Overview

This graduate seminar provides students an introduction to the study of social networks. This course approaches networks as an orienting perspective, as a set of methods, and as a topic of empirical investigation. Because the study of networks is interdisciplinary, we read materials from many different fields. Statistical knowledge equivalent to what is provided in SOC 500/SOC 504 is assumed.

This course has no programming, data analysis, labs or problem sets.

Learning objectives

• Students will be able to describe foundational ideas used in the study of networks and the interconnections between these ideas.
• Students will be able to use these ideas to gain insight into real-world phenomena.
• Students will be able to evaluate research that applies these ideas to real-world phenomena.
• Students will be able to create research about real-world phenomena.