / 5 · Very Good
20 responses
Instructor rating
4.75 / 5 · Excellent
20 responses
Terms evaluated
8
Most recent: Spring 2026

Scales: overall ratings run from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent); agreement questions from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree); weekly effort from 1 (up to 1 hour) to 5 (10 or more hours).

Evaluations by term and instructor
TermInstructorCourse overallInstructor overallWell organizedClear learning objectivesIntellectually challengingHelpful assignmentsApplicable beyond courseAttendance necessaryWeekly effortResponses
Spring 2026Sarah L Babb3.55.04.55.04.54.05.05.04–6 hrs/week2 of 3
Spring 2025Sarah L Babb4.24.84.74.83.54.54.74.51–3 hrs/week6 of 8
Fall 2024Sarah L Babb3.54.54.04.02.54.54.53.51–3 hrs/week2 of 3
Spring 2024Sarah L Babb4.04.34.34.33.84.04.04.51–3 hrs/week4 of 7
Spring 2023Sarah L Babb5.05.05.05.05.04.55.05.04–6 hrs/week2 of 4
Fall 2022Sarah L Babb5.05.05.05.05.05.05.05.04–6 hrs/week1 of 2
Spring 2022Sarah L Babb5.05.05.04.54.04.55.04.04–6 hrs/week2 of 3
Fall 2021Sarah L Babb5.05.0—5.05.05.05.05.04–6 hrs/week1 of 3

Data freshness

Course and evaluation data last updated 2026-10-09. Source details and limitations are documented in Data Sources and Methodology.

Instructors

  • Sarah L Babb
    Fall 2026, Spring 2026, Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021 · Official rating 4.75/5

Sections

  • Section 01
    Fall 2026 · Sarah L Babb · Mcguinn Hall 415 F 10:00AM-12:30PM · Offered