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The core curriculum consists of three distinct but integrated areas of study: sociological theory, research methods and analysis, and the sociology of health and illness.
Entering students are expected to have had an introductory statistics course, or to take one within the first two years of the program.
Core courses are:
| Sociological Theory | Classical
Contemporary Symbolic Interactionism/Cultural Studies |
| Methods | Quantitative
Methods I and II Qualitative Field Research and Analysis I and II Advanced Methods (Qualitative or quantitative) Advanced Statistics |
| Medical Sociology | Sociology of Health and Medicine
Social Psychology of Health and Illness Policy and Politics of Health Health Care Institutions Race and Class Factors in Health Care Delivery |
Classical Theory (focus on Marx, Weber, and Durkheim)
Contemporary Theory (focus on 20th century developments including the Frankfurt School, functionalism, and a variety of critical theories)
Interactionist Theory (focus on historical and contemporary contributions including Mead, Dewey, Blumer, Becker, Strauss, and current work)
Sociology of Health and Medicine (examines sociological and related theories and research, largely at the meso and macro levels)
Social Constructions of Health, Illness, and Knowledge (examines theories and research largely at the micro and meso level)
Health Care Institutions (examines classical organization theory and its evolution to contemporary theory and their applications to health care organizations)
Race & Class Factors in Health Care Delivery (examines sociological race theory, methodology, and research related to health provision and outcomes)
Policy and Politics of Health (covers the basic medical sociology and public policy issues in the field)
Four core research courses are required: two courses in quantitative and two in qualitative research methods.
In addition, students are required to fulfill a statistics requirement by taking a course at the introductory level or higher, depending on prior preparation. UCSF offers a wide range of statistics courses - Applied Regression Analysis and Analysis of Variance, and Multivariate Methods.
Note: UCSF School of Nursing also offers other academic programs of interest:
Additionally, the Program offers occasional advanced quantitative and qualitative research methods courses. Students are strongly encouraged to develop a paper for publication based on their research coursework. This coursework also often serves as pilot research for the dissertation.
The program has areas of emphasis in several substantive areas, the primary ones being aging, chronic illness, and disability; health economics and Policy; and women, health, and healing. Other areas of study include advanced methods; science and technology studies; violence as a health issue; and race, ethnicity, and social inequality. Students are encouraged to take courses in each of the different areas.
The intensive course load during the first two years is designed to introduce students to the main components of their graduate study. Students take sociological theory (three courses); medical sociology core courses (five courses); and quantitative and qualitative research methods (four courses).
Students are expected to attend full time during their first two years and average three courses per quarter (9-12 units). Required courses must be taken for a letter grade.
At the end of their first year, a major evaluation of all new doctoral students in the School of Nursing will occur. Students also may not have more than one (1) outstanding Incomplete by the official end date of Spring Quarter.
As usual, extenuating circumstances can be explicated in the Student Self-Evaluation which will be due May 1st.
In the doctoral sociology program, "Incomplete" grades ("I") will be given only in cases of personal illness or personal/family crisis. The Graduate Division specifies that Incompletes be completed within one year of the end of the course or they convert into a grade of "F". When a student is permitted to take an Incomplete, the Faculty of Record will set a date with them by which the course must be completed, a date set at faculty discretion. This may be sooner that the Graduate Division maximum of one year.
Time to degree will vary from student to student, depending on various factors, such as previous graduate work, research topics, and data collection. Generally, required coursework takes a minimum of two years, followed by additional coursework as necessary or desirable; completion of qualifying exams and third area paper, by which a student advances to candidacy; dissertation proposal and defense; and dissertation research, writing, and defense. Students entering with a bachelor's degree may wish to take additional basic courses during the first two years. Time to degree has averaged seven years, although recently, a growing number of students have finished in five or six.
QUALIFYING EXAM: SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY AND MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY EXAMS AND THE THIRD AREA PAPER
Students take two formal exams, one at the end of the course work on theory and one at the end of the course work in medical sociology. These exams are given during the summer after the first and second years of study. The theory exam covers classical, contemporary, and interactionist theory, and the medical sociology exam covers the core areas of medical sociology.
