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www.mathieudeflem.net
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XCourse
Outline Contemporary Scholars |
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| COURSE
OBJECTIVES |
 This
course is a graduate-level seminar on selected contemporary sociological
theories. This is not a survey course that would provide a broad overview
of all or many contemporary theories, but only a small yet useful selection
thereof. Temporally, we focus on sociological theories that were developed
since, and that are somehow rooted in, the sociological classics, paying
somewhat more attention to the earliest modern theories. Most critically,
the selection in this theory course (one of several you can take) is motivated
by my understanding of what our department has to offer. Evidently, it
also incorporates theoretical ideas I have found useful in my sociological
work, but it is not necessarily a presentation of my sociological stance.
We will specifically focus on those sociological perspectives that accord
centrality to the notions of system and structure in the scientific study
of society. Based on your interests and research needs, you should explore
theoretical developments not discussed in this class by taking other courses
and/or through self-study. Also, you can always consult me for guidance.
Emphasis
in the course is placed on the conceptual tools and analytically relevant
propositions of the discussed perspectives of sociological thought. Because
this is a sociological theory course for sociologists, not (only) for theorists,
we will also examine the fruitfulness of the introduced theoretical ideas
for the analysis of substantive matters of society and relevant empirical
stuff. All writings in this course are primary materials, i.e. written
by the sociologists who have been instrumental in developing the theory
at hand and who offer an exposition in, rather than about, a certain theoretical
approach. Both theoretical and empirical writings are selected.
The following
papers provide a useful explanation of my teaching philosophy an work in
sociological theory:
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Deflem,
Mathieu. 1999. "Teaching Theory for
Sociology Students: Junior Notes." Perspectives, ASA Theory
newsletter, pp. 7-8.
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Deflem,
Mathieu. 2004. "Theory, Abortion,
Policing, Terrorism." Perspectives, the ASA Theory section newsletter,
27(2):6, 25-27, April 2004.
Prerequisites:
Participants
in this seminar must have taken a graduate-level course in classical sociological
theory. Students who are not graduate students in the USC Sociology program
need the instructor's explicit permission to take this course.
Please
note that the syllabus for this course is only handed out in class.
This online course outline is not the syllabus but is posted for your information
and to gain access to the online readings. |
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Professor
Mathieu Deflem
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 XContemporary
Scholars |
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| TOPICS |
| Introduction:
From Classical to Modern Sociological Theory
Part
I: Functionalism and Beyond
a) The Systems Theory of Talcott Parsons
b) The Functional-Structuralism of Robert K. Merton
c) The Conflict Theory of Lewis Coser
Part
II: Sociological Structuralism
a) The Structural Sociology of Peter Blau
b) The Cultural Sociology of Edward A. Tiryakian
c) The Structuralism of Bruce H. Mayhew, Jr.
Part
III: Anti Parsons / Pro Parsons
a) The Radical Sociology of C. Wright Mills
b) System and Lifeworld in the Sociology of Jürgen Habermas |
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Professor
Mathieu Deflem
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XContemporary
Scholars |
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| ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING |
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least two issues are indispensable for a useful course on sociological
theory: 1) an accurate comprehension of a given theory within the terms
of the theory; and 2) a serious attempt to apply theoretical insights to
empirical social issues. Therefore, students are encouraged to complete
a take-home paper, prepare in-class application exercises, and write a
research paper. Here are some details (more information later):
1) Take-Home Paper (20% of your grade)
The
take-home paper is a short essay for which you will have a week time to
address two or three questions about the course materials. These questions
will in a relatively straightforward manner measure your knowledge and
understanding of particular theories as well as your ability to apply theory
to selected social issues.
2) In-Class Applications (20% of your grade)
Once
or twice during the semester you will prepare an application of a selected
theory for discussion in class. I will offer more specific guidelines on
these applications.
3) Final Research Paper (60% of your grade)
The
final paper for this class is a sociological work about a topic of your
choice. The paper should have a very clear question of an empirical nature,
grounded in one of the theories we discussed. The paper should follow the
style of an article published in a professional sociology journal. To complete
the paper, I advice you to prepare the following materials successively:
a)
Proposal: explanation of your topic in a paragraph or two.
b)
Bibliography: relevant sociological writings.
c)
Outline: an overview of your entire argument.
d)
Paper: about 20 pages total.
All papers
should follow the citation style and reference format of the American Sociological
Association (see ASA
reference style ).
CONTACT
INFORMATION
Professor
Mathieu Deflem, Ph.D., Office:
Sloan
College 217
Office
Hours: By appointment via email deflem@sc.edu
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Professor
Mathieu Deflem
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XContemporary
Scholars |
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| REQUIRED READINGS |
| The
required readings for this course consist of the following books OR
of a selection of online readings (see below). If you have chosen to be
serious about your education, I expect you to get copies of these books
OR to download the articles of each theorist on the following page. More
info in class.
Books
Parsons,
Talcott. 1983. On Institutions and Social Evolution: Selected Writings.
Edited by Leon H. Mayhew. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Merton,
Robert K. 1996. On Social Structure and Science. Edited and with an Introduction
by Piotr Sztompka. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Coser,
Lewis. 1964. The Functions of Social Conflict. New York: The Free Press
(Simon & Schuster).
Blau,
Peter M. 1994. Structural Contexts of Opportunities. Chicago: University
of Chicago Press.
Tiryakian, Edward
A. 1962. Sociologism and Existentialism: Two Perspectives on the Individual
and Society. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Mayhew,
Bruce H. 1990. Researches in Structural Sociology: Selected Writings of
Bruce H. Mayhew, Jr. Compiled and Edited by John Skvoretz. With a Foreword
by John Skvoretz and Patrick D. Nolan. Department of Sociology, University
of South Carolina. [available in the Sociology main office]
Mills,
C. Wright. 1959. The Sociological Imagination. New York: Oxford University
Press.
Habermas,
Jürgen. 1996. On Society and Politics: A Reader, edited by S. Seidman.
Boston: Beacon Press.
Articles
Go
to Online Articles Page - A separate webpage includes dozens of
theoretical and empirical articles on each discussed theorist, which are
available online.
Back
to the Student Domain
Back
to my Homepage |
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