Past Courses

Previous Graduate Course Descriptions - Fall 2003

Social Change and Development
Sociology 85200

Professor Mauricio A. Font (mfont@gc.cuny.edu)

Wednesdays, 6:30 - 8:30 3 credits

This course provides an overview of the sociology of social change and development. It focuses on concepts and theoretical perspectives, actors and institutions, development trajectories and strategies, and the multiple components of development. It builds on historical-comparative and global contexts. It seeks to familiarize students with the key ideas in the field and to enhance their capacity to use and evaluate them.

The main questions about social change and development proper have to do with their presence or absence, characteristics, causes, consequences, and impediments. The first part of the course overviews the concepts of social change and development, as well as the main approaches to development and underdevelopment-including modernization, dependency, world system, political economy and postmodern paradigms. We then explore the paths, trajectories, transitions, and large-scale transformation shaping contemporary social life. The seminar considers the relationship between demographic change, urbanization and migration, cultural change, and class formation in terms of the policy issues they pose. The fourth and largest part of the course focuses on the relationship between development and democratization, economic liberalization, and political change in the framework of globalization. Throughout we explore the interplay between internal social agents, structures and dynamics, and international/global forces. The readings and lectures discuss development paths/trajectories in diverse places and historical times.

Requirements:
Students will write four relatively short reports (6-7 pages). These reports discuss and extend the issues in the readings for the main themes of the course. Each counts for 22 percent of the grade. Students are expected to do the weekly readings before our meetings and to come to class ready to participate in discussions. Class participation is essential and counts for 12 percent of the grade. This class will make extensive use of the Internet.