Methods and Statistics

The Departments’ program in the area of sociological methodology and statistics is widely regarded as among the richest and strongest in the country. The core of the graduate program consists of two required statistics courses on the general linear model and a methods course covering causal inference, research design, sampling, and measurement. In addition, students may select from among other specialized courses. Included among these are the following: methods for the analysis of event history data, structural equation models and models for the analysis of discrete variables. These offerings are complemented by other sociology specialty area courses on methodological techniques, by the departments’ courses on computing in sociological research, and by the large number of statistics and methods courses in other social science departments.