Graduate Courses in Social Networks

(prerequisites: graduate standing or consent of instructor)

Graduate Courses in Social Networks

Fall 1998 Offerings:
SS 241 Network Theories of Social Structure, Doug White

Winter 1999 Offerings:
SS 229A Collecting and Analyzing Data, Linton Freeman
SS 249A Algebraic Graph Theory, John Boyd
Anthro 289B, Seminar: Resource allocation processes, Duran Bell

Spring 1999 Offerings: Soc Sci 240C, 241C, Anthro 289B (see below).
SS 179 Computer Simulations for the Social Sciences, John Boyd
SS 241C Analysis of Relational Data, Kim Romney

Fall 1999 Offerings:
SS 249A Social Dynamics: Modeling Ethnography, Ethnohistory Sociodemographics, Doug White and N. Pizarro
Anthro 225A Grant Writing, Doug White

Winter 2000 Offerings:
SS 249 Complexity: Network Dynamics, Adaptive Agents, and Theory of Games, Doug White and Brian Skyrms

240A-B-C Colloquium in Social Networks (1,3-1.3-1.4 credits F W S). A seminar drawing on visiting scholars and local faculty to keep student abreast of current developments in Social Networks research.

241A. Interaction Models (4). Human groups can be considered as finite systems of individuals, some of whom interact in pairs. These pairs are used to model such phenomena as clique formation.

241B. Network Theories of Social Structure (4). Explores communicative, social, political, economic and other flows of behavior using foundational network concepts and measures such as centrality, group, role, pattern, and system. Defines social structure, processes that generate structures, and behavioral consequences of structural rather than dispositional properties.

241C. Analysis of Relational Data (4). A practicum in social networks data analysis focusing of the special problems raised by data sets that embody relations. Log-linear and quadratic assignment procedures are stressed along with multidimensional scaling and other representational models. Same as Anthropology 222A, Social Science 201G and Sociology 225A.

242A. Mathematical Tools for Network Analysis (4). A broad introduction to selected topics in algebra and discrete combinatorics with special emphasis on semigroups and graph theory. Acquaints students with the mathematical tools used in social networks analysis.

242B. Algebraic Theories in the Social Sciences (4). Various applications of abstract algebra to the social sciences. Examples dawn from pattern recognition (group theory), formal languages and social relations (semigroups and lattices), and the problems of inducing structure from data. Requires some mathema6tical maturity (Prerequisites: mathematics 2A-B-C- or equivalent), but no specific knowledge.

242F Graph Theory with Applications (4). Introduction to graph theory. A graph is a collection of "vertices," some pairs of which are joined by "edges." Discusses both theoretical results and applications. Graphs have many applications in social and natural sciences. Same as Social Science 202A.

249A Special Topics in Social Networks (4). Current research in Social Networks.

Winter 1999 Writing Seminar (Douglas White)

Fall 1999 Analysis of Social Dynamics: Socidemographic, Ethnographic, Ethnohistorical (Doug White, Brian Skyrms)

Winter 2000 Complexity: Network Dynamics, Adaptive Agents, and Theory of Games (Doug White)

Topics in Related Fields

Winter 1999 Soc Sci 229, Collecting and Analyzing Data (Linton Freeman)

Spring 1999 Anthropology 289B, Seminar: Resource allocation processes (Duran Bell)
Corporate Groups, Wealth, and Power: An examination of factors affecting the structure of groups in relation to wealth and power in tribal, village and capitalistic contexts. We begin with the null hypotheses that all social institutions in hierarchically structured social formations are constructed to facilitate the accumulation of wealth by the dominant. We will consider the mechanisms by which these objectives might be achieved and any factors that appear to challenge the hypotheses. The class meets on Monday 12-2:50 (but this time could be changed if convenient to others) SSPB 2296