Sociology and Social Work Program

The following list reflects the 2006/2007 faculty.

Director Mary Collins

Faculty

Nancy Ammerman Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Theology. BA, Southwest Baptist University; MA, University of Louisville; MPhil, PhD, Yale University

Maryann Amodeo Associate Professor of Clinical Practice, School of Social Work. MSW, Syracuse University; PhD, Brandeis University

Sara S. Bachman Associate Professor of Social Research, School of Social Work. MS, University of Massachusetts; PhD, Brandeis University

Emily Barman Assistant Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. BA, University of British Columbia; MA, PhD, University of Chicago

Deanne E. Bonnar Adjunct Assistant Professor of Social Policy, School of Social Work. MSW, Simmons College; PhD, Brandeis University

Mary Collins Associate Professor of Social Policy, School of Social Work. MSW, PhD, University of Chicago

Kate Cooney Assistant Professor of Macro Practice, School of Social Work. MSW, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles

Jeff P. Coulter Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. BA, Durham University (England); MA, PhD, Victoria University of Manchester (England)

Marah Curtis Assistant Professor of Social Welfare Policy, School of Social Work. MSW, Hunter College; PhD, Columbia University

Melvin Delgado Professor of Macro Practice, School of Social Work. MS, Columbia University; PhD, Brandeis University

Ellen DeVoe Assistant Professor of Clinical Social Work Practice, School of Social Work. MSW, University of Denver; PhD, University of Michigan

Susan E. Eckstein Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. MA, PhD, Columbia University

Ruth I. Freedman Associate Dean; Associate Professor of Social Welfare Research, School of Social Work. MSW, PhD, Brandeis University

Scott Miyake Geron Associate Professor of Social Policy and Research, School of Social Work. MSW, PhD, University of Chicago

Julian Go Assistant Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. BA, University of Michigan; MA, PhD, University of Chicago

Judith G. Gonyea Professor of Social Research, School of Social Work. MSW, PhD, University of Washington

Alya Guseva Assistant Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. BA, Kharkov National University (Ukraine); MA, University of California, San Diego

Hyeouk Hahm Assistant Professor of Clinical Social Work Practice and Social Welfare Research, School of Social Work. MSW, PhD, Columbia University

Robert B. Hudson Professor of Social Welfare Policy, School of Social Work. PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Stephen Kalberg Associate Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. MA, PhD, State University of New York, Stony Brook

Nazli Kibria Associate Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. MA, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

Luz Lopez Assistant Professor of Clinical Social Work Practice, School of Social Work. MSW, State University of New York at Buffalo; PhD, Tulane University

Lena M. Lundgren Associate Professor of Social Policy. MA, University of Umea (Sweden); PhD, University of Chicago

Elizabeth W. Markson Adjunct Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. MA, PhD, Yale University

Joseph Merighi Associate Professor of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, School of Social Work. MSW, PhD, University of California, Berkeley

Daniel Monti Associate Chair of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. MA, PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Jordana Muroff Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice. MSW, PhD, University of Michigan

Ruth Paris Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice, School of Social Work. MSW, Smith College; PhD, University of California, Berkeley

Humberto Reynoso-Vallejo Assistant Professor of Social Welfare Policy, School of Social Work. MSW, Simmons College; PhD, Heller School, Brandeis University

Hyucksun Shin Assistant Professor of Human Behavior and Social Environment, School of Social Work. MSW, University of Wisconsin, Madison; PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Laurel Smith-Doerr Assistant Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. BA, Pomona College; MA, PhD, University of Arizona

Renee Spencer Assistant Professor of Human Behavior and Social Environment, School of Social Work. MSW, University of Texas at Austin; EdM, EdD, Harvard University

Lee H. Staples Clinical Professor of Macro Practice, School of Social Work. MSW, University of California, Los Angeles; PhD, Boston University

Gail Steketee Professor of Clinical Practice, School of Social Work. MSW, PhD, Bryn Mawr College

