The Stanford Sociology Doctoral Program: Methods Requirements
All doctoral students must complete the research methods courses identified below. Students must also complete one elective from a list of approved courses (updated and circulated at the start of each academic year). Students with little background in statistics are strongly encouraged to take an undergraduate level statistics course (SOC 281B or equivalent).
* Students are required to enroll in Soc 384 in their first or second summer in the program. Please note that Soc 384 may be offered on an every other year cycle. Doctoral students must take all required courses, including methods courses, for a letter grade if available and are expected to earn a grade of ‘B+’ in each course. Any grade of ‘B’ or below is considered to be less than satisfactory.
The methods course requirements above applies to doctoral students who entered the Ph.D program in 2005-06 or later.
Methods Course Descriptions
SOC 381. Sociological Methodology I: Introduction
Basic math and statistics. Types of variables, how to recode and transform variables, and how to manage different types of data sets. Introduction to statistical packages and programming.
SOC 382. Sociological Methodology II: The General Linear Model
The general linear model for discrete and continuous variables. Introduction to model selection, the principles of estimation, assessment of fit, and modeling diagnostics.
SOC 383. Sociological Methodology III: Advanced Models for Discrete Outcomes
The rationale for and interpretation of static and dynamic models for the analysis of discrete variables.
SOC 384. New Models and Methods in the Social Sciences
Two-week intensive course offered during the summer. Emphasis is on applications. Topics may include network models, multilevel models, latent class models, mixed methods, new qualitative methods, growth models, geostatistical tools, survey-based experiments, new methods for estimating causal effects, web-based surveys, advanced discrete choice models, and diffusion models.
SOC 385A and SOC 385B. Research Practicum I & II
Workshop on research methods. Ongoing student research, methodological problems, and possible solutions. This workshop is designed specifically to assist Sociology doctoral students with successful completion of the second-year paper requirement.
Methods Electives
A list of acceptable elective methods courses can be found here