2024

Fall 2024 Committee on Social Theory: Affiliated Courses
The following courses are approved courses for FA24 for those pursuing a graduate certificate in Social Theory (listed alphabetically):

GEO 702: Concepts in Geography* (3 credits)
*This course is only available to GEO students.
Instructor: Matthew Wilson
Day & Time: Tuesdays from 2-4 pm (in-person)
Location: Miller Hall Room 6
Course Description: Contemporary geographic concepts and theories are examined with emphasis on concepts within human geography.

GWS 700-001: Topical Seminar in GWS: Studying the Right* (3 credits)
*This course will satisfy the ST 500 requirement.
Instructor: Carol Mason
Day & Time: Thursdays from 3:30-6 pm (in-person)
Location: Breckinridge Hall Room 107
Course Description: Right-wing studies is a bourgeoning transnational endeavor across disciplines inspired by the recent global rise in authoritarian populism. However, analyzing the right has a history that graduate students need to know. This class will provide students with: current discussions and definitions of key terms; a historical background to studying the right by focusing on important centers and the archives they’ve created in the United States; and a survey of methodological approaches and the kinds of analyses they produce. Assignments will emphasize understanding arguments and methods rather than producing original research and analysis. Readings are likely to include books by Daniel Martinez Hosang, Joseph Lowndes, Cynthia Miller-Idriss, Kathleen Blee, Carlos De La Torre, Pete Simi, Robert Futrell, Matthew Lyon, Chip Berlet, Agnieszka Graff, Luke Mogelson, Larry Rosenthal, Jeff Sharlet, Kathleen Belew, Ramon Gutierrez, Oscar Mazzoleni, Emily Carian, Alex DiBranco, Chelsea Ebin, Judith Butler, Angela Davis.

LIS 619: Informal Learning in Information Organizations (3 credits)
Instructor: Daniela DiGiacomo
Day & Time: N/A (online and asynchronous)
Location: N/A (online and asynchronous)
Course Description: How people learn has implications for how learning environments should be designed. This course examines theories of informal learning—primarily drawing upon research from the sociocultural tradition of learning and human development—and considers how they can be practically implemented into information organization contexts. Being grounded in a sociocultural tradition means that this class will center issues of equity, diversity, and justice as they relate to the organization and design of information organization contexts and settings (e.g. libraries, museums, youth programs, new media centers, non-profit organizations). For example, how do issues of culture and learning inform the development of afterschool literacy programs in public libraries or Maker spaces in school libraries, especially those that serve predominantly minoritized communities. By gaining a deep understanding of how people learn across their lifespan, students will be able to consider how to create a community of learners in a range of settings in which people from various backgrounds participate. Topics covered include issues related to culture and cognition, identity development, adult-youth partnerships, access to/relationships with new digital media, and design thinking. *No prerequisites.

SOC 651: Classical Sociological Theory (3 credits)
Instructor: Jordan Brown
Day & Time: Wednesdays from 3-5:30 pm (in-person)
Location: Patterson Office Tower Room 1545
Course Description: Intensive examination of the ideas and continuing significance of leading nineteenth century sociological theorists. The work of Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and Simmel or Mead is given particular attention. Discussion concerns the contents of their writings, the sociohistorical context in which they were developed, and their applicability to contemporary society.