John Stone Chairman, Department of Sociology; Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. BA, MA, Cambridge University; PhD, Oxford University

Peter C. Yeager Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences. MA, PhD, University of Wisconsin

Emeriti

Wilma Peebles-Wilkins Dean Emerita, Professor Emerita, School of Social Work. MSW, Case Western Reserve University; PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Catherine Kohler Riessman Professor Emerita of Social Work, School of Social Work. MSW, Yeshiva University; PhD, Columbia University

Joyce West Stevens Associate Professor Emerita of Clinical Practice, School of Social Work. MSW, PhD, Loyola University of Chicago

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PhD in Sociology and Social Work

This is a doctoral program of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. It is directed primarily to master’s-level social work professionals who wish to enhance their professional competence through further study at the doctoral level. The primary goal of the program is the preparation of scholars of social welfare who will assume leadership positions in universities, governmental agencies, and voluntary organizations.

Central to the program’s mission is promoting research and scholarship that link social work’s professional concerns with sociological theories and methods. Core theory material in the program addresses classical and contemporary sociological theories, the organizational dynamics of the social work profession, and perspectives on American social policy and programs. Courses in research methods address both quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Advanced doctoral students choose specializations in both sociology and social work. The research and teaching interests of the social work and sociology faculties span a wide range of theoretical, methodological, and substantive areas, including urban studies, substance abuse, mental health, gerontology, child welfare, family studies, medical sociology, deviance, political economy, institutional analysis, race and ethnic relations, social stratification, and policy analysis.

Graduate students may also benefit from resources available at many of the specialized centers of Boston University. These include the Center on Anxiety and Related Disorders, Center for the Study of Addictions, Center for Survey Research, Gerontology Center, and Institute for Geriatric Social Work. Students also have access to the Social Work Computer Laboratory for the conduct of their own research projects.

More information about the program is available from the doctoral program’s administrative assistant at 264 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215; (617-353-3765).

Application and Admission

Admission is open to those who hold a Master of Social Work degree or who hold a master’s degree from an allied discipline or profession and who have practice-related experience relevant to the objectives of the program. Applicants are required to submit the results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Applicants should have a background in basic inferential statistics. Applicants are accepted for September admission. Completed applications for admission and financial aid should reach the Graduate School of Arts and Science’s office no later than January 15.

Financial Assistance

Financial support is available to both incoming and continuing students. The Graduate School awards graduate student fellowships on a competitive basis. Research assistantships are frequently available through grants awarded to members of the program faculty. Teaching fellowships are awarded to students who have demonstrated competence in areas of the curriculum where teaching assistance is needed.

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Curriculum and Course Requirements

Students must   meet all University and program requirements for the PhD. Full-time residence for all three semesters’ coursework is recommended.

A minimum of 12 courses (48 credit hours) is required for the post-master’s PhD degree, as indicated below.

Core Program All students must complete two courses in sociological theory—GRS SO 701 Advanced Sociological Theory (Classical) and GRS SO 708 Contemporary Sociological Theory—and two courses in social work theory—SSW WP 901 Sociology of the Social Work Profession and SSW WP 903 Perspectives on Social Welfare Policy. All students must complete three courses in research methods/statistics—GRS SO 702 Proseminar in Research Methods, GRS SO 709 Field Research, and CAS MA 684 Multivariate Analysis.

Specializations Specialized study is required in two fields, with one to be an established area of concentration in sociology and the other to be a related area in social work. Students must complete 2 courses (8 credit hours) in their sociology specialization and 3 courses (12 credit hours) in their social work specialization. Sociology concentrations may be selected from the substantive specializations found in the Department of Sociology entry in this catalog, including deviance, social stratification, and urban studies, among others. Social work specializations may be selected from social welfare policy or from clinical research, and substantive foci may include aging, child and family welfare, and substance abuse, among others.