The third area paper, written on a topic in the student's particular area of interest, is the final stage of qualifying exams and usually serves as a stage in dissertation research.
All three sections of the doctoral qualifying examination (theory, medical sociology and third area) must be completed by the end of the student's fourth year in the doctoral program. The official date is the last day of the last summer quarter before the student's fifth year begins. If all three sections of the doctoral qualifying examination have not been completed or turned in to the appropriate faculty, the student will be required to retake the theory and medical sociology qualifying exams within one calendar year in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Once a student has successfully completed all qualifying exam requirements including the third area paper, s/he formally advances to candidacy, forms a dissertation committee, prepares a written research proposal, and schedules a hearing. Following the proposal hearing and committee approval, the student proceeds with dissertation research and writing, working closely with the dissertation chair and committee members.
When the candidate has finished the final draft of the dissertation, an oral defense is scheduled. Revisions may be recommended at this time.
Upon receipt of final approval from the committee, the dissertation is signed and filed with the Graduate Division, and the degree is conferred.
SBS graduates have generally secured excellent placements. Employment depends on several factors, one being willingness to relocate. Graduates typically find positions in academia, research institutes, government, and teaching. Others take postdoctoral appointments, which can provide useful networking opportunities as well as the chance to pursue additional research, prepare papers for publication, and develop a professional curriculum vita.
| CORE MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY | |
| S 207 Sociology of Health and Medicine | Course
introduces student to classical perspectives in medical sociology and development
of a critical perspective in the field to serve as a foundation for independent
and advanced study in medical sociology.
(Shim)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 208 Social Constructions of Health and Illness |
The
relationship of social class, ethnic identification, group membership, family
structure, occupation and lifestyle, to health and illness, and therapeutic interaction
of lay persons and health professionals.
(Shim)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 260 Policy and Politics of Health | Course
examines health care Policy and politics in terms of historical and contemporary
issues related to access, quality, and cost.
Organizational, financing, and labor market issues are included, along with strategies for social change.
(Dworkin)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| CORE THEORY | |
| S 212A Sociological Theory: Classical | Course
examines and evaluates classical and recent contributions to sociological theory.
The main objective is the generation of a critical capacity with respect to received
theory in both its formal and substantive varieties.
(Staff)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 212B Sociological Theory: Contemporary | Course
examines and evaluates contemporary contributions to sociological theory. The
main objective is the generation of a critical capacity with respect to received
theory in both its formal and substantive varieties.
(Shim)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 212C Sociological Theory: Symbolic lnteractionism |
Readings
and discussions on interactionist theory in sociology, with emphasis on the origins
and development of the Chicago School of Sociology, as well as an examination
of the link between philosophy of pragmatism and interactionism.
(Clarke)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| CORE METHODS | |
| S 285A Qualitative Methods I-Research | Course
reviews many of the types of qualitative Research Methods, emphasizing assumptions,
approaches. Focus on design, entree, ethics, data gathering techniques (interviewing,
observing), data recording and management. Introduction to data analysis. (Clarke, Pinderhughes, Kennedy, Kools)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 285B Qualitative Methods II-Analysis | Course
compares and contrasts modes of qualitative analysis. Examines issues in establishing
plausibility, credibility, and adequacy. Intensive data analysis and examination
of the problems of presentation of findings with focus on questions of authority
and preparation of text.
(Clarke, Pinderhughes, Kennedy, Kools)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 289A Advanced Quantitative Research Methods I | Course
examines theoretical basis of advanced quantitative methods. Fundamental issues
of causality, and design issues pertinent to causality, are addressed using randomized
clinical trials as models for experimental designs. Methods of sampling and issues
in data collection and measurement are explored.
(Newcomer, Mullan)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 289B Advanced Quantitative Research Methods II | The
second course in a two-quarter series provides a practical
understanding of the statistical procedures including logistic regression,
repeated measures, survival analysis, latent variables and structural
equation modeling, and cost effectiveness analysis. Attention is given to
"how and when" to use each, how to diagnose and adjust to violations
of the functional form and other assumptions of these procedures, and
how to interpret computer output.
