Theory Preliminary Exams: Guide Questions and Resources

Preparation for Theory Preliminary Exams should begin early in your graduate program in the department of Sociology and Rural Studies. The procedures for the preliminary exams in theory and methods are provided in the department’s Ph.D. Graduate Guidebook. What is provided in these guide questions and resources are suggestions to help you prepare for the theory preliminary exam. Preliminary exams are based on the assumption that you should be familiar enough with the discipline of Sociology, in terms of theory and methods, before you continue in the program. Thus, the preliminary exams are used to determine whether you are ready to continue. The suggestions in this guide include examples of questions and resources that you may or may not find useful in preparing for the theory preliminary exams. It should also be noted that none of the questions listed here are the actual questions which will be used in the exams; they are merely examples of the nature of questions. You are expected to demonstrate higher level thinking (see Bloom’s taxonomy -- end of this document) in your answers

SDSU Sociology and Rural Studies -- Graduate Student List - Fall 2013

This document contains a list of all graduate students in the Department of Sociology and Rural Studies in the Fall of 2013

The Migration of Young Adults 1950-1963: South Dakota Counties, State Economics Areas and States in North Central Region

South Dakota was the second most rural state in the North Central Region1 in 1960 with 61 percent of the state \u27s population living in rural areas. Only North Dakota, with 65 percent rural population, surpassed South Dakota within the North Central Region. Throughout the United States, rural areas have been experiencing a definite loss of people through out-migration. South Dakota is no exception. Even though the state gained four percent in population from 1950 to 1960, there was a total net out-migration of slightly over 14 percent. There were 121,736 more births than deaths in South Dakota between 1950 and 1960. This natural growth produced a potential population of 774~476 for 1960, yet only 680,51 were living in the state in that year. Thus, the population grew only 27 ,774 instead of a possible 121,736. Out-migration accounted for this difference between the potential and the actual population increase. The net out –migration from South Dakota for the decade numbered 94,279.2 This figure is based on the estimated migration of the total population with no concern for variation with respect to different age groups or sex. Inasmuch as a general principle in population theory contends that migration is selective on the basis of both age and sex, the question arises as to which age groups and which sex have experienced the highest rates of population movement during the 1950-1960 decade. Our knowledge of population trends suggests that the highest rates of migration for the more rural states would be expected to be in the young adult segment of the population

Rural Sociology vs. Fishing Sociology

De forma recurrente, hasta hace no mucho tiempo, lo rural se ha conceptualizado como la dimensión espacial relativa a poblaciones pequeñas y homogéneas, dominadas por una cultura tradicional y un sentir comunitario. Partiendo de esta descripción, la sociología rural debería haberse ocupado de toda la población que habita este espacio y sin embargo, sólo se ha centrado en la agraria. Lo agrario ha absorbido a lo rural y la sociología rural ha olvidando a colectivos como el pesquero. Pero, ¿por qué la sociología rural no se ha ocupado de lo pesquero? La respuesta inicial fue valorar esta ausencia como una limitación de la sociología rural ya que algunas personas han compatibilizado la pesca y la agricultura y la mayoría de la población pesquera habita en espacios rurales, desarrolla un tipo de pesca artesanal y es partícipe de un modo de vida tradicional. Sin embargo, a medida que se profundiza en esta reflexión surge la idea de que el análisis de la pesca sería más pertinente desde una sociología propia e incluso de una sociología general que acabe con la excesiva especialización en esta disciplina.“Rural” has regularly been conceptualized in spatial terms relative to small towns and homogeneous populations, determined by their traditional culture and communitarian values. Following this definition, Rural Sociology should have concerned itself with all the populations living in these areas but, in fact, it only had been focused in agrarian populations. Why Rural Sociology didn’t pay any attention to fishermen and fisheries? The initial response may be to interpret as disciplinary limitation of Rural Sociology, but at the end this article concludes that sociological perspectives would be better oriented by a general sociological approach, which rejects excesive disciplinary specialization

A Guide to PhD Program

This guidebook is designed to provide guidance for graduate students in the Department Sociology and Rural Studies. As such, it does not replace the Graduate School Bulletin requirements. It spells out in detail the responsibilities of a graduate student in the Department of Sociology and Rural Studies

A Guidebook to Thesis and Non-Thesis Options of the Masters Program in Sociology 2010-2011

This pamphlet is designed to serve as a guide for graduate students in the Department of Rural Sociology. As a guide, it does not replace the Graduate School Bulletin requirements. It spells out in detail the responsibilities of a graduate student in the Department of Rural Sociology

Sociology of rural life

From fox-hunting to farming, the vigour with which rural activities and living are defended overturns received notions of a sleepy and complacent countryside. Alongside these developments, the rise of the organic food movement has helped to revitalize an already politicized rural population. Over the years 'rural life' has been defined, redefined and eventually fallen out of fashion as a sociological concept - in contrast to urban studies, which has flourished. This much-needed reappraisal calls for its reinterpretation in light of the profound changes affecting the countryside. First providing an overview of rural sociology, Hillyard goes on to offer contemporary case studies that clearly demonstrate the need for a reinvigorated rural sociology. Tackling a range of contentious issues, this book offers a new model for rural sociology and reassesses its role in contemporary society. Providing an overview of rural sociology, this title calls for the reinterpretation of rural life in light of the profound changes affecting the countryside. It offers case studies that demonstrate the need for a reinvigorated rural sociology. Tackling contentious issues, it presents a model for rural sociology and assesses its role in society. Sam Hillyard is Lecturer in Sociology, School of Applied Social Sciences, Durham University

A Guidebook to Thesis and Non-Thesis Options of the Masters Program in Sociology 2016-2017

This guide is designed to help Master\u27s students in the Department of Sociology and Rural Studies succeed in meeting program requirements. As a guide it does not replace the Graduate School Bulletin requirements. The guide also spells out in detail the responsibilities of a graduate student in the Department of Rural Sociology and provides information on forms, timelines, exams, and policies

A Guidebook to PhD Programs in Sociology 2010-2011

This pamphlet is designed to serve as a guide for graduate students in the Department of Rural Sociology. As a guide, it does not replace the Graduate School Bulletin requirements. It spells out in detail the responsibilities of a graduate student in the Department of Rural Sociology

Muintir na Tire Seeks Funding for Rural Sociology in 1960s Ireland

working paperMuintir na Tire’s role in the emergence of the discipline of Sociology in Ireland is usually acknowledged with reference to the Limerick Rural Survey (1958-64) that it initiated, part-funded and published. In the first half of the 1960s the movement also put proposals to the Irish government and sought US foundation grants for a centre or institute that would operate in the field of rural sociology and form part of Muintir na Tire’s organisational structure. Although Taoiseach Sean Lemass was positively disposed towards these initatives, opposition from the Departments of Agriculture, Education and Finance prevailed against them and Muintir na Tire was ultimately to find itself completely excluded from participation in the state-resourced institutional arrangements for carrying out social/sociological research in Ireland