Qualifying Examinations and Critical Essay There is a written examination requirement in social work theory.  A critical essay is also required. The essay is to be an assessment and synthesis of the student’s two specialized subfields within sociology and social work. Upon completion of the essay, the candidate must pass an oral examination in the indicated specializations.

Residency Requirement See General Requirements for the PhD on this website.

Dissertation Program approval of the dissertation proposal is obtained through a prospectus consultation examination. Two or more members of the affiliated program faculty supervise the candidate during preparation of the dissertation. This written document is to be a scholarly contribution to knowledge, presented clearly, precisely, and in good literary style. Candidates are encouraged to publish selected parts of their dissertation in professional journals and the entire dissertation as a book.

Final Oral Examination Candidates, upon completion of the dissertation, present themselves for a final oral examination before a committee of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The examination is based primarily on the dissertation and related issues in the field of concentration.

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Sociology Courses

GRS SO 701 Advanced Sociological Theory (Classical)

Primarily for first-year graduate students. Required for master’s degree in sociology. Advanced survey and review of sociological theory and theorists. 4 cr, 1st sem.

GRS SO 702 Proseminar: Sociological Methods

Designed primarily for first-year graduate students. Review of major sociological methods. 4 cr, 1st sem.

GRS SO 708 Contemporary Sociological Theory

Covers the basic elements of the major theoretical paradigms in modern sociology, covering topics and problems in the philosophy of social science and current controversies in the field. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

GRS SO 709 Field Research

Explores qualitative forms of social analysis. Focuses on fieldwork — in particular, participant observation, non-participant observation, and intensive in-depth interviewing. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

Social Work Courses

SSW WP 900 Social Program Analysis and Evaluation

Course prepares doctoral students in the application of analytical methods as a basis for improving public and organizational decision making in social welfare. Course addresses the political, value, and technical aspects of policy formation and implementation. Course emphasizes the formulation of empirical hypotheses and assessment of the hypotheses against available data. Collins. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

SSW WP 901 Sociology of the Social Work Profession

Explores the development of social work as a profession. Examines the historical roots of, and key trends in, social work. Readings from sociological literature on professionalization and comparison of several professions within social work. Critical evaluation of the function of “experts” in contemporary American society. Geron. 4 cr, 1st sem.

SSW WP 902 Implementing Social Policy

Deals with social and political factors that affect the ability of policy and program officials to implement legislated programs. Political and organizational theories are applied to case examples of policy implementation at the federal and state levels. TBA. 4 cr.

SSW WP 903 Perspectives on Social Welfare Policy

Focusing on theory, process, and substance, this course exposes students to different understandings of American political institutions as they relate to social welfare policy. Attention is paid to institutional and other factors shaping and constraining the development of social policies in the United States. Hudson. 4 cr, 1st sem.

SSW SR 904 Quantitative Clinical Research Methods in Social Work Practice

Course familiarizes students with design and implementation strategies for research with clinical populations in an individual or group format. Topics include: design; subject and measurement selection; data organization and management; analysis plans; limitation of results; and ethical concerns. TBA. 4 cr.

SSW SR 906 Qualitative Analysis of Clinical Data

Course examines three qualitative approaches that are especially well suited to the study of process in clinical settings: grounded theory, narrative analysis, and the study of interaction in psychotherapy/medical interviews. Research is examined from each of the three traditions. Topics include theoretical sampling; thematic and structural coding; the transformation of talk into text; and the issues of representation, audience, and reflexivity. Spencer. 4 cr.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

CAS MA 684 Multivariate Analysis

Prereq: one year of statistics. Multivariate data analytic techniques, multiple regression and correlation, factor analysis, discriminant analysis, cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling technique, and multivariate tests for one-, two-, and K-sample problems. TBA. 4 cr, 2nd sem.

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Sherborn Street
Boston, MA 02215

31 October 2007
Boston University
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