(Newcomer, Mullan)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| ADDITIONAL METHODS COURSES | |
| S 285C Advanced Qualitative Methods | In-depth experience with a specific type of qualitative research guided by instructor trained and experienced in that approach. Styles of work offered by various instructors will include advanced grounded theory analysis, ethnography, hermeneutic analysis, narrative analysis. (Staff) |
| S 289C Advanced Quantitative Methods | Overview of current standard approaches to conceptualizing and measuring self-reported health, review of psychometric properties of self-reported measures of health, adequacy of measurement in diverse populations, development of health status surveys, and selection of appropriate measures for research purposes. (Staff) |
| ADDITIONAL COURSES | |
| S 201 Violence as a Health Problem in the United States | Class
explores the scope and etiology of violence in the United States. Discussion includes
the links between different types of violence, examination of competing theoretical
approaches to explain the causes of violence, and different Policy approaches
to resolve and prevent violence.
(Pinderhughes)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 202 Future of Health & Health Care | Course
provides an overview of the “ Futures ” field of science,
including key history, theory and practice. Course content will review
tools that futurists use to envision the future(s). Students will engage in
weekly discussions of the readings, with an emphasis on visions of the
future, and apply futures concepts to develop alternative scenarios.
(Gardner)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 205 Health Professions, Occupations, and Work | Examines the nature of occupations and professions; their constellation in hospitals and clinics, the medical division of labor, specialties and specialization, professional and occupational ideologies, the sociology of work relationships, careers. (Staff). |
| S 210 Proseminar in Health Policy | Policy
seminar to extend knowledge of the varied scope of health Policy research and
analysis. The focus will be on specific Policy research, analysis and implementation strategies.
(Bakerjian, Collier)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 211 Information Technology & Organizational Change | The course
examines medical records (EMRs) in health care
organizations, focusing on: EMR capabilities, use, costs and benefits;
factors affecting costs and benefits; theories of innovation and
diffusion; the relationship between IT and organizational changes; EMR
health policy options.
(Miller)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 218 Advanced Topics in the Sociological Analysis of Aging |
Course is designed for doctoral students investigating advanced research issues preparatory to qualifying examinations. Topics to be analyzed will vary each year, but will be focused upon a specific area. Laboratory assignments are for research activities on special topics in the area of aging. (Staff) |
| S 219 Social Policy and Aging | Course provides a critical analysis of major social, economic, and political issues of growing old in America. Examines social Policy in the public and private sectors including health, income, and social services and considers prospects for social change and political movements. (Staff) |
| S 220 Seminar in Sociology | Doctoral student seminar to discuss methods and problems in current research. Course may be repeated for credit. (Staff) |
| S 221 Qualifying Examination |
Prerequisites: Completion of preliminary examinations. Open to Sociology students only. Course offers preparation for the specialty area qualifying examination. (Staff) |
| S 222 Healthcare Economics and Policy |
Critical analysis of economic, sociological and political factors that affect health care. Examines U.S. health policies that impact on access, quality, costs, delivery systems, professional practices, and reform. (Staff) |
| S 223 Perspectives on Public Policy and Health | Course offers systematic overview of health policy in American
government - its scope, dynamics, and conceptual and practical
dilemmas. Students will become acquainted with major issues involved
in formulating, financing, implementing, and assessing patterns of
decision (i.e., policy) established by government.
(Pinderhughes)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 225
Organizational Analysis of U.S. Healthcare |
Develops capacity to understand and conduct systematic research on
health care orgs. Covers theoretical perspectives on organizations:
contingency theory, resource dependency, organizational ecology, inst.
theory, networks, strategic management, economic perspectives.
Perspectives are considered in the context of studies of organizations
including: hospitals, HMO's, mental health agencies, nursing homes,
biotech firms, and academic health centers.
(Schmittdiel, Wang)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 226 Long Term Care Policies | Course examines long term care policies, with a special emphasis on nursing homes, home health care, and home and community based waiver programs. Issues around the long term care labor market, access to services, quality of care and quality of life, and critical cost and legal issues are examined. (Staff) |
| S 230 Sociocultural Issues in AIDS |
Examines the history and social psychology of AIDS in relation to health, illness, disease, and death. Includes demographic trends, the cost burden, and special problems of minorities, women, and caregivers, along with Policy issues. (Eversley) |
| S 233 Sociology of Aging |
Examines
the sociology of aging including a review of theoretical perspectives, current
and historical trends in aging, factors related to the aging process, effects
of aging on individuals and families, and formal and informal service systems
for an aging population.
(Fox, Kaufman)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 235 Tobacco Control Policy Issues |
This
course will focus on developing students' understanding of the key issues in and
evolution of tobacco control policies in the United States and internationally.
Lectures and readings in the history of tobacco control will prepare students
to engage in weekly discussions and prepare case studies of particular tobacco
control policies.
(Smith)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 236 Race/Class Factors in Health Care Delivery |
Course examines racial and class membership impact on access to health care services, variations in the quality of those services, and how professional and subprofessional roles in the health care system are organized along racial and class lines.
(Pinderhughes)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 238 Feminist Theory | Course provides an in-depth overview and examination of 20th-century feminist theories, especially from sociology, anthropology, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Emphasis is on the most current contributions and debates, with special attention to the relations between feminist theories and issues for research in women's health and healing. (Dworkin) |
| S 240 Older Women's Issues | Course analyzes postmenopausal women's socioeconomic status and changing social roles. Topics include demographic issues, economic trends, individual social and health status, Policy implications for individuals and society. (Staff) |
| S 245 Gender, Race, Science and Technology | Historical and contemporary issues in the social construction of biological and medical sciences, epistemological problems, and feminist perspectives. Focus on impact of gender and scientific work. Includes scientific constructions of gender and women's careers in science. (Clarke) |
| S 246 Communications and Policy Leadership |
Course focuses on developing students' skills in various types of Policy-relevant
communications and leadership across different Policy venues.
(Malone)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 248 Group Independent Study |
Groups of two or more students select special problems to investigate on a collaborative basis. These studies may be conducted through readings, the collection or analysis of empirical data, or the development of conceptual analysis or of methodologies. (Staff) |
| S 249 Special Studies | Students select special problems to investigate on an individual or collaborative basis. Studies may be conducted through readings, the collection or analysis of empirical data, or the development of conceptual analysis or of methodologies. (Staff) |
| S 272 Dissertation Research Seminar | Course addresses logic of research design and execution for students. Clarification of research question, delineation of work plan, and orientation to relevant theoretical literature or empirical data available. (Kaufman) |
| S 277 Seminar on Disability | Course covers social and medical models and theories of disability and handicap. Areas covered include definitions, utility of role theory, models of identification and causation, and sociological perspectives on disability Policy. (La Plante) |
| S 282 Sociology of Science/Technology | Course
examines early functionalist and Marxist theories, Kuhn's work, social constructionist,
ethnomethodological, interactionist, neofunctionalist, critical, and neo-Marxist
perspectives. Focuses on laboratory, controversy, technological, and representational
studies and organization and funding. Links history and philosophy.
(Clarke)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 283 Selected Topics/Health Economics | Course examines selected topics in health care economics, with attention to basic economic theory of supply and demand for health care services and health insurance. Includes national health insurance proposals and the Canadian health care system. (Miller) |
| S 284 Health Care Economics | Course examines basic economic theory as applied to the health care
sector. This will include the structure of health care service and labor
markets and the analysis of critical economic and cost issues relevant
to public policy.
(Max)
Course Syllabus (.pdf) |
| S 286 Gender, Sex, and Health | Course examines women's participation in formal/informal health and healing systems, emphasizing health problems, recruitment to health professions, images of women in health and illness, and women as providers. Health issues of women of color in the US are hightlighted. (Clarke) |
| S 299 Dissertation | Prerequisites: Advancement to candidacy and permission of graduate advisor. For graduate students engaged in writing the dissertation for the PhD degree (Staff) |
Complete Class Schedule information is available for both Nursing and Sociology courses on the School of Nursing Current Students page.
The following document (Adobe/Acrobat .PDF format) shows courses planned for Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters of 2008-09.
| Site Map/Navigation: Dept. of Social/Behavioral Sciences | School of Nursing | Univ. Calif. San Francisco | |
| Revised: Dec. 2008, Mar. 2005 | Contact: info@nursing.ucsf.edu · © Copyright 2008 University of California Regents, All Rights Reserved. |
